Google removes guidelines barring its AI from being used in surveillance and weapons: report

Google has removed its ethics guidelines that previously prohibited the use of its AI technology in weapons and surveillance, The Washington Post reports. This shift reflects a broader industry trend, as major tech firms increasingly collaborate with U.S. defense and intelligence agencies. Google originally imposed the ban in 2018 after employee protests over a Pentagon contract but has now aligned with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic in pursuing defense-related projects. Meanwhile, firms such as Palantir, Anduril, OpenAI, Saronic, and Scale AI are reportedly in talks with SpaceX to form a consortium competing for Pentagon contracts. The move signals growing competition between tech companies and traditional defense contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

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