#Google Defends AI Contract with Pentagon
Google defended a contract allowing the Pentagon to use its artificial intelligence tools on classified systems on Tuesday, after more than 600 employees signed an open letter urging Chief Executive Sundar Pichai to reject the deal. The agreement, reported by The Information, permits the agency to use Google AI for "any lawful government purpose."
Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, addressed employee concerns in an internal memo on Tuesday without directly confirming the contract's existence.
#Google Says It Has Supported Defense Work Since Its Founding
"We have proudly worked with defense departments since Google's earliest days" Walker said in the memo.
Walker also stated that Google supports the consensus within the field that current AI tools are not appropriate for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons use without human oversight. The memo did not specify what safeguards apply to the Pentagon contract, or how compliance with those principles would be verified under a classified arrangement.
#Over 600 Employees Argued Classified Work Removes Ability to Prevent Misuse
The employees who signed Monday's letter argued that participating in classified contracts removes the only reliable mechanism Google has to ensure its AI is not misused. The letter did not propose an alternative framework for defense engagement.
The employees' position reflects a broader unresolved tension at large technology companies between commercial defense contracts and internal policies on responsible AI use. Google has not published a public statement on the Pentagon deal, and the scope of work described to employees has not been independently confirmed.
#Google's 2018 Project Maven Exit Set a Different Precedent
Google's response on Tuesday contrasts with its handling of a 2018 Pentagon contract known as Project Maven, which involved using AI for drone targeting analysis. After thousands of employees signed a letter opposing that contract, Google declined to renew it when it expired.
The change in approach drew comment from administration officials. Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management and a venture capitalist, wrote on X Wednesday that Google's current response represented a "very different response" from the Project Maven outcome, citing a Financial Times article about Walker's memo.
Whether the employee letter will influence Google's decision on the Pentagon contract, as a comparable letter did in 2018, has not been indicated by the company. Walker's memo acknowledged concerns without committing to policy changes or additional transparency measures.
The terms of the Pentagon agreement, including which AI systems are covered and what oversight mechanisms apply, have not been disclosed by Google or confirmed by the Department of Defense.