Google and Pentagon Reportedly Agree On Deal For 'Any Lawful' Use of AI 35
Google has reportedly signed a classified agreement allowing the Pentagon to use its AI models for "any lawful government purpose." While the deal is said to discourage domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons without human oversight, it apparently does not give Google the power to block how the government actually uses its models. The Verge reports: The agreement was reported less than a day after Google employees demanded CEO Sundar Pichai block the Pentagon from using its AI amid concerns that it would be used in "inhumane or extremely harmful ways." If the agreement is confirmed, it would place Google alongside OpenAI and xAI, which have also made classified AI deals with the US government. Anthropic was also among that list until it was blacklisted by the Pentagon for refusing the Department of Defense's demands to remove weapon and surveillance-related guardrails from its AI models.
Citing a single anonymous source "with knowledge of the situation," The Information reports that the deal states that both parties have agreed that the search giant's AI systems shouldn't be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons "without appropriate human oversight and control." But the contract also says it doesn't give Google "any right to control or veto lawful government operational decision-making," which would suggest the agreed restrictions are more of a pinky promise than legally binding obligations.
Citing a single anonymous source "with knowledge of the situation," The Information reports that the deal states that both parties have agreed that the search giant's AI systems shouldn't be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons "without appropriate human oversight and control." But the contract also says it doesn't give Google "any right to control or veto lawful government operational decision-making," which would suggest the agreed restrictions are more of a pinky promise than legally binding obligations.
Unsurprising (Score:3)
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Hardly news anymore. Can't really have woke shite like "ethics", "morals" and similar stand in the way of the ruddy-faced warfighter capitalist spirit.
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Hardly news anymore. Can't really have woke shite like "ethics", "morals" and similar stand in the way of the ruddy-faced warfighter capitalist spirit.
Despite the narrative, If the US was blocked from developing AI for defense purposes, it would not cause AI to go away. Other countries would continue to develop it.
AI is here, and it isn't going away - although I believe a much less energy consuming implementation is around the corner.
It is kind of like the Atomic Bomb, after it was shown that energy could be released from mass, and that fissile material could release that energy, in either controlled or uncontrolled fashion, it was shown to be quite
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It is kind of like the Atomic Bomb, after it was shown that energy could be released from mass, and that fissile material could release that energy, in either controlled or uncontrolled fashion, it was shown to be quite possible to build engines of destruction utilizing it.
which atom bomb, the one that only the us made, the one every known incarnation of except the French is a derivative of the us program. the one that only us has ever used, on civilian population and without a good reason? that bomb?
yeah, an apt analogy to a weaponized "ai".
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It is kind of like the Atomic Bomb, after it was shown that energy could be released from mass, and that fissile material could release that energy, in either controlled or uncontrolled fashion, it was shown to be quite possible to build engines of destruction utilizing it.
which atom bomb, the one that only the us made, the one every known incarnation of except the French is a derivative of the us program. the one that only us has ever used, on civilian population and without a good reason? that bomb?
yeah, an apt analogy to a weaponized "ai".
the development of unconstrained fission weapons of Mass destruction was made possible and inevitable - So let's say you are correct and the US was evil for developing and using them twice.
So Mr Dollar Ton, tell us, a weapon that relies on some very basic physics, and was being developed by the Nazis at the same time - it would have happened. It was physics, and all it took was teh technology. Who do you want developing fission and fusion weapons and the US not having them.
It has been most very adequa
Don't worry. Nothing can go wrong now. (Score:2)
You were going for funny, and I want to encourage that, but the low-hanging joke I was looking for is in the new Subject.
What could possible go wrong? Nothing. Congress is now incapable of passing any laws, so nothing will be made lawful when it comes to AI and that means the google won't do anything harmful. For a change.
But every time I try to use Gemini I am more astonished by how bad it is. I'll share the latest anecdote and perhaps some human can answer what's going on. Just got a ColorOS update for my
'Any Lawful' (Score:4, Insightful)
'Any Lawful' Use of AI... by the people that can rewrite the law at any point in time to have it say anything they want.
Nice soundbite, but its total bullshit.
Defense Production Act too (Score:1)
'Any Lawful' Use of AI... by the people that can rewrite the law at any point in time to have it say anything they want.
Keep in mind the gov't can seize any industrial production or technology they desire through the Defense Production Act.
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'Any Lawful' Use of AI... by the people that can rewrite the law at any point in time to have it say anything they want.
Nice soundbite, but its total bullshit.
Even easier, and preferred, in this administration, Trump will just sign an Executive Order (that he hasn't actually read) ...
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'Any Lawful' Use of AI... by the people that can rewrite the law at any point in time to have it say anything they want.
Nice soundbite, but its total bullshit.
Bwahahahaha! If they actually had to rewrite the law it'd be great, because the process of rewriting the law is intentionally designed to have lots of checks.
But we've given up on that. At least, that's what the last few administrations have been trying to do, and the current one more than any... and Congress is sitting on its collective thumb and letting it happen, when it isn't actively collaborating. The courts are fighting a rearguard action, but they are too slow, because this was never supposed to
Ghost Guns (Score:2)
Instead of ghost guns, we're going to need EMP weapons soon. Someone needs to get on that.
Bié dnxn, wmen zhèngzài chl. (Score:2)
Don't worry, we're on it: China EMP First Strike Capability [forbes.com]
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Weaponize your microwave?
When the police are criminals... (Score:1)
...the word "lawful" has a different meaning
Lawful ..?? (Score:2)
Different countries have different laws, does this mean the US has the right to break the laws in all other countries just because it is legal in the USA ?
Yes, I already know this is how the US behaves, but now it is codified .
Best keep US AI out of the country, the US may decide it can be used to cause harm elsewhere "Legally".
It's A.I. (Score:1)
used in "inhumane or extremely harmful ways."
Of course it's inhumane and extremely harmful. What did the employees think they were building?
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Of course it's inhumane and extremely harmful. What did the employees think they were building?
AI is not inherently inhumane or harmful. How AI is used can be inhumane and harmful. The fact that you choose to ignore that reality to belittle the employees is telling.
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How AI is used can be inhumane and harmful.
I'll remember this line of reasoning the next time we have an argument about gun manufacturers.
to belittle the employees is telling.
Ex-employees, soon.
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I'll remember this line of reasoning the next time we have an argument about gun manufacturers.
I'm pretty sure it's already heavily used there, but feel free.
Ex-employees, soon.
All the more reason not to belittle them.
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All the more reason not to belittle them.
That's like overlooking Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a death penalty abolitionist's role in inventing the machine named after himself.
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The thinking ahead about the consequences of what I'm designing kind of person.
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All the more reason not to belittle them.
That's like overlooking Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a death penalty abolitionist's role in inventing the machine named after himself.
Did not work out so well for Louis XVI either.
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I would have used Maximilien Robespierre as the example. But yeah.
Whose law (Score:2)
So mass surveillance is fine? (Score:2)
And so are autonomous weapons? We all know what "should not be done without human oversight" means in this context: Absolutely nothing.
Well, I guess somebody had to do the utterly evil thing openly first. It is fitting that the US in its present state made that step.
Will only be used to draw rainbow farting unicorns (Score:2)
They might as well put in the agreement that Google AI will only be used to generate images of unicorns farting rainbows, placate the stupid and ignorant.
Congrats, you now work for a military contractor! (Score:2)
classified deal? (Score:2)
Yet another example of la Presidenta's rump government hiding behind National Security. What's in the deal, you Nazis! Or will the Maggots get their pretty little panties in a twist over being surveilled?
Obama drone strikes were "lawful" (Score:2)
The opinion of the USAF and CIA were that G. W. Bush's and Obama's drone strikes and kinetic weapons were lawful.
Google shouldn't be agreeing with an organization that has a staggering disrespect for ethics, human life, and even the law as written.