Google DeepMind AI safety researcher Alex Turner is resigning. He says the company allowed the US military to use its AI for classified missions but did not include a prohibition on mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons in the contract.
Turner previously organized a petition signed by over 250 employees and submitted a 25-page alternative proposal to Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. The proposal called for human oversight and independent review mechanisms for military AI. It was ultimately rejected, and Turner left the company in June.
Google says it still opposes deploying AI in autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance without proper human oversight. Turner points out that these commitments are non-binding. Google had already removed the pledge not to develop weapons or surveillance technologies from its AI principles back in 2025.
https://twitter.com/Turn_Trout/status/2077448610157891734