Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be a tremendous asset to humanity. However, its impact hinges on the intentions of those who wield it. Simply put, AI can become a harmful force if it falls into the wrong hands, such as hackers or cybercriminals.
In light of this, Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has made a pledge to restrict AI usage in surveillance and cyber warfare. The company is also urging others in the tech industry, including Meta, Twitter, and Amazon, to join in. By taking this pledge and adhering to certain principles, these companies can help prevent AI from being misused in ways that threaten global security and humanity.
As part of an update to its “AI Principles,” Google has reaffirmed its commitment to responsibly advancing AI technology. The company has promised not to develop or deploy AI-powered weapons or surveillance tools that violate internationally recognized ethical standards.
This position was further emphasized by James Manyika and Demis Hassabis, leaders of Google’s AI lab, DeepMind. They stressed that government support is also crucial to ensure the responsible use of AI in promoting national security.
However, behind closed doors, the situation is often more complicated. While businesses generally claim to prioritize data security and ethical use of AI, what actually happens in their research and development departments remains unclear. A notable example is the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, originally created to provide surveillance tools to governments and law enforcement. The company, however, sold the software to third parties, leading to a series of security scandals. One high-profile case involved Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, whose private affair was exposed through Pegasus, allegedly planted on his phone by a Saudi prince via WhatsApp. Similarly, another Israeli company, Paragon, was involved in a similar surveillance scandal earlier this year.
If small-scale companies can engage in such questionable activities behind the scenes, it raises concerns about the potential misconduct hidden within the data centers of major tech giants.
With this in mind, it is hoped that Elon Musk, who now seems to play a pivotal role in shaping tech policy, will take note of these issues. As the owner of Twitter, Tesla, and Starlink, Musk could play a significant part in scrutinizing the data centers and R&D practices of major tech companies, including his own.
