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Tech Activism Resurfaces as Google Loosens AI Ethics

6/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In 2018, Google employees sparked a wave of tech activism by demanding the end of a Pentagon AI contract. Fast forward seven years, and Google has loosened its AI ethics, permitting previously banned applications. A recent AI Now Institute report warns of the growing power of tech giants and calls for activists to connect AI challenges with economic issues, stressing the importance of job security amid AI's disruptive forces.

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Story summary

In 2018, Google employees sparked a wave of tech activism by demanding the end of a Pentagon AI contract. Fast forward seven years, and Google has loosened its AI ethics, permitting previously banned applications. A recent AI Now Institute report warns of the growing power of tech giants and calls for activists to connect AI challenges with economic issues, stressing the importance of job security amid AI's disruptive forces.