Google DeepMind staff in London vote to unionize over military AI use

In short: Staff at Google DeepMind’s London headquarters voted to unionize, saying they want more control over whether their AI work is used by the Israeli and US military.

What happened

Workers at Google DeepMind’s headquarters in London have voted to form a union. They are asking Google management to recognize the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite the Union as joint representatives.

According to the CWU, 98 percent of CWU members at DeepMind voted in support of the move. The Verge reports that, if the effort succeeds, it would cover at least 1,000 London-based employees.

In a letter to management, employees said they want Google to commit to not developing weapons or taking on contracts that harm people or enable surveillance (monitoring people’s activities, like a digital tracking system). They also want a say in how AI is used when it affects their jobs, and they want the right to opt out of projects that conflict with their personal ethics.

Management has 10 working days to voluntarily recognize the union, before workers can start a formal legal process to force recognition.

The union push follows other internal pressure at Google over military-related AI work. The Verge says hundreds of Google employees recently signed a letter asking CEO Sundar Pichai to refuse classified AI contracts with the Pentagon. It also notes that in 2024 Google fired more than 50 staffers after a protest over Google’s military ties to the Israeli government.

Why it matters

This shows how arguments about AI are not only happening in government and the public. They are also happening inside the companies building the technology. For regular people, it matters because it can influence where powerful AI tools end up being used, including in military and surveillance settings.

Source: The Verge AI