Google and artificial intelligence: Do you really know what's going on?

By Ana Cecilia Pérez

Imagine waking up one day and discovering that Google has decided to change the rules of the game with its artificial intelligence (AI). We're not talking about small updates to the search engine or improvements to its voice assistants. We're talking about something much bigger: the removal of restrictions that prevented its technology from being used for weapons and mass surveillance.

If this hasn't made you raise an eyebrow, consider this: Google is present in almost everything we do online. We search for information, use Gmail, save memories in Google Photos and even rely on its maps to get us to any destination. Now, its AI technology could be used in military strategies and monitoring systems, something that until recently Google promised not to do.

In 2018, the company established clear principles for AI development, ensuring that it would not contribute to weapons, extreme surveillance or uses that violate human rights. But, recently, Google removed these restrictions with a rather vague justification: the world has changed and it is necessary to adapt.

Here comes the important question: is Google really changing for the good of humanity or is it simply opening the door to juicy government contracts in the midst of the global race for AI supremacy?