In a recent all-hands meeting, Google's executives detailed the company's decision to cancel its diversity and inclusion (DEI) goals and its commitment to no longer develop weaponized artificial intelligence. Melonie Parker, former head of diversity at Google, stated that the company would stop implementing diversity and inclusion employee training programs and would "update" other related training programs. This was the first response to all employees since Google announced it would no longer set diversity hiring targets.
Google's Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker noted that many circumstances have changed since the company first introduced its AI principles in 2018. He stated that the company believes participating in discussions on significant global issues is beneficial for society, leading to the decision to withdraw the previous commitment not to develop AI technologies for weapons and surveillance. Parker mentioned that as a federal contractor, Google is reviewing all its projects and initiatives according to an executive order from the Trump administration. Her position has also been adjusted from Chief Diversity Officer to Vice President of Employee Engagement.
Google's CEO Sundar Pichai stated at the International AI Summit in Paris that while the company has always valued hiring employees who can represent the diversity of global users, it must comply with local laws and regulations. Pichai added that the company's values are enduring but need to be adjusted in response to legal changes.
Employees submitted 93 questions regarding Google's cancellation of its AI weapons development commitment and the withdrawal of DEI goals through internal forums, and executives addressed each one during the meeting. The meeting was closely related to employee actions driven by the worker movement organization "No Tech for Apartheid."
Recently, Google has stopped mentioning its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion in documents submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, Google has reestablished its partnership with the Pentagon and secured a $9 billion joint war cloud capability contract, bidding alongside Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle.
During the meeting, Walker emphasized that Google's AI principles need to remain aligned with the evolving dialogue. He stated that while removing certain restrictions may complicate the company's discussions, the company firmly believes that the benefits of its technology far outweigh the risks.
Key Points:
💼 Google has decided to cancel its diversity and inclusion goals and stop related training programs.
🛡️ The company no longer commits to refraining from developing AI for weapons and surveillance to engage in important global dialogues.
📄 Employees have expressed concerns about this decision and have raised numerous questions through internal channels.
