Google has announced significant changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies and its stance on artificial intelligence (AI) development. The tech giant will no longer adhere to hiring goals for diversity and equity, and it has removed a previous commitment not to develop militarized AI from its website. These decisions have sparked debate and concern among employees and observers alike.
In a recent all-staff meeting, Google executives detailed the company's strategic shift away from DEI initiatives. This marked the first time the company addressed its entire workforce since announcing the rollback of these commitments. Employees submitted numerous questions in advance, with over 100 queries about the DEI rollback and 93 concerning the removal of the anti-military AI pledge. Google's leadership defended these changes, emphasizing compliance with evolving legal directives and a focus on hiring the most qualified candidates.
The company is also involved in Project Nimbus, a collaboration with the Israeli government aimed at providing AI capabilities to the Israeli military. This partnership has raised concerns about the ethical implications of Google's AI projects. Google has been reviewing all programs in response to executive orders from former President Donald Trump, indicating a shift towards policies reflecting the Trump administration's priorities.
“It is important to note that the bulk of government spending on technology services is spent through the military.” – No Tech for Apartheid
Google's former head of diversity, Melonie Parker, who now serves as vice-president of Googler Engagement, confirmed the cessation of diversity and inclusion training programs. Parker emphasized that Google's commitment to hiring remains focused on selecting the best candidates.
“What’s not changing is we’ve always hired the best person for the job” – Melonie Parker, Google’s former head of diversity
In addition to these changes, Google has resumed working with the Pentagon after securing a $9 billion Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract. This move underscores Google's increasing involvement in defense-related projects, contrasting with past hesitation on military AI applications.
“Our values are enduring, but we have to comply with legal directions depending on how they evolve” – Sundar Pichai, Google CEO
The company's recent actions extend to its financial disclosures, where mentions of DEI commitments have been removed from filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. This decision signifies a broader realignment of priorities within Google, moving away from explicit DEI goals in favor of other strategic objectives.
Google's CEO Sundar Pichai and chief legal officer Kent Walker addressed employee concerns during the meeting. Walker highlighted the nuanced discussions surrounding AI principles and emphasized that benefits must outweigh potential risks.
“While it may be that some of the strict prohibitions that were in [the first version] of the AI principles don’t jive well with those more nuanced conversations we’re having now, it remains the case that our north star through all of this is that the benefits substantially outweigh the risks” – Kent Walker, Google’s chief legal officer
Internally, Google has begun utilizing AI to summarize frequently asked questions submitted by employees before meetings. This initiative aims to streamline communication and provide clarity on pressing issues. However, some employees expressed dissatisfaction with this approach.
“please talk frankly and without corp speak and legalese” – Google employee
“it read” – Google employee (referring to a question about AI summaries)