*【26】科技: Google Bans Its AI Technology for Weapons Work

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Google Bans Its AI Technology for Weapons Work

June 13, 2018

This March 23, 2010, file photo shows the Google logo at the Google headquarters in Brussels. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

“We believe these principles are the right foundation for our company and the future development of AI,” Pichai wrote.

FILE - Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, May 8, 2018.

The principles were announced after more than 4,000 Google employees signed a document calling for the company to cancel an AI agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. That agreement, known as Project Maven, involves the use of Google’s AI technology to examine drone images for the U.S. military.

A Google official recently told employees Project Maven would not be extended after it ends next year. Google is expected to discuss with military officials how to complete the project without violating its new principles.

Kirk Hanson is director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in California. The center examines how ethics can be used to guide technology development.

FILE - The logo of Google is pictured during the Viva Tech startup and technology summit in Paris, France, May 25, 2018.

He told VOA the opposition by Google employees to the U.S. military agreement was based on fears that AI technology could lead to the creation of “autonomousweapons.”

“If you have artificial intelligence which identifies targets and automatically launches weapons, you have what is known as an autonomous weapon -- there is no human decision to launch the weapon.”

Hanson said other companies could also face pressure from employees or the public if their AI technology is used to develolp autonomous weapons. Just as with driverless vehicles, autonomous weapon systems may not be as safe as their supporters promise.

The Waymo driverless car is displayed during a Google event, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in San Francisco.

A top Department of Defense official was asked about the use of autonomous weapons during an event last year at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said such systems should never be used to replace human commanders.

Google chief Pichai said the company does not plan to stop providing AI technology for all military uses. He said Google will still seek government projects in areas such as military training, internet security and search and rescue.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on information from Google, and reports from the Associated Press and VOA News reporter Michelle Quinn. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

artificial intelligence – n. ability of a machine to reproduce human behavior

principle – n. a rule or belief that influences behavior and which is based on what a person thinks is right

ethical – adj. following accepted rules of behavior: morally right and good

surveillance – n. intelligence gathering

autonomous – adj. taking part in an activity separately from other things

doubt – n. a feeling of not being sure about something

presumably – adv. very likely

confidence – n. a feeling of being sure of your ability to do things well

apply – v. use something in a particular situation

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