Google removed its previous policy prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence for weapons purposes in February 2025, coinciding with the release of its annual Responsible AI report. The company's new AI principles are built on three main pillars: bold innovation, responsible development and deployment, and progress based on collaboration.
The significant change is part of a broader strategic shift aimed at strengthening the leading role of democratic countries in AI development. Google's AI responsibility reports (Responsible AI Progress Report), published since 2018, have evolved considerably. The latest 2024 report contains more than 300 research studies on responsible AI and documents the company's $120 million investment in AI education and training worldwide. The report details safety measures, including SynthID content authentication technology and updates to the Frontier Safety Framework, which contains new safety recommendations and procedures for managing the risks of misleading AI systems.
In its blog post, the company emphasised that companies, governments, and organisations upholding democratic values must work together to create AI solutions that protect people and support global growth and national security. The modified guidelines and the removal of the weapons ban signal a significant change in the company's strategy, particularly because Google introduced the original restrictions in 2018 after deciding not to renew its participation in the Pentagon's Project Maven programme.
While maintaining this change of direction, the company's safety and quality standards have nonetheless remained high: Google Cloud AI received a "mature" rating in the NIST Risk Management framework, and the company obtained ISO/IEC 42001 certification for its Gemini application, Google Cloud, and Google Workspace services. The report emphasises that the company continues to evaluate the benefits and risks of AI projects, but now approaches the question of national security applications from a broader perspective.
Sources:
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Responsible AI Progress Report. Google AI, February 2025
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James Manyika
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Radhika Rajkumar
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Kotaku
