Google Versus The Pentagon: The Fallout.

• Date: 01 August 2018
• Author: Tadjdeh, Yasmin

Current and former Pentagon officials are worried that Google's withdrawal from Project Maven--one of the Defense Department's most high-profile artificial intelligence efforts--could have disastrous effects.

The goal of Maven is to develop AI systems that can analyze reams of full-motion video data collected by drones and tip off human analysts when objects of interest pop up.

Over the past several months, the program--which included partnerships with Silicon Valley companies--has been met with vocal opposition from some in the commercial sector, particularly from Google employees.

In April, more than 3,000 Google workers signed a letter stating that the company "should not be in the business of war" and should sever ties with Project Maven.

In May, Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene announced internally that the company would not seek another contract associated with the effort, news reports said.

That move, however, creates an "enormous moral hazard" for the company, said Robert O. Work, former deputy secretary of defense, during a panel discussion at a recent conference.

"They say, 'Look, this data could potentially down the line at some point cause harm to human life,'" he said. "But it might save 500 Americans, or 500 allies or 500 innocent civilians...