Google DeepMind Researchers Resign Over Pentagon AI Contracts
Google DeepMind employees resigned in protest after the company signed contracts allowing the U.S. Department of Defense to use AI in classified military settings.
Several employees from Google and its AI subsidiary, Google DeepMind, have resigned in recent weeks to protest contracts with the United States and Israeli militaries. The disputes center on agreements signed earlier this year that allow the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy AI models in classified, air-gapped military environments for any lawful government purpose.
Resigning staff, including research engineer Sofia Liguori and senior research scientist Andreas Kirsch, argue that the company lacks sufficient oversight and veto power over how its technology is used once deployed in classified settings. These departures follow the June resignation of AI safety scientist Alex Turner and a petition from over 600 employees in April urging CEO Sundar Pichai to block the deal. Staff also cited Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon providing AI infrastructure to the Israeli government, as a point of contention.
Google defended the agreements, stating it follows a consistent review process to ensure compliance with its AI principles, which prohibit autonomous weapons without human oversight and domestic mass surveillance. The contracts are part of a broader initiative led by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to transform the military into an AI-first warfighting force, with similar deals signed by Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI.
