Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, recently released its financial report, revealing results that fell short of market expectations. This impacted its share price negatively, causing concerns among investors. Despite this, Google is forging ahead with a substantial $75 billion investment in artificial intelligence (AI) projects this year. This investment is 29% more than Wall Street analysts had predicted, highlighting the company's commitment to AI as a cornerstone of its future strategy.
Google's approach to AI has been a topic of internal and external debate since 2018, when the company decided not to renew a controversial contract with the U.S. Pentagon. This decision came after significant pushback from Google staff, who had signed petitions and some even resigned over ethical concerns related to AI's military applications.
The company's original AI principles, published in 2018, now require updates to reflect the rapid advancements in technology. Google's AI platform, Gemini, exemplifies these advancements as it now appears at the top of Google search results. Gemini provides AI-written summaries and is also featured on Google Pixel phones, underscoring the company's integration of AI across its products.
In contrast to the weaker-than-expected financial results, Google's digital advertising revenue saw a 10% increase, buoyed by U.S. election spending. This growth underscores the company's continued dominance in digital advertising, even as it invests heavily in AI infrastructure, research, and applications such as AI-powered search.
Historically, Google's founders, Sergei Brin and Larry Page, established the company's motto as "don't be evil." However, when Alphabet was restructured in 2015, the parent company adopted a new motto: "Do the right thing." These guiding principles continue to influence Google's decision-making process, particularly in the realm of AI.
The decision not to renew the Pentagon contract came after intense internal debate. Demis Hassabis, who leads Google DeepMind, defended the collaboration with the Pentagon at the time. James Manyika, a senior vice president at Google, also supported the company's approach to AI in a blog post. They argued that the evolving geopolitical landscape necessitates strategic partnerships and investments in AI.
"Billions of people are using AI in their everyday lives. AI has become a general-purpose technology, and a platform which countless organisations and individuals use to build applications." – Demis Hassabis and James Manyika
"We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality and respect for human rights," – Demis Hassabis and James Manyika
These statements highlight Google's vision for AI as a tool for global good while emphasizing democratic values and human rights as central to its development.
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