In virtual testimony before the congress on Wednesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai was questioned by Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida, of the allegations of advancing China’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities after refusing to work with the us army
Google withdrew from an IA contract with the Department of Defense (DOD) in June 2018 after thousands of employees signed a petition targeting Pichai, demanding that the company cease all participation in the program known as the Maven Project.
The Maven Project was an artificial intelligence effort to study images that could lead to improved technology around drone strikes during open combat. Google cited concerns about the ethical principles surrounding AI.
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“The Maven Project was a collaboration between Google and the DOD from which Google withdrew,” Gaetz said Wednesday.
“Did you weigh the contributions of your employees when making the decision to abandon the project with the United States Army?” Gaetz asked Pichai.
“We are deeply committed to supporting the military and the US government. We have taken several projects since then. We take into account the contributions of our employees, but it is a contribution, we make decisions on a variety of factors. “
But Gaetz rejected Google’s ethical options, questioned his work with China, noting that Google has an artificial intelligence center, collaborates with Chinese universities, and is helping China advance the targeting capabilities of its J-20 fighter jets, according to an article published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“So why would an American company with American values so directly assist the Chinese military, but have ethical concerns about working alongside the American military on the Maven Project?” Gaetz asked Pichai on Wednesday.
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“And I understand your point about cyber security and stuff, but Project Maven was a specific way to ensure that our troops are safe on the battlefield, and if you have no problem making the Chinese J-20 fighter more Effective in its attack, why wouldn’t you want to make the United States so effective? Gaetz added.
“We are not working with the Chinese military, that is absolutely false,” Pichai said, without addressing the accusation about his work specifically with the J-20 aircraft.
Gaetz also addressed comments from security officials and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who called Google’s work with China “treacherous.”
“Former Defense Secretary Mr. Shanahan said that the lines have been” blurred “in China between commercial and military enforcement, and like Mr. Buck [Rep. Ken Buck, R- Co.] “General Dunford says his company is directly assisting the Chinese military.” And Peter Theil, who is actually on Zuckerberg’s Facebook directory, said “Google’s activities with China are treacherous.” He accused you of treason. “
“I had the opportunity to meet with General Dunford personally, we have clarified what we do in China compared to our peers, it is very, very limited in nature,” Pichai said, rejecting the charge of treason.
“Our artificial intelligence work in China is limited to a handful of people working on open source projects and happy to share and interact with the office to explain our work in China,” he added.
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Gaetz summed up his accusations as his time was drawing to a close and said: “When the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says that an American company is directly helping China, when you have an artificial intelligence center, when you work with universities … it seems really question their commitment to our country and our values. “
