Mountain View: Google has revised its artificial intelligence (AI) ethics guidelines, eliminating previous commitments against using the technology for weapons or surveillance. The updated guidelines reflect a shift in the company's stance on how AI can be applied in defense and security sectors.

According to Anadolu Agency, a prior version of Google's AI principles included a commitment not to pursue the technology for arms, surveillance, and applications that "cause or are likely to cause overall harm" and not to use AI in ways that violate international law and human rights principles. The new version of the policy, announced on Tuesday, emphasizes collaboration among companies, governments, and organizations to ensure that AI protects people, aids global development, and supports national security.

In a statement, Google acknowledged that there is a global race for AI leadership amid an increasingly complex geopolitical climate. It pointed out significant technological changes since the previous AI principles were established in 2018. The company stressed that AI is now as ubiquitous as the Internet, noting that its transformation, backed by numerous AI developers, has augmented the societal benefits of technology.

The statement also highlighted that the framework principles established by AI companies and academic institutions, alongside guidelines from G7 countries, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and "individual democratic nations," serve as a foundation for the responsible development and use of AI. Google asserted that democracies should spearhead AI development, guided by fundamental values such as freedom, equality, and respect for human rights.