Ethical artificial intelligence

Google's code for new research is a creditable start

A revolt in the ranks at technology giant Google may have changed the course of research in artificial intelligence. In a blog released last week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai laid out seven key ethical principles that the company will apply in choosing AI projects. In addition, Google also promises to avoid deploying AI for use in “technologies that are likely to cause harm”, or in weapons development, or surveillance that contravenes human rights. The background to this declaration is even more interesting. Google was working on “Project Maven”, an initiative funded by the US Department of Defense, which aims to