Google DeepMind staff seek union recognition over military AI and Gaza concerns

Workers at Google DeepMind in the United Kingdom have voted to unionize because of concerns about the company’s involvement in military AI projects.

In a letter addressed to Google DeepMind’s management, which has been viewed by The Guardian, workers have formally requested permission from the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union to be appointed as joint representatives of Google’s AI research laboratory.

The decision to unionize UK workers from Google DeepMind was taken in April. One of the workers told the British news outlet that this was in light of recent developments by the Trump Administration.

The “capricious Iran war” and President Trump’s recent feud with Anthropic were triggers to unionize, as both instances prove that the US is “not a responsible partner.”

“I have joined the union due to concerns about AI being used to empower authoritarianism, whether through military or surveillance applications, both foreign and domestic. By unionizing, we are taking the traditional route for workers to organize and have a say,” the worker told The Guardian in an interview.

A second worker told the news outlet that Google’s AI technology helped the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in Israel’s war in Gaza.

“I want AI to benefit humanity, not to facilitate a genocide,” he said, explaining the call for unionization.

Others said they voted to join the union to raise pressure on Google to meet demands that were already made, including a commitment not to produce AI-driven autonomous weapons.

Last week, more than 600 Google employees signed an open letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, demanding that the company not produce AI systems available for classified use.

“We want to see AI benefit humanity, not to see it being used in inhumane or extremely harmful ways. Making the wrong call right now would cause irreparable damage to Google’s reputation, business, and role in the world,” they wrote.

“We have always valued constructive dialogue with employees, and we’ll remain focused on creating a positive and successful workplace,” a Google spokesperson said in response.

Google DeepMind is located in London and employs at least 1,000 staff members. They would all be represented if the call for unionization is successful. The employees would be the first ones working in an AI lab to seek union recognition, which could become a landmark moment for the AI industry globally.

Last week, the US Department of War signed contracts with eight tech companies to deploy their AI technologies on the Department’s classified networks, including Google.

“These agreements accelerate the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI-first fighting force and will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority across all domains of warfare,” the Pentagon said in response.

“Access to a diverse suite of AI capabilities from across the resilient American technology stack will give warfighters the tools they need to act with confidence and safeguard the nation against any threat,” the Department of War continued.

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