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BREAKING: Google DeepMind workers in UK have voted 98% in favour of unionising — demanding an end to AI use by Israel and the US military for perpetrating genocide in Gaza. If successful, they’ll be the first frontier AI lab in the world to unionise.

Scores of Google AI workers have launched an unprecedented unionisation bid to end use of their technology by Israel and the US military.

The UK-based Google DeepMind employees – who aim to become the first frontier artificial intelligence lab worldwide to unionise – sent a letter on Tuesday requesting management recognise the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite the Union as their official representatives.

“This is a really important moment where tech workers at Google's frontier AI lab are connecting with some of the most oppressed people in communities around the world in meaningful ways, based on foundational values of solidarity and trade unionism.” — John Chadfield, CWU National Officer for Tech

Google employees have for years protested the ethics of contracts like Project Nimbus, a joint programme with Amazon making cloud computing and AI tools available to Israel, including amid the Gaza genocide.

Maven, a US government project from which Google withdrew in 2019 after staff uproar, has reportedly been used in targeting in the Iran war.

The unionising DeepMind workers are seeking an end to use of Google AI by Israel and the US military.