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Google removes "Don't be evil" slogan amid AI contract protests

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

The phrase "Don't be evil," coined by Paul Buchheit, was intentionally designed to be difficult to remove from Google's corporate values. However, the slogan was removed from the company's code of conduct in early 2018 following internal protests. These protests were sparked by leaked documents revealing Google's contract with the Pentagon to develop AI for drone footage analysis, which employees argued violated the "Don't be evil" principle. The controversy led to thousands of employee signatures on a demand letter and dozens of resignations. AI

IMPACT Highlights the ethical challenges and employee activism surrounding AI development and deployment in sensitive applications.

RANK_REASON A major company's core ethical slogan was removed due to internal controversy over AI policy. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.4]

Read on Mastodon — fosstodon.org →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Google removes "Don't be evil" slogan amid AI contract protests

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A major company's core ethical slogan was removed due to internal controversy over AI policy. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.4]
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    The man who wrote "Don't be evil" said he chose it specifically so it would be hard to remove. Paul Buchheit, the engineer who later built Gmail, suggested the

    The man who wrote "Don't be evil" said he chose it specifically so it would be hard to remove. Paul Buchheit, the engineer who later built Gmail, suggested the phrase at a Google corporate values meeting on July 19, 2001. Then in early 2018, internal documents leaked showing that…

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