Google and OpenAI staff join forces to block military AI use

In a significant display of Silicon Valley defiance, over 220 employees from Google and OpenAI have signed a joint petition titled "We Will Not Be Divided."

The group is united against the military use of AI for mass surveillance and autonomous weaponry that lacks human oversight.

This collective stance arrives as the Pentagon reportedly ramps up pressure on tech firms, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth characterising AI development as a "wartime arms race."

The petition alleges that the Department of War is attempting to "divide each company with fear that the other will give in."

This follows reports that the US government threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act against Anthropic to force military access.

Hegseth has been blunt about his requirements, stating, "We will not employ AI models that won't allow you to fight wars."

A defence official further highlighted the military's urgency, telling Axios, "The only reason we're still talking to these people is we need them, and we need them now."

Policy experts warn that the government’s aggressive tactics are "absolutely in uncharted territory," suggesting that private firms could face quasi-nationalisation if they refuse to comply.

Despite these high stakes, the staff behind the petition remain steadfast. They are urging their leadership to "stand together to continue to refuse the Department of War's current demands."

By creating this "shared understanding and solidarity," employees hope to prevent their innovations from being used for domestic spying or killing people without a human in the loop.