Google DeepMind employees have voted to unionize in a bid to prevent their AI from being used by military forces. In a letter to management, 98% of CWU members supported the move. The staff want assurances that their work will not contribute to violations of international law, especially those aiding Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians.

Union leaders demand Google commit to not pursuing harmful weapon development and surveillance technologies, or contracts that may impact job security. Staff are reportedly considering protests and research strikes as part of a broader campaign against military-industrial AI deals. If successful, this could represent at least 1,000 staff in London.

This follows hundreds of Google employees signing an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai last week, demanding the company refuse Pentagon contracts. Despite this, Google recently signed deals with OpenAI and Nvidia allowing military use of their AI models for any lawful government purpose. In 2024, over 50 staffers were fired after protesting against military ties with Israel.

John Chadfield from CWU says it’s a significant moment where tech workers at the cutting-edge lab are making meaningful connections based on solidarity and trade unionism. Their actions could set a precedent for other tech firms facing similar ethical dilemmas.