Workers at Google DeepMind in the UK have voted to unionise, partly due to concerns over a recent deal between the company and the US military. In a letter sent to management on Tuesday, staff requested recognition of the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives for UK-based employees.
One worker cited reports of Google's deal with the Pentagon, describing the US as 'not a responsible partner' due to its 'capricious Iran war' and feud with Anthropic. Another worker expressed unease about the company's provision of AI tools to the Israeli military, stating, 'I want AI to benefit humanity, not to facilitate a genocide.'
A Google spokesperson said there had been 'no vote to unionise', but a union official confirmed a vote took place in April. If recognised, the unions would represent at least 1,000 workers at the London-headquartered AI lab, marking the first union recognition at a 'frontier' AI company.
The unionisation drive follows Google's decision last year to drop a pledge not to develop militarised AI. Last week, the Pentagon announced agreements with seven AI firms, including Google, to accelerate the US military's adoption of AI. The deal includes non-binding language restricting use for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
