Google DeepMind in talks with UK unions amid staff concern over US and Israel’s AI use
Google DeepMind is engaging in discussions with UK unions following a vote by several hundred employees to unionize. The talks come amid rising concerns about the use of AI technology by the US and Israeli governments for defense and intelligence purposes. Employees have raised issues regarding the ethical implications of their work, particularly in relation to military applications.
- ▪Several hundred workers at Google DeepMind's London headquarters have voted to unionise.
- ▪The company has agreed to enter formal talks with the Communications Workers Union and Unite at Acas.
- ▪Concerns have been raised about the application of AI technology in military contexts, particularly related to the Israeli government.
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| Original publisher | World news | The Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/20/google-deepmind-talks-uk-unions-ai-use-israel-us-defence |
| Publication time | Wed, 20 May 2026 14:41:38 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-20T14:20:02.596Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-20T15:16:43.946Z |
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Several hundred workers at Google DeepMind’s London headquarters have voted to unionise. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenSeveral hundred workers at Google DeepMind’s London headquarters have voted to unionise. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesGoogleGoogle DeepMind in talks with UK unions amid staff concern over AI use by US and IsraelExclusive: Workers sign petitions over applications of AI by governments for defence and intelligence, and vote to unioniseRobert Booth UK technology editorWed 20 May 2026 10.10 EDTLast modified on Wed 20 May 2026 10.12 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleGoogle DeepMind has agreed to enter formal talks with UK tech workers that could lead to trade union representation, in a groundbreaking move that comes amid growing staff…
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