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Why I Left Google DeepMind

turntrout.com

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Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#171

Post by spwa4 »

jmcgough wrote: post #35
spwa4 wrote: post #7

[flagged]

This is pretty different - in both of those, the officer faced consequences. Unidentified masked ICE officers have killed about a person a month with no consequences, many times over a civil concern (immigration status) or just getting annoyed with protesters who broke no laws. ICE is effectively a lethal extrajudicial force with no means of seeking accountability when they kill. On top of that, they are acting aggre…

You mean a suspended sentence that was later mostly canceled, a guarantee he wouldn't be fired, 6 months holiday at full pay (probably more), oh, and a 400 euro fine.

Yeah they really threw the book at him.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#172

Post by Omniusaspirer »

Turn_Trout wrote: post #162
recitedropper wrote: post #4

Nothing but respect to TurnTrout for taking an action like this. The world needs more smart people who are willing to stand for what they feel is right, despite the pressures otherwise. Without that occurring more, our species is going to lose many impactful prisoner's dilemmas coming these next two decades. This raises my respect for AI researchers a little bit too. I have often felt that the entire industry is pret…

Thank you for your praise. > I'd guess TurnTrout doesn't agree on that framing, otherwise he probably would not have been at Deep Mind. But clearly he and I agree on other ethical positions; I am nothing but glad to see him stick to his principles here. FWIW I agree that creators should be compensated (but evidently it wasn't a deal-breaker for me joining). I think it's bad how little that has happened. I joined GDM…

I'll add some praise- thank you for taking a stand. I trust the employment will work itself out as it tends to for smart and principled people.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#173

Post by watwut »

amazingamazing wrote: post #141
watwut wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This idea that once a party gain a little more votes, people who oppose it should cease to exist and cease push for own values ... somehow applies only to the right. When center or left wins, somehow, magically, same logic dont apply.

What a weird strawman

Literally you "It is honorable but ultimately hasn’t democracy spoken wrt the issues mentioned in the post?"

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#174

Post by fooo1882992 »

metalsiliconYT wrote: post #64

Respect for sticking to your beliefs. Just out of curiosity though why do people not want smart AI weapons? I would much rather have an onboard AI that can discriminate between unarmed civilians and military assets, seems irresponsible to not... Is a dumb sea mine that blows up everything somehow better than a smart sea mine that knows to not blow up sometimes?

Jevons paradox, but for violence.

Right now there's a lot of killing that's only limited by the risk of collateral damage.

Flipped around, the best deterrent against major wars is mutually assured destruction.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#175

Post by fulafel »

amazingamazing wrote: post #67

It is honorable but ultimately hasn’t democracy spoken wrt the issues mentioned in the post? For better or worse millions of Americans voted for the guy doing the deportations. I also find it difficult to reconcile not using AI for weapons. If war is inevitable AI presumably would at least ensure you are on target.

Same goes for Putin's policies of course.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#176

Post by aiono »

metalsiliconYT wrote: post #64

Respect for sticking to your beliefs. Just out of curiosity though why do people not want smart AI weapons? I would much rather have an onboard AI that can discriminate between unarmed civilians and military assets, seems irresponsible to not... Is a dumb sea mine that blows up everything somehow better than a smart sea mine that knows to not blow up sometimes?

First issue it makes killing people easier. We already see it in IDF soldiers feeling less guilty because in the end decision is made by AI-assisted targeting systems. Secondly it automates killing people. Now a soldier doesn't need to use the weapon himself, he just oversees them and the killing itself is automated. Imagine how much more deaths it will lead to.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#177

Post by UncleMeat »

metalsiliconYT wrote: post #64

Respect for sticking to your beliefs. Just out of curiosity though why do people not want smart AI weapons? I would much rather have an onboard AI that can discriminate between unarmed civilians and military assets, seems irresponsible to not... Is a dumb sea mine that blows up everything somehow better than a smart sea mine that knows to not blow up sometimes?

I do not believe that AI weapons will reduce civilian casualties. Maybe per strike it will but we also know that when we give people new capabilities they will use them more. Suddenly instead of taking time to select targets you can ask an AI and boom you've got a thousand targets and you are off to the races.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#178

Post by stasomatic »

0xWTF wrote: post #103

I haven't finished reading, but I should note for the group that the author doesn't represent the Anthropic situation accurately. Emil Michael, the undersecretary of war/defense for research and engineering went on the All-In podcast (1) and explained, for quite some time, exactly what happened. You should go listen to it (2). In essence, in the negotiations, Dario kept coming back saying "well, if you need it, call…

The US government eff'd up. Ethics asides (i.e. autonomous killer robots), how could they make a decision to rely on a third-party entity with feelings? In-house all, they have more money than "God". Eminent domain, whatever. All this drama due to their own incompetence. Same with SpaceX for launches. Pathetic and embarrassing.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#179

Post by janpeuker »

Turn_Trout wrote: post #162
recitedropper wrote: post #4

Nothing but respect to TurnTrout for taking an action like this. The world needs more smart people who are willing to stand for what they feel is right, despite the pressures otherwise. Without that occurring more, our species is going to lose many impactful prisoner's dilemmas coming these next two decades. This raises my respect for AI researchers a little bit too. I have often felt that the entire industry is pret…

Thank you for your praise. > I'd guess TurnTrout doesn't agree on that framing, otherwise he probably would not have been at Deep Mind. But clearly he and I agree on other ethical positions; I am nothing but glad to see him stick to his principles here. FWIW I agree that creators should be compensated (but evidently it wasn't a deal-breaker for me joining). I think it's bad how little that has happened. I joined GDM…

Thank you. I stood against Maven back then so I salute you.

Re: Why I Left Google DeepMind

#180

Post by zombot »

soundworlds wrote: post #166
slowin wrote: post #33

Props to the author. I left Microsoft due to their work with Israel to spy on Palestinians and record all of their phone conversations (in addition to other IDF collaborations). They ended up walking some of it back, but Satya was complicit. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/microsoft-bloc...

So Microsoft will support Israel in killing Palestinians, but pull the accounts of International Criminal Court Prosecutors? Jesus

Makes perfect sense. Who wouldn't want impunity for aiding and abetting murder?
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