Google and OpenAI employees demand reduction in military AI contracts

Updated: 04-03-2026, 10.24 AM

What is the news?

There is a growing dispute between employees of Google, OpenAI and many tech companies regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the military. Several employees have issued an open letter demanding companies to set clear limits on AI projects with the Pentagon. Employees say that AI technology should not be used in weapons, surveillance and war related work. The debate on this issue has intensified even within companies.

Employees wrote protest letters

According to the report, an open letter titled ‘We will not remain divided’ has been signed by hundreds of tech employees. Within a few days, about 900 people signed this letter. Of these, about 800 employees are said to be from Google and about 100 employees are said to be from OpenAI. Employees say that the government is trying to involve companies in military AI projects by bringing them under various pressures.

There has been protest before too

This type of controversy has come up in Google before also. In the year 2018, many employees of the company had opposed a military project named Project Maven. This project was related to the analysis of data received from drones. At that time, the company had to withdraw from this project after protests by the employees. Now again the concern of the employees has increased with the news of AI models being used by the army.

Voice raised in the entire tech industry

Not only Google and OpenAI, but employees of other tech companies are also giving their opinion on this issue. According to the report, employees of Salesforce, IBM, Databricks and other companies have also signed a letter. It demands that AI technology should not be used in mass surveillance or automatic weapons. Employees say that technology should be used responsibly and ethically.