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On Tuesday, May 5, Google AI workers in the U.K. launched a unionization bid, as part of an attempt to end the use of their technology by Israel and the U.S. military.

Workers at Google DeepMind — Google’s AI research laboratory, based in London — sent a letter to management Tuesday requesting recognition of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite the Union as official representatives of their staff.

The decision to unionize followed a deal between Google and the Pentagon that sparked internal backlash. Last week, Google agreed to let the U.S. Department of Defense use its AI models in classified military networks for “any lawful government purpose.”

This comes as the U.S. government continues to work to secure contracts with major AI firms for use by the U.S. military, with controversies erupting over how the technologies will be used. In late February, the Trump administration ordered all government agencies to cease using Anthropic, an AI firm that focuses on AI safety, after the company refused to lift safety restrictions on the military’s use of its AI. The Pentagon had said that it would use Anthropic’s technology for “any lawful purpose,” and the company expressed concerns that its AI would be used for unmanned weapons or mass surveillance. Anthropic raised these concerns after the U.S. military used its technology in its raid in Venezuela to capture former President Nicolas Maduro. However, the company has since then met with the White House, aiming for a compromise to continue to work with the........

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