UK Google DeepMind staff vote to unionize over Pentagon defense contract concerns

UK staff at Google DeepMind voted to unionize amid concerns about the company's deal with the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon reached agreements with seven AI companies, including Google, for 'lawful use' of their tech in the military.

Hundreds of Google employees signed an open letter condemning the Pentagon deal. One employee told WIRED that a union would allow staff to demand that Google give them a say in its products' uses.

UK law limits union influence to working conditions, but the union could be a PR headache and potentially incentivize Google to slow its British investment.