Andrew Ng Backs Google’s AI Defense Shift as Tech Giants Deepen Military Ties

Andrew Ng Supports Google’s AI Policy Shift on Military Use

The founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, has described Google's withdrawal from its ban on the use of AI in weapons development as a positive change for national security purposes.  

Why It Matters  

While at the Military Veteran Startup Conference in San Francisco, Ng said, “I’m very glad that Google has changed its stance,” regarding Google’s recently introduced policy. His statements come after Google’s stealthy repeal of the 2018 Australian Google Subsidiary commitment to not engage in the AI weapons development, which was created as an outcome of the employee backlash surrounding Project Maven, an American military program that AI for drone assistance. 

Ng has said some disparaging things against the opposition, maintaining that US technology companies should build products that serve military objectives. “Many of you are going out and you are ready to put your life on the line to protect the rest of us”, he told an audience composed mainly of veterans. “So how can now an American company choose to assist and support American service personnel who are out there fighting for us?”

Shifting AI Ethics in Big Tech

Ng, now leading an AI venture fund, has been an outspoken critic of regulatory measures that he argues could stifle U.S. AI innovation. He welcomed the collapse of California’s AI regulation bill and the Biden administration’s now-overturned AI executive order, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to stay ahead of China in AI-driven warfare.

He is not alone in advocating for AI-powered defense. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has actively lobbied for AI drone programs in Washington, with his company White Stork positioned to supply such technology.

However, Google’s military alignment has long been contentious. Figures such as former Google AI researcher Meredith Whittaker, Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, and DeepMind Chief Scientist Jeff Dean have opposed AI’s use in warfare, with Hinton calling for global regulations on autonomous weapons.

Growing AI-Military Partnerships

Despite internal divisions, major tech firms are deepening military collaborations. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have expanded AI infrastructure investments, seeking government contracts to offset the high costs of AI development. The Pentagon has shown increasing interest in AI-driven defense capabilities, reinforcing the industry’s pivot toward national security applications.

As the debate continues, Google’s policy shift signals a broader trend: AI’s role in military strategy is no longer a question of "if" but "how."