Google DeepMind Researcher Quits Over Unrestricted Military AI Contract, Citing 250 Staff Supporters

According to a lengthy statement released by AI safety researcher Alex Turner, he resigned from Google DeepMind in June over the company's military AI partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. Turner alleged that Google signed an unrestricted military AI contract with the Pentagon in late April without public disclosure.

Turner, who had campaigned internally to block the deal, drafted a 25-page oversight framework proposing restrictions on autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. The proposal gained support from approximately 250 DeepMind and Google research staff. However, Turner stated that company leadership, including DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, did not formally respond to the proposal. Turner noted that Google's 2014 commitment against military and weapons applications was removed from the AI principles in February 2025.