Google reportedly made sure Israel's military had access to its AI tools

Google has been providing more extensive support to Israel during its conflict with Hamas than previously known. A report by The Washington Post reveals that Google employees have worked closely with the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Defense Ministry to expand access to AI tools. In 2021, Google signed a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, alongside Amazon. Internal documents show that Google employees repeatedly requested greater access to AI technology on behalf of Israel, starting after the October 7 attacks. The requests continued until at least November 2024, with employees asking for access to Gemini AI technology to develop an AI assistant for the IDF. The purpose of earlier access requests is unclear, but they may have been used for military operations. The news sheds new light on Google employees' protests against the company's dealings with Israel, which began when the contract was signed. Despite employee protests, Google has fired over 50 employees for "disruptive behavior" and ignored a request from over 100 employees to review the contract. The employees' concerns have been renewed since the war began, with calls for Google to drop out of the Nimbus contract. Google's actions have sparked controversy and raised questions about the company's involvement in the conflict.