DeepMind speech-restriction clause may date to GDM merger, upsetting old guard over weapons principles
S_OhEigeartaigh · x · 2026-10-22
Discussion of DeepMind contract clauses restricting public criticism, notably around autonomous weapons/surveillance: a colleague noted the clause seemingly wasn't in mid-2010s contracts, so long-tenured staff may not be barred from speaking out — it may have been introduced with the GDM/Brain merger.
Critics find this especially galling in a DeepMind context: Hassabis and co. profited for years from stating clear principles against these uses, which won academic and civil-society support and attracted staff who contributed heavily to its success. Per the BBC article, it's this old guard who are most upset. Hassabis is welcome to change his principles, the argument goes, but shouldn't silence those still holding to DeepMind's original ones.
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