The Guardian | Google DeepMind in talks with UK unions amid staff concern over AI use by US and Israel by Robert Booth UK technology editor

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Google DeepMind’s London staff have voted to unionise, prompting the AI division to agree to formal talks with the Communications Workers Union and Unite through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). Although DeepMind declined voluntary union recognition for collective bargaining, it said the discussions could lead to a future ballot on representation. The move follows growing employee concerns over the company’s AI being used by the US and Israeli governments for defence and intelligence purposes, highlighted by petitions and a court case from a dismissed researcher of Palestinian heritage. Google affirmed it respects workers’ labour rights and will continue dialogue, while unions view the talks as a necessary concession amid heightened scrutiny of the firm’s involvement in military and surveillance technologies.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/20/google-deepmind-talks-uk-unions-ai-use-israel-us-defence

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Behind a very reasonable paywall: “The UK’s summer of discontent is far from over”, by Marc Lenormand (subscribers, November 2022) // https://mondediplo.com/10113

#LMD #LeMondeDiplomatique #Unions #UKUnions