Google DeepMind Employees Revolt Over Military AI Contracts

Employees at Google’s AI lab DeepMind have launched a push to unionize — the first known effort of its kind at a leading AI research center. The move comes amid growing internal opposition to Google’s controversial contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Google recently agreed to a deal that allows the Defense Department to use its generative AI model, Gemini, for any lawful purpose inside classified military networks. Critics warn the agreement could open the door to autonomous-weapons development or large-scale surveillance of U.S. civilians absent binding safeguards.

Google is not alone among major AI firms signing such contracts. OpenAI, xAI, Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon have struck similar deals. Only Anthropic refused; the Pentagon then barred military and defense contractors from using Anthropic products and labeled the company a \”supply chain risk.\” Anthropic is now challenging that designation in court.

Protests have erupted inside Google. More than 600 employees signed an open letter demanding the company withdraw the contract, and several staffers have publicly criticized the move in media and on social platforms.

The U.K.’s Communication Workers Union (CWU), which is representing DeepMind employees, said workers have initiated collective action aimed at preventing Google AI from being used not only by the U.S. Defense Department but also by Israeli military authorities. In a CWU ballot of DeepMind members, 98% backed pursuing union recognition. Employees sent a formal letter asking management to recognize the CWU and the professional union Unite the Union as their chosen representatives. A company-wide vote of all DeepMind staff has not yet taken place.

A Google DeepMind spokesperson told Fortune, \”Google UK recently received a letter from Unite and the CWU requesting recognition of a union for DeepMind’s UK staff. At this stage, we have not held a company-wide vote on unionization. We have always valued constructive dialogue with our employees and will continue to focus on creating a positive and successful workplace.\”

The spokesperson added that the CWU’s request represents a standard procedural step and remains at an early stage. No union currently holds official recognition at DeepMind or Google UK, the company said.

If Google voluntarily recognizes the union, roughly 1,000 employees at DeepMind’s London office would fall under its coverage. Workers gave management 10 business days to recognize the union or enter mediation; they said they will pursue legal action to force recognition if management refuses.

Union supporters are also demanding that Google restore ethical commitments it previously made. After strong employee protests over the 2018 military AI project Project Maven, Google pledged not to develop weapons or surveillance AI that would violate international norms. The company quietly removed that pledge from its website in February 2025.

Employees are calling for an independent AI ethics oversight body and for individual conscience rights that would allow staff to refuse work on specific projects for moral reasons.

John Chadfield, the CWU’s technology sector officer, said, \”By exercising the right to collective action, employees have secured a platform from which they can demand the company stop circling the ethical drain of military‑industrial contracts. This reflects the sentiment of many workers in the U.K. and around the world.\”

The union drive is part of a broader campaign opposing Google’s military contracts. The CWU says the effort could include offline protests and research strikes that refuse to develop or maintain core products such as the Gemini AI assistant.

A DeepMind employee familiar with the union push, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Fortune, \”I hope this effort will push DeepMind and Google leadership to show at least some backbone — some courage — in upholding the values and principles they’ve publicly championed for the past 20 years.\”

The move also reflects an attempt by Google employees to reclaim influence they exercised in the past. In 2018, thousands of employees signed letters and some submitted resignations, ultimately pressuring Google to abandon a military contract.

But current and former employees told Fortune that workers’ bargaining power has since weakened amid industry-wide cost cutting, massive AI investment commitments and waves of layoffs that have muted employee voices.

Another DeepMind researcher told Fortune that restoring bargaining power is a central goal of unionization. \”If we can win a voice in ethics reviews, AI audits, model deployments or even at Alphabet’s board level, we can regain leverage,\” the researcher said.

He added, \”Our influence has never been direct. Historically, we’ve raised concerns repeatedly, making controversial projects too costly to maintain until the company gave up.\”

/ Beatrice Nolan  Kim Darin, Reporter quill@fortunekorea.co.kr