The Tech Companies We Use Invest in War...

To those who use Google, Amazon, and Spotify,

The possibilities that come with artificial intelligence is something I'm feeling increasingly passionate about: AI art, AI music, AI recipes, AI sound effects, AI architecture, AI journalism, AI scientists–it's a new world filled with potential for exponential growth!

But then there's one thing that doesn't sit well with me: AI for the purposes of war. Or defence tech–as some like to call it–to make it appear less threatening.

People from all three of the above mentioned companies–companies whose services I enjoy–have decided to invest their tech/money in AI for the purposes of war.

Google and Amazon have jointly signed a billion dollar military contract, with a country that has been involved in wars at least a dozen times since its inception in 1948.

The CEO and co-founder of Spotify, Daniel Ek, has invested €100m in an AI defence tech-company. Bear in mind, that Spotify would not have existed, had it not been for the artists outputting their art. Artists who seldom like to be associated with wars and disunity, with a few exceptions, of course.

As a child of refugees, from a family displaced by wars and dictatorship, I have to question my dependency on these companies and their services.

Google's finishing touch on its code of conduct from early 2022 is "And remember... don’t be evil, and if you see something that you think isn’t right – speak up!"

War, regardless of which country engages in it, is pure evil to me.

War causes disunity among people who otherwise could get along. It shatters families. It shatters lives. And that's not the type of artificial intelligence I can ever be excited about. Let alone contribute towards financially.

So, for a child of refugees, it is very hard to, in good conscience, use services that also offer services to those who engage in war–no matter the means of justification. To me, no war is ever justified. And I firmly stand by that.

I hope these tech firms will rearrange their paths to tech that evolves humanity, tech that erases the borders between us as humans, and tech that leads to a better world.