Google Faces Questions on AI Ethics Oversight as Responsible Innovation Team Restructures

Google, led by CEO Sundar Pichai, is undergoing internal changes in its approach to AI ethics oversight, raising concerns among employees and industry observers. The company's Responsible Innovation team, known as RESIN, tasked with reviewing internal projects for alignment with Google's AI principles, has experienced a leadership change and restructuring. The sudden departure of RESIN's leader and founder, Jen Gennai, has prompted a split in the team, with about 90% transitioning to the trust and safety division, while the remaining 10% stay in place.

The RESIN team played a pivotal role in overseeing AI projects, conducting over 500 reviews in 2023, including projects like the Bard chatbot. Google spokesperson Brian Gabriel stated that the restructuring signifies a commitment to responsible AI development, integrating the team into the trust and safety efforts. However, details about how AI principles reviews will be handled in the future remain undisclosed.

This move comes at a time when Sundar Pichai highlighted the importance of developing AI responsibly in the company's priorities for 2024. Google has historically reshuffled its teams, but RESIN, founded in 2018 after protests against Project Maven, had remained largely untouched until now. Industry experts and Google employees express concerns about the potential impact on responsible AI development as Google faces increased competition in the AI sector.