
Google, you broke your word on …, shout protestors outside Google Deepmind's London headquarters
Google DeepMind
's London headquarters Monday, accusing the AI giant of breaking public safety promises made during the launch of its
Gemini 2.5 Pro
model.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The demonstration, organized by activist group
PauseAI
, drew over 60 participants who chanted "Test, don't guess" and "Stop the race, it's unsafe" while conducting a theatrical trial complete with a judge and jury. The group claims
violated commitments made at the 2024
AI Safety
Summit in Seoul, where the company pledged to involve external evaluators in testing its advanced AI models and publish detailed transparency reports.
When Google released Gemini 2.5 Pro in April, it labeled the model "experimental" and initially provided no third-party evaluation details. A safety report published weeks later was criticized by experts as lacking substance and failing to identify external reviewers.
Companies less regulated than sandwich shops, says protestors
"Right now, AI companies are less regulated than sandwich shops," said PauseAI organizing director Ella Hughes, addressing the crowd. "If we let Google get away with breaking their word, it sends a signal to all other labs that safety promises aren't important."
The protest reflects growing public concern about
AI development
pace and oversight. PauseAI founder
Joep Meindertsma
, who runs a software company and uses AI tools from major providers, said the group chose to focus on this specific transparency issue as an achievable near-term goal.
Monday marked PauseAI's first demonstration targeting this particular Google commitment. The group is now engaging with UK Parliament members to escalate their concerns through political channels.
Google has not responded to requests for comment about the protesters' demands or future transparency plans for its AI models.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Digital India foundation opposes Pakistan AI centre's bid to join AI alliance network
New Delhi: Think tank Digital India Foundation on Friday said it has strongly objected to Pakistan AI Technology Centre 's application for the membership of AI Alliance Network . Digital India Foundation is a founding member of the AI Alliance Network (AIANET) comprising 17 international organisations, of which three are from China. In a letter to AIANET, the DIF said that given Pakistan's systemic support of terrorism, the ongoing scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the potential weaponisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through AITeC's specialized labs, and the lack of institutional accountability or ethical oversight in Pakistan's AI ecosystem, pose a serious threat to India's national security "As a multilateral alliance of institutions committed to the ethical, transparent and peaceful development of AI, AITeC's application, if accepted, poses serious risk to the AIANET's credibility, security and shared values," DIF said. The think tank said that the autonomous AI and decision support lab, computer vision lab, and software optimization for edge computing lab are equipped with capabilities that can be easily redirected toward offensive cyber operations, cross-border attacks, and autonomous targeting systems. "These technologies, in the hands of a state apparatus with a history of harbouring terrorist groups and undermining regional stability, pose an unacceptable security risk," DIF said. The think tank further said that Pakistan's AI trajectory is heavily influenced by military-led initiatives, including the Pakistan Air Force's Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Computing (CENTAIC), which prioritises defence applications over civilian innovation. "The membership application of AITeC should be seen as Pakistan's way of gaining access to our R&D and technology with the aim of weaponizing AI through their specialized labs. We need to ensure that this does not happen," DIF Co-Founder and Head Arvind Gupta said.


Hans India
10 minutes ago
- Hans India
OpenAI Set to Launch AI-Powered Browser, Threatening Google Chrome's Market Stronghold
In a potential game-changer for the digital world, OpenAI is preparing to unveil its own AI-powered web browser—an innovation that could significantly challenge Google Chrome's dominance. As reported by Reuters, this new browser will incorporate ChatGPT-like capabilities, turning everyday browsing into a dynamic, AI-led experience. Sources close to the development say the browser may launch within weeks. OpenAI's goal is to shift internet usage from traditional, passive navigation toward an active, assistant-driven model. Imagine having an AI handle tasks like booking flights, filling out online forms, or even completing purchases—all within the browser. This shift could have major consequences for Google. Chrome plays a crucial role in Alphabet's $200 billion ad business, serving as a primary channel for collecting user data and driving traffic to Google Search, which is set as the default engine for most Chrome users. With over 3 billion users globally, Chrome helps power the algorithms that target ads with precision. Nearly 75% of Alphabet's revenue comes from advertising, much of it tied directly to this ecosystem. However, OpenAI's browser could reroute user behaviour. By integrating AI agents that perform tasks and provide information directly through a chat interface, users may no longer need to visit websites or conduct traditional searches—undermining Google's core business model. A key feature of the browser is its use of OpenAI's internal tools like Operator, which can take actions on the user's behalf. This includes making restaurant reservations, navigating web pages, and executing transactions, moving toward a future where the internet is experienced through proactive AI agents rather than clicks and searches. Although OpenAI is entering Google's territory, it's building this browser on Chromium, Google's own open-source browser engine. Chromium also powers Microsoft Edge and Opera. Interestingly, OpenAI has hired two former Google vice presidents who were instrumental in developing Chrome, underscoring the company's ambition to take on Google with experienced insiders. This move also comes at a delicate moment for Google. The tech giant is under pressure from U.S. regulators after a 2023 court ruling declared Alphabet held an unlawful monopoly in online search. The Department of Justice has even proposed a divestiture of Chrome. During recent legal proceedings, an OpenAI executive hinted at the company's interest in acquiring Chrome if that ever became a real possibility. OpenAI is not alone in the AI browser race. Competitors like Perplexity have launched Comet, while Brave and The Browser Company have also introduced smart browsing features powered by AI. Yet, OpenAI's 500 million weekly ChatGPT users give it a formidable advantage when it comes to rapid adoption. This browser launch is also part of a broader vision. OpenAI recently acquired io, an AI hardware company led by Apple's former design head, Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal—signaling its intention to build a seamless AI ecosystem across software and devices. As AI continues to blur the line between assistant and user, OpenAI's bold step into web browsing may mark the start of a new internet era—one that's interactive, intelligent, and possibly free from Google's long-standing grip.


India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
OpenAI-Windsurf deal falls apart, Google poaches CEO Varun Mohan and licenses tech for Rs 20,600 Crore instead
In a plot twist that no one saw coming, OpenAI's headline-grabbing $3 billion deal to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf has officially sunk, and Google DeepMind has just ridden in on the The Verge broke the news that OpenAI's acquisition plans had collapsed, and within hours, Google had pulled off a bold recruitment coup. Windsurf's CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and a team of top researchers are now headed to DeepMind, Google's elite AI research division. A Google spokesperson to TechCrunch later confirmed the move. advertisementBut here's where it gets spicy: Google isn't buying Windsurf. Instead, it's agreed to pay $2.4 billion for a nonexclusive licence to some of the company's technology, meaning Windsurf remains independent and free to partner with others. While the startup's top brass are off to join the Google fold, the rest of the 250-person team is staying put and continuing to run the operation. Jeff Wang, formerly Windsurf's head of business, has stepped up as interim CEO. In a post on social media, he assured everyone that Windsurf's enterprise AI coding tools aren't going anywhere. The company will carry on, minus a few high-profile departures, and Google will have no stake or control in its operations. This isn't your average Big Tech takeover, it's the latest example of a clever manoeuvre known as a 'reverse acquihire.' Rather than buy the company outright (and invite regulators to poke around), tech giants like Google and Microsoft are increasingly opting to poach key talent and license the tech. It's faster, cleaner, and far less likely to end up on the front page of an antitrust has played this game before. Remember when it lured Noam Shazeer back into its orbit? Microsoft pulled the same trick with Mustafa Suleyman. It's all part of the escalating AI arms race, where brains and code are the most valuable meanwhile, is left with more than just a dent in its acquisition record. According to The Wall Street Journal, Windsurf's tech became a contentious issue in its partnership with Microsoft, which already has access to OpenAI's IP. The startup's decision to pivot away from OpenAI likely helped avoid further tension, but it handed a win to a key Friday, Fortune reported that the exclusivity period for OpenAI's offer had just ended. Clearly, Windsurf didn't waste time window shopping, by the afternoon, the Google DeepMind deal was already making waves. In the high-stakes world of AI, things move fast, and the real prize isn't just tech, it's the people behind it.- Ends