Key facts
- Google director René Mayrhofer resigned due to the company's work with the US Department of Defense on AI models.
- Mayrhofer stated that Google management had 'lost its moral compass' and abandoned previous AI principles.
- He expressed concerns about the potential misuse of AI for surveillance and violations of international law.
- Google confirmed a deal to provide AI technology to the Pentagon for classified work, including military operations planning and intelligence gathering.
- Mayrhofer will continue his notice period until August but will cease involvement with AI systems related to the DoD deal.
René Mayrhofer, a director for Android platform security at Google, has resigned from his position, citing the company's work with the U.S. Department of Defense as the primary reason. In a farewell note circulated internally and obtained by Business Insider, Mayrhofer stated that Google management had "lost its moral compass" and "quietly abandoned" previous goals, including those related to AI principles.
Mayrhofer's decision became "unavoidable" after Google signed an agreement to provide its AI models for classified work with the Pentagon, which he believes could be used for purposes violating international laws, such as mass surveillance. He noted that Google updated its AI guidelines in February 2025, removing restrictions against developing weapons or surveillance tools, a change from the principles established in 2018.
He expressed personal pacifist beliefs and an inability to align with the company's overall direction of working with the U.S. military. Mayrhofer highlighted a lack of transparency in company decisions, stating they are made by top-level management without internal debate. He is not the first employee to publicly disagree with the Pentagon deal; Andreas Kirsch, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, had also voiced strong opposition.
Mayrhofer, who is also a tenured academic in the EU, acknowledged his privileged position that allowed him to resign without financial dependence. He will serve his notice period until August but will immediately disconnect from any work related to the Department of Defense deal. He expressed sadness over the situation and a hope that Google management would "re-discover its moral compass."