Google DeepMind has agreed to enter formal talks with UK tech workers that could lead to trade union representation amid growing staff concerns about the use of its AI by the US and Israeli governments’ defence and intelligence.
In a groundbreaking move, the artificial intelligence arm of the multi-trillion dollar Google empire, led by the Nobel prize winner Demis Hassabis, has agreed to meet the Communications Workers Union and Unite at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) after workers based at its London headquarters this month voted to make a bid to unionise.
Google DeepMind declined to voluntarily recognise the unions for collective bargaining purposes, but said in a staff email on Wednesday that talks at Acas “may lead to a formal ballot in a few months’ time, giving all eligible employees the opportunity to vote on whether they want to be represented by the unions”.
Google is facing a court challenge from a DeepMind AI researcher of Palestinian heritage who alleges he was wrongfully dismissed after protesting against its work for the Israeli government. The researcher is a member of the United Tech and Allied Workers’ Union, a branch of the CWU. Google disputes his account of his departure.
Israeli officials have credited Google’s cloud computing with enabling “phenomenal things [to] happen in combat” during the Gaza conflict.
Hundreds of workers have signed petitions raising concerns about the application of the technology, with concern rising since the company’s 2025 decision to drop a promise not to allow its technologies to be used in harmful weapons or surveillance that violated international norms.
In its message to staff on Wednesday, Google said its team’s “ability to listen to one another and collaborate together has always been central to our culture … We fully respect the labour rights of all our employees, including the right to choose whether or not to be a union member. Your choice will not affect how you are treated at GDM.”
A Google DeepMind spokesperson said: “We’ve declined the unions’ request for voluntary recognition to bargain collectively on pay, hours and holiday, but we have offered to meet via Acas, which is a standard next step. We continue to value the constructive and direct dialogue that we have with our employees about building a positive and successful workplace.”
A CWU source said: “It’s a concession that they need to address some of the serious issues on the shopfloor. There’s clearly a groundswell of opinion about the contracts they are expected to serve, for example the relationship with drone technology and the Israeli government and the relationship with the US military. This is definitely a step forward and they are not just shutting this off.”
