“Why I Left Google DeepMind” by TurnTrout

Preface for LessWrong: When I think back on my most cherished memories of this community, I return to those honoring defiance in pursuit of goodness:

• Defying prestigious dogma and searching for raw truth;
• Defying social pressure, acting alone to help someone while others watch;
• Defying your self-expectations (your “role”), instead searching over lines of cause-and-effect to find a winning pathway;
• Defying a powerful foe's threats, because they only threaten since people like you cave;
• Defying the specter of apparent impossibility because you can’t bear to lose.

I cannot return to you and say “I defied and then I won.” But I’m at least here to say “I defied.”

I recommend reading this article on my website since the embeds and typography work better there: click here.

Why I left Google DeepMind

In January, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers killed at least two people. In both cases, a federal agent grasped his gun, aimed it at a peaceful citizen, and shot them dead.

Left: Renée Good, moments before DHS killed her.
Right: Alex Pretti, moments before DHS killed him.

I learned that Google sells its Cloud services to the relevant agencies within DHS. I thought that was [...]

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Outline:

(00:59) Why I left Google DeepMind

(04:54) Google supports the immigration enforcement supply chain

(06:00) But how could I do anything about it?

(08:00) Talking to Jeff Dean

(11:19) The Pentagon tries to intimidate Anthropic

(14:27) I wanted to mobilize the AI luminaries at the conference

(16:11) Talking to Bengio and Stuart

(17:57) Stuart closes out IASEAI

(21:42) International Association of Silence on the Ethics of AI

(24:00) Left on read by IASEAI

(25:24) Trying to stop Google from signing

(25:47) Building internal cost for Google

(28:00) Jeff Dean, you're our only hope

(29:18) Jeff signs an amicus brief supporting Anthropic

(31:33) Senior management insisted Google wouldn't cave

(32:43) Preparing for lunch with Jeff Dean

(35:51) I arranged social support

(36:56) The art of the deal

(37:50) Criteria for a contract

(39:39) The Framework I created

(42:51) My lunch with Jeff

(44:24) Searching for another path to impact

(45:50) No one is responding, so why not just DM the CEO?

(46:46) My Framework goes unevaluated

(48:12) Google quietly signs the deal

(50:31) Demis insists Google's AI principles "haven't changed"

(53:52) We can "work with Western democracies" to "beat China" without giving in to every demand Trump makes

(55:00) Building a world-reshaping technology on personal trust

(58:48) Reflections

(59:45) How can a pledge-signer remain at GDM?

(01:00:56) Keeping a seat at the table

(01:01:48) The weight of ethics

(01:03:13) What are the AI luminaries doing?

(01:04:35) Why didn't Jeff put his foot down?

(01:05:05) Breaking free of roles

(01:06:31) Why I left Google DeepMind

(01:07:33) Appendix: Anticipated questions

(01:07:38) What if the people you critique were saving their political capital?

(01:08:02) Maybe they thought you weren't worth their time; you aren't entitled to their help

(01:08:42) Every person shouldn't have to speak out about every issue

(01:09:16) Even if Google had adopted your Framework, the Pentagon would have refused

(01:10:40) Does this have any impact on existential risk from AI?

(01:12:38) Appendix: "Don't worry, it's only API access"

The original text contained 21 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:
July 15th, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/iKm2FhpWkuuBojm82/why-i-left-google-deepmind

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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