{"id":17321,"date":"2018-12-02T18:12:10","date_gmt":"2018-12-02T23:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdpair.com\/microsoft-to-give-pentagon-access-to-best-technology\/"},"modified":"2018-12-02T18:12:10","modified_gmt":"2018-12-02T23:12:10","slug":"microsoft-to-give-pentagon-access-to-best-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdpair.com\/?p=17321","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft to give Pentagon access to \u2018best technology\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In this file photo taken on April 17, 2017 the French headquarters of Microsoft are seen in Paris. (Photo by AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

US software giant Microsoft has pledged to give the Pentagon access to its "best technology" despite criticism from employees, breaking with other tech companies that are reconsidering military companies after facing internal backlash.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brad Smith, Microsoft\u2019s president and chief legal officer, said Saturday that the corporation was "going to provide the US Defense Department with access to the best technology … all the technology we create. Full stop."<\/p>\n

Speaking during a panel at the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Smith acknowledged that there was \u201csome angst" among the company\u2019s workforce about involvement in military contracts but Microsoft was not going to change course.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s opposite to what Google did in June after facing pressure from thousands of employees about involvement in the Pentagon\u2019s global drone program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The search engine company refused to review a contract that allowed the military to use Google's artificial intelligence tools to analyze drone footage.<\/p>\n

Smith, however, said it was possible to cooperate with the military and quell such concerns at the same time.<\/p>\n

"We want Silicon Valley to know just how ethical and honorable a tradition the military has," he said, noting that artificial intelligence and autonomous systems were going to have broad implications in all fields including the military.<\/p>\n

He said the company remains open to hearing employee opinions and would "engage to address the ethical issues that new technology is creating."<\/p>\n

<\/a> Google to leave Pentagon Artificial Intelligence project<\/a> Google will reportedly not renew a contract with the Pentagon for Artificial Intelligence (AI) work.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Smith said he had already received feedback from workers about the issue, including an email from an employee who grew up in Belgrade, Serbia — which was bombed by NATO forces in 1999.<\/p>\n

The employee told Smith that he needed to think through Microsoft's reasoning for accepting military contracts. Smith refused to mention whether Microsoft had taken any action or changed any policy as a result.<\/p>\n

To address growing needs for newer technologies, the Pentagon has established the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which provides capital to tech companies willing resolve problems faced by the US military.<\/p>\n

Following Google\u2019s decision to cease cooperation with the Pentagon on the Project Maven artificial intelligence contract, DIU director Michael Brown said his agency was getting numerous offers from other commercial companies that were interested in working with the US military.<\/p>\n