Google published principles in 2018 barring its AI technology from being used for sensitive purposes. Weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term, those guidelines are being overhauled.

Google updated its artificial intelligence principles on Tuesday to remove commitments around not using the technology in ways “that cause or are likely to cause overall harm.” A scrubbed section of the revised AI ethics guidelines previously committed Google to not designing or deploying AI for use in surveillance,

After Google scrubbed wording that promised not to use AI for weapons, some staff slammed the decision in the company's internal message board.

Google has removed its pledge not to use artificial intelligence for weapons development and surveillance, but its executive said will base AI threats on its continued research.

Human Rights Watch has criticised the decision, telling the BBC that AI can "complicate accountability" for battlefield decisions that "may have life or death consequences." In a blog post Google defended the change,