Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has decided to stop prioritizing diversity and inclusion in its work environment, according to a new report filed with U.S. regulators.
In its annual statement, which must be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the commitment to diversity and inclusion that was included in previous reports has been removed.
This decision comes in a context of increasing political pressure regarding diversity initiatives, driven by criticisms from President Donald Trump, who has labeled such programs as illegal.
Goodbye to Diversity, Signed Donald Trump
Internally, Alphabet has informed its employees that hiring goals based on race or gender will no longer be set. A Google spokesperson, when asked, stated: “We are committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities.”
And they added that “in the past year we have been reviewing our programs designed to help us achieve this,” referring to the requirements imposed on federal contractor companies following recent court decisions and executive orders on the subject.
This change in the diversity and inclusion policy coincides with an update to Google’s principles on artificial intelligence, in which the promises not to use technology for military or surveillance purposes.
These modifications come at a time when companies competing in the AI sector in the U.S. now have fewer obligations, such as sharing test results that reveal serious risks this technology could pose to the nation, the economy, or citizens.
The recent series of changes at Alphabet marks a turning point in the company’s corporate culture, generating uncertainty about the future of its social responsibility policies and their alignment with current regulations.