Workers at Google DeepMind's UK headquarters have voted to unionize, expressing concerns about the artificial intelligence company's military partnerships. In a letter sent to Google management on Tuesday, employees requested recognition of the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives for the lab's UK-based staff.

The unionization effort was supported by 98 percent of participating workers, according to the letter shared with management. The vote comes shortly after Google announced a deal with the US military last week, which workers cited as a key factor in their decision to organize.

Employees indicated that concerns about potential military applications of DeepMind's AI technology motivated their organizing efforts. The workers specifically referenced partnerships with both Israeli and US military entities as areas of concern regarding the responsible use of artificial intelligence capabilities.

Google DeepMind serves as the company's primary AI research laboratory, developing advanced artificial intelligence systems and technologies. The UK-based facility represents a significant portion of the company's research operations outside the United States.

The unionization request represents the latest example of technology workers organizing around ethical concerns related to their companies' government and military partnerships. Similar concerns have emerged at other major technology companies regarding the application of their products in military or defense contexts.

Google has not yet publicly responded to the unionization request from its DeepMind employees. The company will need to decide whether to voluntarily recognize the unions or require a formal certification process through UK labor authorities.