Righteous AI Gallery/Children’s Edition
Welcome, Young Hero!
Big Question: “When you can build something amazing, should you use it for everything?”
The Story
Imagine you work at a company that makes really cool robots. One day, you find out your robots are being used to do things that might hurt people. What do you do?
In 2018, something like this really happened. Thousands of people at Google found out that their AI technology was being used for military drones. They had a choice: stay quiet and keep working, or speak up and say “this is not right.”
More than 4,000 people signed a petition. Some even quit their jobs. They said: “Just because we can build this doesn’t mean we should use it for everything.”
And it worked! Google decided not to continue that project.
Meet the Heroes
The Employees
- Who: More than 4,000 people who worked at Google
- What they did: Signed a petition, spoke up, some resigned
- Why it was brave: They risked their jobs to do what they thought was right
Figure 1 — The Employees Who Spoke Up
Figure Description: A colorful, child-friendly illustration showing a diverse group of people standing together, holding signs that say “Do the Right Thing” and “Ethics First.” They look brave and united. In the background, a large Google sign is visible. The style is cartoon-like, bright, and cheerful, showing that standing up for what is right can be done with courage and teamwork.
The Principles They Followed
This table explains four important principles that guided the Google employees, with kid-friendly meanings and examples.
Table 1. The Four Righteous Principles
| Principle | Meaning | Kid-Friendly Example |
|---|---|---|
| Conscience | Listening to your inner voice | “Even if nobody is watching, I know what’s right.” |
| Courage | Doing the right thing even when it’s hard | “Speaking up in class even when you’re nervous.” |
| Responsibility | Taking care of what you create | “If you build something, you’re responsible for how it’s used.” |
| Restraint | Knowing when to stop | “Just because you can eat all the candy doesn’t mean you should.” |
Figure 2 — The Four Righteous Principles
Figure Description: A colorful, child-friendly illustration showing four cartoon characters or symbols representing the four principles. Conscience is a glowing lightbulb with a face. Courage is a lion standing tall. Responsibility is two hands holding a heart. Restraint is a stop sign with a friendly face. The illustration is bright, engaging, and designed to help children remember each principle.
Timeline for Kids
Figure 3 — Project Maven Timeline
Figure Description: A simple, child-friendly timeline showing three key moments: 2017 — Google starts the project (a box icon); 2018 — Employees say “This is not right!” with a petition icon and a speech bubble; 2026 — Employees speak up again with a letter icon. Each event has a small illustration and is connected by a dotted line. The colors are bright and the style is simple and easy to read.
Interactive Zone — Kids Activities
Activity 1: What Would You Do?
Imagine you work at a company. You find out your work might hurt people. What do you do?
Table 2. Ethics Choice Framework
| Option | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Speak Up | You tell your boss it’s wrong. It takes courage, but you feel proud. |
| 🟡 Stay Quiet | You keep working. It feels safe, but something doesn’t feel right inside. |
| 🟢 Get Help | You talk to other people who feel the same way. Together, you’re stronger! |
Activity 2: Match the Principle
Draw a line to match the principle with its meaning.
Table 3. Principles and Their Meanings
| Principle | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🦁 Courage | Knowing what’s right and wrong |
| 💡 Conscience | Standing up even when it’s scary |
| 🤝 Responsibility | Knowing when to stop |
| 🛑 Restraint | Taking care of what you create |
Answers: Courage → Standing up even when it’s scary · Conscience → Knowing what’s right and wrong · Responsibility → Taking care of what you create · Restraint → Knowing when to stop
Activity 3: Righteous or Not? (Quiz)
Table 4. Everyday Ethical Choices
| Scenario | Righteous? |
|---|---|
| You see someone being left out at lunch. You invite them to sit with you. | ✅ Righteous |
| You know a friend is cheating on a test. You say nothing. | ❌ Unrighteous |
| You built a cool robot. You don’t want it to hurt anyone, so you add a “safety button.” | ✅ Righteous |
| Someone asks you to do something wrong. You say “No.” | ✅ Righteous |
Fun Facts
Table 5. Project Maven Protest Impact
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗣️ Over 4,000 people signed | That’s like filling 20 school buses! |
| 💪 Some people quit | They chose to leave their jobs because they believed in doing what’s right. |
| 📝 Google wrote new rules | They created “AI Principles” to guide what they would and wouldn’t do. |
| 🔁 It happened again | In 2026, more than 600 employees spoke up again about new military AI projects. |
Words to Know
Table 6. Gallery Glossary
| Word | Meaning | Kid-Friendly Example |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Computers that can learn and think | Like a smart robot that can help you |
| Protest | Speaking up about something you don’t think is right | Signing a petition or joining a group to ask for change |
| Petition | A paper with many signatures asking for something | Like getting your whole class to sign a letter to the principal |
| Conscience | Your inner voice that tells you right from wrong | That feeling in your tummy when something doesn’t feel right |
| Precedent | Setting an example that others can follow | Being the first person to do something good that others copy |
Craft Idea: Make Your Own “Righteous Pledge”
What you need: Paper, markers, stickers
Instructions:
- Write “I Pledge to…” at the top
- Write 3 things you will do to stand up for what’s right
- Decorate with drawings
- Sign your name at the bottom!
Example:
“I Pledge to…
1. Speak up when I see something wrong.
2. Be kind to everyone.
3. Take responsibility for my actions.”
Discussion Questions (For Parents & Teachers)
Table 7. Discussion Questions
| Question | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Why do you think the Google employees decided to speak up? | Understanding motivation |
| Was it hard for them to do that? Why? | Understanding courage |
| Have you ever had to stand up for something? | Personal connection |
| What would you do if you saw something wrong at your school? | Application |
| Why is it important to think about how technology is used? | Big picture |
Parent / Teacher Guide
Key Messages for Kids
- You have a voice: Even kids can speak up when they see something wrong
- Courage is a choice: It’s not about being fearless; it’s about doing the right thing anyway
- Technology is not neutral: What we build can be used for good or bad
- You are responsible: If you create something, you’re responsible for how it’s used
- Standing up works: The Google employees made a real difference!
Suggested Activities
Table 8. Interactive Activities by Age Group
| Activity | Age Group |
|---|---|
| Draw a picture of a “righteous hero” | 4-8 |
| Role-play: What would you say to your boss? | 8-12 |
| Write a letter to someone in power (real or imaginary) | 10-14 |
| Research: Who else has stood up for what’s right? | 12+ |
Hero Training Games
Play fun games and learn to stand up for what’s right!
References
BBC News. (2018, June 1). Google will not renew Pentagon AI contract after employee protests. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44332177
CNN Business. (2018, April 4). Thousands of Google employees protest Project Maven. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/04/tech/google-project-maven-petition/index.html
The New York Times. (2018, June 7). Google’s AI principles: What they mean. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/technology/google-ai-principles.html
The Verge. (2026, April 12). Google employees oppose new Pentagon AI agreement. https://www.theverge.com/2026/4/12/google-pentagon-ai-letter
Righteous Museum. (2026). Project Maven Employee Protest — Exhibition. Righteous AI Gallery. https://museum.wiserighteous.org/index.php/project-maven-employee-protest/
Credits
Exhibition: Project Maven Employee Protest · Kids Version · Righteous AI Gallery · Righteous Museum
For Kids: Created with love for young heroes who want to make the world a better place.
Learn More: Visit the full exhibition at Project Maven Employee Protest