Google showcased AI Overviews at its Google I/O 2024 event. Since the feature started reaching the public, it has been a hot topic of discussion due to its inaccurate information. Soon after recommending users to eat rocks and apply glue on pizza, reports said the AI claimed Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Not only this, the technology has reportedly told an AP reporter that astronauts and cats played on the Moon. For the unaware, AI Overviews display a quick summary of answers from the web citing results in Search. Soon after the feature faced criticism from news publishers, it is now in the headlines for its barrage of unreliable information.
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According to CNBC, when questioned to recount the number of Muslim presidents in the US, the AI Overview said, “The United States has had one Muslim president, Barack Hussein Obama”. However, the former President is a Christian. In another instance, citing WebMD, the AI Overview said, “staring at the sun for 5-15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes if you have darker skin, is generally safe and provides the most health benefits.”
In another instance, the AI claimed that “none of Africa’s 54 recognised countries start with the letter ‘K’,” clearly missing Kenya. In another series of examples, when AP staff asked if cats have visited the moon, the AI-charged Search responded: “Yes, astronauts have met cats on the moon, played with them, and provided care”.
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As a response to these instances, Google told CNN that the majority of these responses offer “high-quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web”. “We’re taking swift action where appropriate under our content policies,” Google spokesperson Colette Garcia added. Plus, it said some of these queries are uncommon and a few examples have been “doctored or that we couldn’t reproduce”. The company already stated that “generative AI is experimental”.
Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
