Google has announced that its AI chatbot, Gemini, will no longer be able to respond to inquiries regarding global elections taking place this year. The decision aims to prevent potential missteps in the deployment of the technology. This update arrives at a time when concerns around misinformation and fake news, stemming from advancements in generative AI, have prompted governments to regulate the technology.
Gemini, when asked about upcoming elections such as the U.S. presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, now replies with, “I’m still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.” Google had previously announced these restrictions would be implemented before the 2024 U.S. election.
“In preparation for the many elections happening around the world in 2024 and out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting the types of election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses,” stated a Google spokesperson.
Besides the United States, several large countries, including South Africa and India, are preparing for national elections. The Indian government has urged tech firms to seek approval before releasing AI tools that are deemed “unreliable” or still in the trial phase. Additionally, they have asked companies to label these tools to indicate the potential for incorrect information.
Google’s AI products have faced scrutiny recently due to inaccuracies in Gemini’s historical depictions of people, leading to the suspension of the chatbot’s image-generation feature. CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged the flaws and referred to the chatbot’s responses as “biased” and “completely unacceptable.” In response, Facebook-parent Meta Platforms announced the establishment of a team dedicated to addressing disinformation and abuses of generative AI leading up to the European Parliament elections in June.
FAQ
Q: Why is Google restricting its AI chatbot?
A: Google aims to avoid potential missteps in the deployment of AI technology, particularly regarding global elections, amid concerns of misinformation and fake news.
Q: What happens when Gemini is asked about upcoming elections?
A: Gemini responds with “I’m still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.” It is no longer equipped to provide detailed responses about global elections.
Q: Which countries are holding national elections?
A: Alongside the United States, countries such as South Africa and India are preparing for national elections.
Q: What measures has the Indian government taken regarding AI tools?
A: The Indian government has requested tech firms to seek government approval before releasing AI tools considered “unreliable” or in trial phases. Additionally, these tools should be labeled to indicate the potential for incorrect information.
Sources:
– Reuters: [https://www.reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com)
FAQ
Q: Why is Google restricting its AI chatbot?
A: Google aims to avoid potential missteps in the deployment of AI technology, particularly regarding global elections, amid concerns of misinformation and fake news.
Q: What happens when Gemini is asked about upcoming elections?
A: Gemini responds with “I’m still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.” It is no longer equipped to provide detailed responses about global elections.
Q: Which countries are holding national elections?
A: Alongside the United States, countries such as South Africa and India are preparing for national elections.
Q: What measures has the Indian government taken regarding AI tools?
A: The Indian government has requested tech firms to seek government approval before releasing AI tools considered “unreliable” or in trial phases. Additionally, these tools should be labeled to indicate the potential for incorrect information.
Definitions:
– Generative AI: An area of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating realistic and creative outputs, such as images, text, or audio, by training a model on a large dataset.
– Misinformation: False or inaccurate information that is spread, often unintentionally, leading to misunderstandings or misconceptions.
– Fake news: False or misleading information presented as news or facts, often spread through social media or other digital platforms.
Sources:
– Reuters: link name