Google’s rollout of AI-generated overviews in US search results is taking a disastrous turn, with mainstream media outlets including The New York Times, BBC and CNBC reporting numerous inaccuracies and strange responses.
On social media, users share countless examples of the feature’s nonsensical and sometimes dangerous output.
From recommending non-toxic glue on pizza to suggesting that eating rocks provides nutritional benefits, the mistakes would be funny if they weren’t so alarming.
Replicated…
But I appreciate that the suggested glue is “non-toxic”!
Look, this isn’t about “gotchas”, it’s about pointing out clearly foreseeable damage. Before, for example, a child dies from this mess.
This is not about Google, but about the foreseeable effect of AI on society. pic.twitter.com/MIPjF8hg0i
— MMitchell (@mmitchell_ai) May 23, 2024
I couldn’t believe it before I tried it. Google needs to fix this ASAP… pic.twitter.com/r3FyOfxiTK
— Kris Kashtanova (@icreatelife) May 23, 2024
Mainstream media coverage
As reported by The News from New YorkGoogle’s AI overviews struggle with basic facts, claiming that Barack Obama was the first Muslim president of the United States and claiming that Andrew Jackson graduated from college in 2005.
These errors undermine trust in Google’s search engine, which is trusted by more than two billion people worldwide for authoritative information.
Manual removal and system improvements
As reported The VirginGoogle is now scrambling to weed out weird AI-generated responses and improve its systems manually.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that the company is taking “prompt action” to remove problematic responses and using the examples to refine its AI overview feature.
Google Rush To AI integration
The botched launch of AI overviews is not an isolated incident for Google.
How CNBC notes in his report, Google made several missteps in its rush to integrate AI into its products.
In February, Google was forced to shut down its Gemini chatbot after it generated inaccurate images of historical figures and refused to depict white people in most cases.
Before that, the company’s Bard chatbot faced ridicule for sharing incorrect information about outer space, which generated $100 billion. throw in Google’s market value.
Despite these setbacks, industry experts cited by The News from New York suggest that Google has no choice but to continue advancing AI integration to remain competitive.
However, the challenges of taming the big language models, which ingest false information and satirical publications, are now more evident.
The debate on AI in research
Controversy around AI overviews adds fuel to the debate about AI’s risks and limitations.
While the technology has potential, these failures remind everyone that more testing is needed before releasing it to the public.
The BBC notes that Google’s rivals are facing similar backlash for their attempts to cram more AI tools into their consumer-facing products.
The UK’s data watchdog is investigating Microsoft after it announced a feature that would take continuous screenshots of users’ online activity.
At the same time, actress Scarlett Johansson criticized OpenAI for using a voice similar to hers without permission.
What this means for websites and SEO professionals
Mainstream media coverage of Google’s flawed AI overviews brings the problem of declining search quality into the public eye.
As the company works to correct the inaccuracies, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for the entire industry.
Important point: Prioritize the responsible use of AI technology to ensure that the benefits outweigh its risks.
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