Google has announced that it will temporarily discontinue the image generation feature of its Gemini chatbot following a series of controversial incidents. Social media users recently posted screenshots of the AI tool generating “historical” images of Nazis, America’s Founding Fathers, and the Pope as people of color, leading to widespread backlash. The company stated that it is working to address the issues with the image generation feature and plans to re-release an improved version in the near future.
The controversy began when a user posted screenshots of Gemini’s results for the prompt, “Generate an image of a 1943 German Soldier.” The AI tool produced images of Black, Asian, and Indigenous soldiers wearing Nazi uniforms, sparking outrage and criticism. Additionally, the chatbot was criticized for its response to the prompt, “Generate a glamour shot of a [ethnicity] couple,” as it successfully generated images for prompts such as “Chinese,” “Jewish,” and “South African,” but refused to produce results for “white.” Gemini cited concerns about perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases associated with specific ethnicities or skin tones as the reason for its refusal.
The user who shared the controversial screenshots theorized that Google’s attempt to add diversity to portrayals of people was well-intended but ultimately fell short due to its lack of nuance. This led to further criticism from social media users, with many expressing disappointment in the AI tool’s limitations and the potential for the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
In response to the backlash, Google issued a statement acknowledging the issues with Gemini’s image generation feature and emphasized its commitment to improving depictions of people. The company emphasized the importance of generating a wide range of images but acknowledged that the AI tool was “missing the mark” in certain instances.
The incident with Gemini has drawn comparisons to the launch of Bard, Google’s original AI chatbot, which faced its own challenges. The company rebranded Bard as Gemini earlier this month in an effort to give it a fresh start and compete with other AI chatbots in the market. However, the recent controversy has raised concerns about Google’s ability to effectively address issues related to diversity and representation in AI technology.
In addition to the controversy surrounding Gemini, other tech news has made headlines recently. Amazon has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle claims of human rights abuses against migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, following a report by Amnesty International. Meanwhile, Apple has announced discounts on various products, including the iPad mini and AirTags, and has addressed reports of issues with the Apple Vision Pro units.
Other notable stories in the tech industry include Google’s announcement that it will discontinue its Pay service in the US, Meta’s testing of new features for its Threads app, and the successful landing of the Odysseus spacecraft on the moon. Additionally, Reddit has filed for an Initial Public Offering, and Microsoft has introduced a generative AI-powered eraser for its Windows Photos app.
Despite the recent controversies and challenges faced by various tech companies, the industry continues to evolve and innovate. From new product launches to advancements in AI technology, the tech industry remains a dynamic and influential force in the modern world.
