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The introduction of AI-generated summaries in Google’s US search results has hit a rough patch, as major media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, and CNBC are highlighting a slew of inaccuracies and peculiar responses.
Across social media platforms, users are inundating feeds with countless instances of the feature producing nonsensical and occasionally hazardous content.
From proposing the use of non-toxic adhesive on pizza to advocating for the consumption of rocks for nutritional advantages, these mishaps would be comical if they weren’t so concerning.
According to The New York Times, Google’s AI summaries are grappling with fundamental facts, asserting that Barack Obama was the inaugural Muslim president of the United States and alleging that Andrew Jackson completed college in 2005.
Such inaccuracies erode confidence in Google’s search engine, upon which over two billion individuals worldwide depend for credible information.
Per The Verge’s report, Google is currently in a rush to eliminate the peculiar AI-generated responses and enhance its systems through manual intervention.
A spokesperson from Google affirmed that the company is swiftly addressing the issue by removing problematic responses and utilizing these instances to enhance its AI overview feature.
The flawed introduction of AI summaries isn’t an isolated occurrence for Google, as CNBC highlights in its report. Google has encountered several missteps in its haste to incorporate AI into its products.
In February, Google had to halt its Gemini chatbot after it generated inaccurate portrayals of historical figures and predominantly omitted depictions of white individuals.
Prior to that, the Bard chatbot received criticism for disseminating incorrect information about outer space, resulting in a $100 billion decrease in Google’s market value.
Despite these setbacks, experts cited by The New York Times indicate that Google has little option but to continue advancing AI integration to stay competitive. However, the difficulties of managing large language models, which are exposed to false information and satirical content, are now more apparent.
The controversy surrounding AI summaries intensifies the ongoing debate regarding the risks and constraints of AI.
Although the technology boasts considerable potential, these blunders serve as a reminder that thorough testing is imperative before its widespread implementation.
According to the BBC, Google’s competitors are encountering comparable pushback as they endeavor to incorporate more AI tools into their consumer-oriented offerings.
The UK’s data watchdog is currently probing Microsoft following its announcement of a feature that captures continuous screenshots of users’ online actions.
Simultaneously, actress Scarlett Johansson voiced criticism against OpenAI for utilizing a voice resembling hers without authorization.
The extensive media coverage of Google’s flawed AI summaries thrusts the issue of diminishing search quality into the spotlight.
As Google endeavors to rectify these inaccuracies, the incident acts as a warning for the entire industry.
Key lesson: Emphasize the responsible deployment of AI technology to ensure that its advantages outweigh the associated risks.
Original news from SearchEngineJournal
