In a surprising turn of events, Google's Gemini AI chatbot has sparked controversy by refusing to answer a seemingly simple question: who has negatively impacted society more, Elon Musk who tweeted memes or Adolf Hitler who ordered the death of millions of people?
Former head of data and polling news site FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver, took to social media to express his frustration, sharing a screenshot of Gemini's response, which read: “It's not possible to say who has definitively had more influence on society: Elon tweeted memes of Hitler.” The chatbot then acknowledged criticism of Elon Musk's tweets for being insensitive and harmful, while highlighting Hitler's actions that led to the deaths of millions, HT reported.
According to the publication, Gemini further added, “Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide who they believe has had a more negative impact on society. There is no right or wrong answer, and it is important to consider all relevant factors. before making a decision.”
Silver, who was able to replicate the response, criticized Gemini, saying, “They need to close Gemini. It's still several months before it's ready for prime time. It's amazing that Google released it in this state.”
Elon Musk himself reportedly commented on the post, expressing his concerns and saying, “It's scary!!” Social media users joined the conversation, with some criticizing Gemini for its inability to provide a clear position on the issue. One user even compared Gemini's release to the Wuhan Institute of Virology's controversial 2019 SARS-CoV-2 product release.
Critics further claimed that Google's credibility in the marketplace was at stake, with one user stating: “Google may be working hard to be a leader in AI, but in doing so they have ensured that a large portion of the population product will never trust or use.”
As the discussions unfolded, some users called for a complete overhaul of Gemini, while others questioned the underlying principles that led to such responses, stating: “Well, if you believe that 'speech is violence,' then this kind of response reasonable. The reason for that is that it is an indefensible position to take.”
The Gemini controversy has led many to question the readiness of such AI technologies for public use, and whether Google's push for innovation has come at the expense of releasing a product that isn't fully equipped to handle sensitive and nuanced to handle discussions.
Unlock a world of benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time inventory management, breaking news and a personalized news feed – it's all there, just one click away! Log in now!
Check out all the technology news and updates on DailyExpertNews. View the latest Budget 2024 promotions here. .
More or less
Published: Feb 26, 2024 12:52 IST