New Delhi| Updated 13-03-2024, 03:21 pm IST
- Google imposes limitations on its generative AI tool, Gemini, preventing it from responding to inquiries about global elections.
- The move aims to mitigate potential misinformation and fake news associated with generative AI technology.
- Restrictions align with growing concerns and regulations surrounding the responsible deployment of AI tools, especially in critical areas such as elections.
Google has announced restrictions on its generative AI tool, Gemini, preventing it from responding to inquiries regarding global elections scheduled for this year. This decision, as reported by Reuters, comes amidst concerns surrounding potential misinformation and fake news associated with generative AI technology.
Gemini’s responses to questions about upcoming elections, including significant events like the US presidential match-up between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, now redirect users to “Google Search” with the message, “I’m still learning how to answer this question.” The limitations on Gemini were initially announced in the US in December, with plans to implement them before the upcoming election.
With numerous elections taking place worldwide in 2024, Google is taking precautionary measures to restrict the types of election-related queries to which Gemini will provide responses. This move aligns with the growing scrutiny and regulations surrounding generative AI technology, including image and video generation, by governments worldwide.
Apart from the United States, significant national elections are on the horizon, including those in South Africa and India. The Indian government, in particular, has urged tech firms to seek approval before releasing AI tools deemed “unreliable” or undergoing trials. This advisory from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology underscores the need for careful regulation of AI technologies to prevent misinformation and ensure their responsible deployment.
Responding to the advisory, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for IT, clarified that the rule applies primarily to “significant platforms” and not to startups in India. He emphasized that the advisory aims to regulate larger platforms and ensure responsible AI deployment while fostering innovation among startups.
Gemini itself faced criticism recently for generating historically inaccurate and biased images, including a refusal to generate images of white people. This led to accusations of being “too woke” by users. In response, Google temporarily paused the image generation feature of Gemini and pledged to release an improved version addressing the reported issues.
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