Alphabet’s Google has announced that it will limit the types of election-related queries that its chatbot Bard and search generative experience can respond to. These restrictions will come into effect by early 2024, ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and other significant elections worldwide. The decision is part of Google’s increased focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in serving voters and campaigns. This move follows Facebook-owner Meta’s announcement in November that it is barring political campaigns and advertisers from using its new AI advertising products, and Elon Musk’s social media platform X’s decision to allow political advertising in the U.S. ahead of the upcoming election.
The restrictions imposed by Google and Meta demonstrate how big tech companies are navigating concerns around AI and its potential to spread misinformation during election campaigns. Governments worldwide are also working to regulate AI, with the European Union introducing new rules that require Big Tech firms to clearly label political advertising on their platforms, disclose who paid for it, and specify the targeted elections. These measures aim to address the threats posed by AI and misinformation.