TLDR:
Google’s new AI Overview feature, which uses generative AI to summarize answers to search queries, ran into controversy after users reported nonsensical, factually inaccurate, or harmful responses. While some examples shared on social media were authentic, others were found to be fake and spreading misinformation.
Key Points:
- Google’s AI Overview feature faced backlash due to inaccurate and potentially harmful responses.
- Some screenshots shared on social media were authentic, showcasing odd results like adding glue to pizza sauce or eating a small rock per day.
Google’s new AI Overview feature, which leverages generative AI to summarize search query responses, was released to American users in mid-May 2024. However, users encountered problematic responses and shared screenshots on social media. Some of the authentic examples included adding glue to pizza sauce and eating rocks daily, while other examples like recommending self-harm were found to be fake.
In an email to Snopes, a Google spokesperson confirmed that while some bizarre AI Overview results were real, others were doctored and spreading misinformation. The article also cited instances like a fake screenshot suggesting leaving a dog in a hot car and doctors recommending smoking during pregnancy.
Users were also seen sharing tutorials on creating fake AI Overviews, leading to the spread of misinformation on various topics. The controversy surrounding Google’s AI Overview feature is not the first instance of false claims related to the company, with previous rumors debunked by Snopes in the past.