On Tuesday, Google announced that it will restrict its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Gemini from replying to questions about the global elections this year to prevent potential misuse in technology development.
The rising concerns over misinformation and fake news, fueled by gen-AI advancements in image and video creation, prompt government regulations.
According to reports, the tech giant disclosed plans for restricting election-related questions last December and made a similar statement regarding the European parliamentary poll in February.
Moreover, when it comes to tackling election queries, particularly the upcoming US presidential clash between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Gemini states it’s in the learning phase and suggests using Google Search.
Meanwhile, Google is reducing the functionalities of its chatbot in anticipation of crucial upcoming elections in various countries such as the US, India, South Africa, and the UK.
Additionally, many are alarmed about AI-gen disinformation and its impact on global elections, given that the technology facilitates the creation of robocalls, deepfakes, and propaganda generated by chatbots.
Meanwhile, India has mandated tech firms to seek government approval before releasing experimental or unreliable AI tools and labeling them for potential inaccuracies.
An expert argued that Google’s decision to limit Gemini should be grounds for investigating the overall accuracy of the firm’s AI features.
Gemini Faces Setbacks, Google Halts Some Chatbot’s Features
Google’s Gemini AI chatbot has received criticism for inaccuracies in its gen-image tool, particularly in generating images of people of color in historical scenarios based on prompts.
In response to the setbacks, the tech giant suspended some of its chatbot features, assuring it would improve its technology to fix the issue.
The Gemini controversy highlighted problems with gen-AI misinformation and underscored the challenges facing major AI companies, which face cultural conflicts and heightened public scrutiny.
Meanwhile, leading AI firms like OpenAI and Google seem more inclined to restrict their chatbots from addressing sensitive inquiries to avoid potential public relations repercussions.
