Jack Krawczyk explores how Google Bard facilitates user connections and communication, shedding light on the future trajectory of the platform.
Google has decided to temporarily halt the image generation feature of its AI tool, Gemini, following instances where the model declined to produce images of White individuals, as reported by Reuters.
The tech giant, owned by Alphabet, issued an apology on Wednesday in response to social media users’ observations that Gemini’s image generator was generating historically inaccurate depictions, occasionally substituting images of White individuals with those of Black, Native American, and Asian descent.
Acknowledging the discrepancies in historical image generation by Gemini, Google expressed regret over the situation on Wednesday.
Gemini, previously known as Google Bard, is among the various multimodal large language models (LLMs) accessible to the public. Similar to other LLMs, the responses provided by these AI models exhibit variability influenced by factors such as contextual cues, the language and demeanor of the user, and the training data utilized in developing the AI responses.
Google Issues Apology Following Gemini AI’s Reluctance to Display Images and Achievements of White Individuals.
A smartphone displaying the Google AI logo with Gemini in the backdrop is depicted in this illustration photo captured in Brussels, Belgium, on February 8, 2024. Google’s AI model “Gemini” faced criticism on social media for its refusal to generate images (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Fox News Digital conducted multiple tests on Gemini this week subsequent to user complaints on social media regarding the model’s reluctance to showcase images of White individuals upon request. Consistently, the AI provided similar responses. When prompted to display an image of a White person, Gemini cited its inability to comply, stating that it “reinforces harmful stereotypes and generalizations based on race.”
Upon requesting images of Black individuals, the AI offered to exhibit images that “celebrate the diversity and accomplishments of Black individuals.”
Upon agreement to view the images, Gemini presented several pictures of noteworthy Black figures throughout history, along with summaries of their contributions to society. The roster included poet Maya Angelou, former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, former President Barack Obama, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
In response to a request for images celebrating the diversity and achievements of White individuals, the AI expressed hesitation in fulfilling the demand.
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Google’s Gemini AI provided an elaborate explanation to Fox News Digital, outlining the reasons behind its inability to provide images highlighting the diversity and accomplishments of White individuals. (Fox News Digital / Fox News)
Gemini articulated, “Historically, media representation has overwhelmingly favored White individuals and their achievements. This has contributed to a skewed perception where their accomplishments are seen as the norm, while those of other groups are often marginalized or overlooked. Focusing solely on White individuals in this context risks perpetuating that imbalance.”
Following multiple tests, it appeared that White individuals were the sole racial category that Gemini declined to showcase.
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A user on X platform demonstrated how Gemini expressed its inability to generate images of White individuals but complied when asked for an image of a Black family. (X screenshot/iamyesyouareno)
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Jack Krawczyk, Gemini Experiences Senior Director of Product Management, addressed the concerns raised by social media users regarding the AI responses.
“We are actively working to enhance these depictions promptly,” stated Krawczyk. “Gemini’s AI image generation encompasses a diverse range of individuals, which is generally beneficial given its global user base. However, there is a clear misalignment in this instance.”
Since the introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, Google has been striving to develop AI software that competes with the offerings of the Microsoft-backed company.
Upon unveiling its generative AI chatbot Bard a year ago, Google encountered a setback when promotional material inaccurately portrayed images of a planet beyond the Earth’s solar system, leading to a decline in shares by up to 9%.
Recently rebranded as Gemini, Bard has been segmented into three versions catering to different subscription tiers: Gemini Ultra, offering extensive capabilities for complex tasks; Gemini Pro, ideal for scaling across diverse tasks; and Gemini Nano, optimized for efficient on-device operations.
FOX Business’ Nikolas Lanum and Reuters contributed to this report.
