Google’s highly acclaimed AI chatbot Gemini faced criticism for producing factually or historically inaccurate images, such as depicting an Asian woman as pope, black Vikings, female NHL players, and diverse versions of America’s Founding Fathers. The chatbot’s unconventional responses were triggered by simple requests like “create an image of a pope,” resulting in pictures of a Southeast Asian woman and a black man dressed as a pontiff, deviating from the expected portrayal of white popes throughout history.
The controversy gained traction when writer Frank J. Fleming challenged users to prompt Gemini to create an image of a Caucasian male, highlighting the chatbot’s inability to comply. Google acknowledged the shortcomings of its image tool, admitting that Gemini’s image generation was “missing the mark.”
When tested by The Post to generate images of popes, Gemini produced diverse representations rather than traditional portrayals. Similarly, requests for Viking images yielded unconventional depictions, including a shirtless black man with rainbow feathers and an Asian man in a desert setting.
Critics, including right-wing influencer Ian Miles Cheong and pollster Nate Silver, criticized Gemini for its “woke” and inaccurate image outputs. Silver’s request for NHL hockey player images resulted in a female player, contrary to the all-male league. Journalist Michael Tracey’s prompt for images of the Founding Fathers in 1789 led to diverse individuals signing what seemed to be the US Constitution, deviating from historical accuracy.
Despite the backlash, Google reassured users that it is actively working to address the concerns and improve the image generation feature of Gemini. The company acknowledged the importance of maintaining historical and factual accuracy while striving for inclusivity in image representations. The incident with Gemini serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by AI technology and the potential for misinformation dissemination.
