Google has faced a tough few weeks as its text-to-image creator in Gemini, previously known as Bard, started churning out offensive and ridiculous images. This led to a public apology from a company executive, admitting that Google “got it wrong.” As a result, the tool was put on hold for extensive testing. CEO Sundar Pichai echoed these sentiments in an email to employees, emphasizing that Gemini’s responses were unacceptable and showed bias.
In an effort to rectify the situation, Pichai outlined a series of actions to be taken, including structural changes, updated guidelines, and improved launch processes. He acknowledged that while no AI is perfect, Google is committed to meeting high standards. This commitment is crucial as Google faces fierce competition in the generative AI market from companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Anthropic.
Google is not only focused on fixing Gemini but also on advancing its AI technology. The company recently paid a group of independent publishers to use a beta version of a new gen AI platform for writing news stories. This initiative, part of the Google News Initiative, aims to help publishers produce high-quality journalism efficiently.
Meanwhile, Google’s DeepMind subsidiary has unveiled a new AI model called Genie, which can create playable virtual worlds. Despite these advancements, Google has emphasized that Genie is still in the early stages of research and not yet ready for public release.
In other AI news, Elon Musk has sued OpenAI, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over its original mission to benefit humanity. Musk, who founded a for-profit gen AI company called xAI, alleges that OpenAI has become a closed-source subsidiary of Microsoft. This legal battle underscores the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding the development of AI technologies.
As technology continues to evolve, Google and other tech giants are pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities with AI. The future of AI holds great promise, but also poses challenges that require careful consideration and ethical oversight. Stay tuned for more developments in this rapidly evolving field.