Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, will now have restrictions on answering election-related questions as a precautionary measure, the company recently announced. This decision comes in light of the upcoming 2024 global election year, which is expected to be the largest in history, with over two billion voters participating in at least 64 countries.
Gemini’s limitations will extend to inquiries regarding the US presidential election, where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to face off. Instead of providing detailed responses to election-related questions, the chatbot will now direct users to utilize Google Search for more information.
This move follows concerns raised about Gemini’s image-generating capabilities, which led Google to remove its ability to generate images of individuals due to inaccuracies in historical contexts. Additionally, restrictions have been implemented in countries like India, ahead of its upcoming election season, to ensure quality information dissemination.
The Indian government has also urged tech companies to seek approval before deploying generative AI models to prevent the spread of unreliable or under-tested information. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has engaged in discussions with Indian officials to explore safe ways to utilize AI tools during elections.
Former FBI director Christopher Wray has warned about the potential misuse of AI advancements, making it easier for foreign adversaries to engage in malign influence, thereby increasing the challenges in detecting foreign interference efforts.
Overall, these precautionary measures aim to enhance the integrity of information shared by AI tools like Gemini and ensure the reliability of data during critical political events like elections.
