Google has decided to put a pause on its AI portrait tool due to complaints about historical inaccuracies. The tool, part of the Gemini AI models released earlier this month, has faced criticism for generating images that do not accurately depict historical figures. Some examples include showing U.S. Founding Fathers as women and portraying Nazi soldiers as people of colour.
This move comes as Google races to compete with OpenAI and Microsoft in the AI software space. Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT last November, Google has been working to develop AI technology that can rival its competitors. However, this recent setback with the Gemini AI model shows that there are still some kinks to be worked out.
Jack Krawczyk, senior director of product for Gemini at Google, acknowledged the inaccuracies and stated that the company will work to address them. He emphasized the need for more nuance when it comes to historical contexts and pledged to make adjustments to the AI model accordingly.
This decision to pause the AI portrait tool follows a previous incident involving Google’s generative AI chatbot Bard, which received criticism for sharing inaccurate information in a promotional video. The company has since rebranded Bard as Gemini and introduced paid subscription plans for users looking to access more powerful AI capabilities.
Overall, this latest development highlights the challenges that tech companies like Google face as they strive to push the boundaries of AI technology. It serves as a reminder that while AI has great potential, there are still limitations and risks that need to be carefully managed.