Google AI Makes Yet Another Blunder, Suggests User To Drink Urine To Pass Kidney Stones Quickly

Earlier this year, Google's Gemini AI image generation tool faced significant criticism after producing historically inaccurate and offensive images, sparking a global outcry.

Just a few months ago, Google temporarily halted its Gemini AI tool following the creation of controversial images. However, it appears that the tech giant hasn't learned from its past missteps and is facing significant setbacks in the ongoing pursuit of excellence in Artificial Intelligence. Google's most recent AI-powered search update, known as SGE (Search Generative Experience), made headlines for recommending users to "drink urine to pass kidney stones."

Several users received such inappropriate recommendations, although the search results have since been rectified. Nonetheless, this incident marks yet another embarrassing moment for one of the world's largest technology companies. The astonishing suggestion from Google has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms, with health and tech experts alike criticising Google for this oversight. While this latest mishap has brought Google into the spotlight, its challenges with AI date back further. This incident is likely to increase pressure on Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who has faced calls for resignation earlier this year as well.

Where Did Gemini Go Wrong

Earlier this year, Google's widely used Gemini AI (also known as Bard) image generation tool faced significant criticism after producing historically inaccurate and offensive images, sparking a global outcry. The issues extended beyond Gemini's AI image generation capability to include questionable text responses. One notable instance involved a comparison drawn between Tesla CEO Elon Musk's societal influence and that of Adolf Hitler, the infamous dictator from Nazi-era Germany.

Google's CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged the problematic nature of some AI chatbot responses, noting bias and inaccuracy. In response to the controversy surrounding Gemini, Pichai issued a memo to Google employees, denouncing some of Gemini's responses as 'unacceptable' and admitting fault on the tech giant's part. Google's Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan echoed these sentiments in a blog post, acknowledging that the image generation tool had 'missed the mark.'

Raghavan clarified that certain images produced by the tool were either incorrect or offensive, leading Google to halt the feature temporarily and issue apologies to affected users. Google emphasised its stance against intentionally generating inaccuracies, especially in the context of historical content.

What's The Way Forward For Google Now?

Google's determination to advance its AI capabilities remains steadfast, driven by the necessity to remain competitive in the industry against rivals like Microsoft. However, it's evident that the current state of its AI tools falls short in terms of efficiency and capability. Some of these tools come across as hastily developed and incomplete, possibly due to the perceived threat posed by emerging competitors such as OpenAI and Midjourney.

In a recent blog post, Google's CEO emphasised the company's commitment to responsible AI development, stating, "We are a longstanding leader in building and deploying responsible AI. Last year, along with other companies, we committed to a set of measures to develop AI safely and responsibly. We need to be the best in class at deploying accurate, trustworthy, and transparent AI products for users and customers."

The pressure on Google and its CEO Sundar Pichai is mounting as the company faces challenges in keeping pace with advancements in AI technology. Continuous errors and questionable results from Google's AI tools are undermining its position in the AI race, highlighting the need for significant improvements. Maintaining a reputation for excellence is crucial for a tech giant like Google, and it cannot afford frequent mistakes and controversial outcomes from its AI initiatives.