Google's Gemini AI Will Not Answer Queries On Any Global Elections This Year, Including India. Here's Why

Gemini, when asked about upcoming elections such as the US presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, now responds with a message indicating it is still in the learning phase.

Google's AI chatbot Gemini will now refrain from addressing queries related to global elections this year, according to an announcement made by the Alphabet-owned company on Tuesday. This decision aims to prevent potential errors in the application of the technology amidst rising concerns over misinformation.

The move follows a surge in concerns regarding the spread of fake news and misinformation fueled by advancements in generative AI technology, particularly in areas such as image and video generation. Governments have been prompted to enact regulations to address these concerns.

What Does Google Gemini Respond Now?

As reported by Reuters, Gemini, when asked about upcoming elections such as the US presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, now responds with a message indicating it is still in the learning phase and directs users to utilise Google Search in the meantime. Google initially disclosed its intention to impose restrictions within the US last December, with plans to implement them before the election.

"In preparation for the many elections happening around the world in 2024 and out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting the types of election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses," stated a spokesperson for Google on Tuesday. Besides the United States, several other countries, including South Africa and India, are gearing up for national elections. India, in particular, has mandated that tech companies obtain government approval before releasing AI tools that are deemed unreliable or still undergoing trials, insisting on clear labelling to warn users of the potential for inaccuracies.

Under AI Pressure

Google's AI initiatives have recently come under scrutiny following inaccuracies observed in some historical depictions generated by Gemini, leading to the suspension of its image-generation feature last month. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google's parent company, acknowledged the flaws and described Gemini's responses as biased and wholly unacceptable, assuring users that efforts were underway to rectify the issues.

In a parallel effort to combat disinformation and the misuse of generative AI, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, announced last month its intention to establish a dedicated team to address these concerns ahead of the European Parliament elections scheduled for June.