Google scrambles to manually remove weird AI answers in search

jeffw@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 729 points –
Google scrambles to manually remove weird AI answers in search
theverge.com
154

You are viewing a single comment

"Many of the examples we’ve seen have been uncommon queries,"

Ah the good old "the problem is with the user not with our code" argument. The sign of a truly successful software maker.

"We don't understand. Why aren't people simply searching for Taylor Swift"

I tried, but it always comes up with pictures of airplanes for some reason.

I mean...I guess you could parahrase it that way. I took it more as "Look, you probably aren't going to run into any weird answers.". Which seems like a valid thing for them to try to convey.

(That being said, fuck AI, fuck Google, fuck reddit.)

"I'm feeling depressed" is not an uncommon query under capitalism run amok. "One Reddit user recommends jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge" is not just a weird answer, it is a wholly irresponsible one.

So, no, their response is not valid. It is entirely user-blaming in order to avoid culpability.

There are currently a lot of fake screenshots since it quickly became a meme, pretty sure this is one.

Still a fuck up in general on their part.

Fair enough. I know how easy it is to fake a Google search with inspect element. I've been trying to verify for myself how shitty it is, but AI Overviews don't seem to be showing up for me (I've done all the correct steps to enable it, but no searches generate results).

The fact that it's hard to tell is pretty damning, for the public perception of SGE if not for its actual capabilities.