### Google’s Gemini AI Pauses Image Creation After Controversy
Google’s Gemini AI, surpassing Chat-GPT in prowess with its extensive understanding of video and its ability to evaluate entire books within seconds to provide accurate answers to specific questions, has made significant strides in artificial intelligence development. This rapid progress by the search engine giant has impressed many over the recent weeks. However, as the weekend approached, controversy surrounding its integrated image generator led to a temporary pause in its image creation capabilities.
The image generator, designed to respond to user inputs with varied results, aimed to depict diversity in its outputs. For instance, if asked to generate a photorealistic snapshot of an ice cream parlor at the North Pole, the AI was programmed to produce images featuring men, women, and ice cream vendors of varying ethnic backgrounds.
### Breaking Historical Underrepresentation
Google’s initiative aimed at countering the predominantly white corpus of training data. The company pointed out that media’s historical portrayal has largely centered white individuals and their achievements, leading to a skewed perception where the contributions of white individuals are viewed as the norm, while those of other groups are often marginalized or overlooked. Focusing solely on white individuals could perpetuate this inequality.
While these efforts are commendable, they have, in some instances, backfired. Users in the United States highlighted cases where Google’s AI attempted to diversify image outputs for subjects historically consisting (nearly) exclusively of white individuals, such as Wehrmacht soldiers, pictures of the American founding fathers, or other historical groups.
### Temporary Pause and Apology
This backlash prompted Google to temporarily halt image creation using Gemini AI. Google had already issued an apology, acknowledging that its focus on diversity sometimes missed the mark. The pause suggests a moment of reflection and possibly revisions to ensure that its AI’s endeavor to promote diversity does not inadvertently distort historical accuracy or sensitivity.
Google’s experience with Gemini AI underscores the complex balance between leveraging artificial intelligence to address longstanding biases and the intricacies of accurately representing history and diversity. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the approaches to ensuring that AI contributes to a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of our world.
source: https://www.ifun.de/nach-poc-kontroverse-googles-gemini-ki-pausiert-bilderstellung-228158/
