In response to widespread criticism and accusations of bias, tech giant Google has announced a temporary pause on its Gemini AI model's ability to generate images of people.
The decision comes after users raised concerns over the tool's apparent failure to adequately represent white individuals, sparking a wave of backlash and mockery on social media platforms.
The Gemini AI, known for its image generation capabilities, faced scrutiny as users shared examples of generated images predominantly featuring people of color, while omitting representations of white individuals.
Scenes from history depicted in these images also came under fire for their lack of diversity, with some instances showing only white individuals in historically diverse settings.
In a statement released on Thursday, Google acknowledged the issue, admitting that the Gemini AI's image generation was "missing the mark" in terms of diversity representation. The company assured users that it is actively working to address the recent issues with the tool's functionality.
"We're already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation feature," Google stated. "While we do this, we're going to pause the image generation of people and will re-release an improved version soon."
The controversy surrounding Gemini's image generation underscores broader concerns about bias and inclusivity in AI models. Instances of AI systems overlooking people of color and perpetuating stereotypes have been documented in the past, raising questions about the ethical implications of such technologies.
Google's efforts to enhance its AI products come amidst intense competition in the field, particularly with rival OpenAI's advancements, notably with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Despite Google's strides in AI development, the company has faced setbacks, including recent apologies for errors made by its AI chatbot Bard during demonstrations.
