Controversy surrounding Google’s AI platform escalates with allegations of bias and historical inaccuracies
In the midst of a mounting controversy, Google has extended an apology to India over its AI platform, Gemini, amid concerns and criticisms, a prominent newspaper reported.
The uproar stemmed from Gemini’s perceived unreliability, leading to an apology issued to Prime Minister Modi after the platform returned questionable results to a query regarding the Prime Minister’s persona, according to the report.
The situation further escalated as Gemini faced accusations of racial bias and historical distortions. Criticism heightened when the AI chatbot allegedly displayed a bias by declining to generate images of white individuals and misrepresenting historically white figures as people of color. Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, faced calls for resignation amidst the ensuing furor.
In response, the Indian government announced stringent measures, declaring that AI platforms would now require permits to operate in the country. The government emphasised that India should not serve as a testing ground for AI platforms, especially considering global criticism for disseminating unreliable, biased, or unsubstantiated information.
Minister of State for IT & Electronics, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, urged platforms to respect Indian consumers and warned of legal repercussions under Indian IT and criminal laws for violations and spreading false information.
