Google rolls back AI search feature after flubs and flaws

SAN FRANCISCO — When Google CEO Sundar Pichai introduced a generative artificial intelligence feature for the company’s search engine last month, he and his colleagues demonstrated the new capability with six text-based queries that the public could try out.

The questions included “how do you clean a fabric sofa” and “what should I use to get a coffee stain out of my carpet.” These were intended to highlight how Google’s new feature, AI Overviews, could generate full and useful information summaries above traditional search results.

ADVERTISING


But by Friday, only one of the six queries still yielded an AI Overview, according to tests by The New York Times. Instead, the feature was noticeably less prevalent.

The search for “what should I use to get a coffee stain out of my carpet” now resulted in a snippet of text from a website, JDog Carpet Cleaning &Floor Care, while “how do you clean a fabric sofa” was replaced by a link to HGTV’s website with the answer. (The results of the searches may vary depending on the user and location.)

The disappearance of AI Overviews for some of the searches appeared to be part of a broader rollback after the new technology produced a litany of untruths and errors — including recommending glue as part of a pizza recipe and suggesting that people ingest rocks for nutrients.

Users loudly complained on social media about the mistakes, in many cases outright making fun of Google.

Liz Reid, recently promoted to Google’s head of search, wrote in a blog post Thursday that the company had pared back AI Overviews in certain ways, launching “additional triggering refinements” to offer more careful responses about health, disabling misleading advice, and limiting the inclusion of satire and user responses from forums like Reddit.

© 2024 The New York Times Company

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Star-Advertiser's TERMS OF SERVICE. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. To report comments that you believe do not follow our guidelines, email hawaiiwarriorworld@staradvertiser.com.