Google is placing extra restrictions on AI Overviews after it advised individuals to place glue on pizza

Liz Reid, the Head of Google Search, has admitted that the corporate’s search engine has returned some “odd, inaccurate or unhelpful AI Overviews” after they rolled out to everyone in the US. The manager revealed an evidence for Google’s extra peculiar AI-generated responses in a blog post, the place it additionally introduced that the corporate has carried out safeguards that can assist the brand new characteristic return extra correct and fewer meme-worthy outcomes.

Reid defended Google and identified that a few of the extra egregious AI Overview responses going round, corresponding to claims that it is secure to depart canines in vehicles, are faux. The viral screenshot exhibiting the reply to “What number of rocks ought to I eat?” is actual, however she stated that Google got here up with a solution as a result of an internet site revealed a satirical content material tackling the subject. “Prior to those screenshots going viral, virtually nobody requested Google that query,” she defined, so the corporate’s AI linked to that web site.

The Google VP additionally confirmed that AI Overview advised individuals to make use of glue to get cheese to stay to pizza primarily based on content material taken from a discussion board. She stated boards sometimes present “genuine, first-hand data,” however they may additionally result in “less-than-helpful recommendation.” The manager did not point out the opposite viral AI Overview solutions going round, however as The Washington Post stories, the expertise additionally advised customers that Barack Obama was Muslim and that folks ought to drink loads of urine to assist them move a kidney stone.

Reid stated the corporate examined the characteristic extensively earlier than launch, however “there’s nothing fairly like having hundreds of thousands of individuals utilizing the characteristic with many novel searches.” Google was apparently capable of decide patterns whereby its AI expertise did not get issues proper by taking a look at examples of its responses over the previous couple of weeks. It has then put protections in place primarily based on its observations, beginning by tweaking its AI to have the ability to higher detect humor and satire content material. It has additionally up to date its programs to restrict the addition of user-generated replies in Overviews, corresponding to social media and discussion board posts, which might give individuals deceptive and even dangerous recommendation. As well as, it has additionally “added triggering restrictions for queries the place AI Overviews weren’t proving to be as useful” and has stopped exhibiting AI-generated replies for sure well being matters.