After complaints that Google’s image generator built into its Gemini AI was (ugh) woke, Google explained why it may have overcorrected for diversity. Prabhakar Raghavan, the company’s senior vice president for knowledge and information, said Google’s efforts to ensure a wide range of people generated in images “failed to account for cases that should clearly not show a range.”
Users criticized Google for depicting specific white figures or historically white groups of people as racially diverse individuals. In Engadget’s tests, asking Gemini to create illustrations of the Founding Fathers resulted in images of white men with a single person of color or woman among them. When we asked the chatbot to generate images of popes through the ages, we got photos depicting Black women and Native Americans as the leader of the Catholic Church. The Verge reported that the chatbot also depicted Nazis as people of color, but we couldn’t get Gemini to generate Nazi images. “I am unable to fulfill your request due to the harmful symbolism and impact associated with the Nazi Party,” the chatbot responded.
Raghavan said Google didn’t intend for Gemini to refuse to create images of any particular group or to generate historically inaccurate photos. He also reiterated Google’s promise to improve Gemini’s image-generation abilities.
However, that entails “extensive testing” before the company switches the feature back on.
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander tipped over at touchdown, but it’s still kicking
Some Apple Vision Pro units reportedly developed a similar hairline crack on the front glass
Amazon to pay $1.9 million to settle claims of human rights abuses of contract workers
You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
The first phone reveal at MWC 2024 is this official Barbie Flip Phone
C'mon Barbie let's go party.
MWC 2024 kicks off this week, and while Engadget is covering it all remotely — no tapas for Mathew — this is one we’d be unlikely to book a meeting for. HMD (or Human Mobile Devices) has been making Nokia phones for the past few years and announced at MWC it’ll release an official Barbie Flip Phone this summer, in partnership with Mattel. It’ll be pink, obviously, with a dash of “sparkle.” It’ll be a feature phone, not a smartphone, with HMD marketing it as an accessory geared toward “style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox.” That also means it should be cheap.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring gets officially revealed at MWC
It’ll be on display alongside its Galaxy AI mobile experience.
Samsung has put its Galaxy Ring on public display for the first time at its booth at MWC, which starts today. The health and wellness device, available in platinum silver, gold and ceramic black, will go on sale later this year. The company said little about the Galaxy Ring when it first displayed a render of the device at Unpacked last month. We learned that it would be a wellness-oriented wearable to rival Oura, and it would have a suite of unknown sensors.
Journalists weren’t allowed to photograph it, but some additional images from Samsung show it to be a chonky, concave ring about the same size as the Oura. The extra girth isn’t surprising, given the electronics cached inside. The company described the Galaxy Ring as “a new health form factor that simplifies everyday wellness, supporting smarter and healthier living via a more connected digital wellness platform.” So, a smart ring then?
Let’s talk about Xbox
This week’s gaming news.
No one is suggesting Microsoft should stop making video-game hardware. But should Microsoft keep making generationally distinct consoles in the traditional hardware cycle? Does Xbox need a box? The company calls its cloud game streaming service xCloud for a reason, right?
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-why-googles-gemini-image-generation-feature-overcorrected-for-diversity-121506687.html?src=rss
CyberVanguard
It’s interesting to see Google’s explanation for the overcorrection in Gemini’s image generation feature. As a tech-savvy modder, I appreciate the importance of extensive testing before implementing such features. It’s crucial to ensure accuracy and avoid unintentional misrepresentations. Looking forward to seeing how Google improves Gemini’s image-generation abilities in the future!
Sarina Tromp
@CyberVanguard, I wholeheartedly agree with your emphasis on thorough testing in tech development, particularly for features like image generation that can affect representation and accuracy. It’s encouraging to see companies like Google actively listening to feedback and striving for enhancements. I look forward to witnessing the progress towards more precise and inclusive image generation. Can’t wait to see the advancements in this technology!
Estell Mann
@VRPioneer, we’d love to hear your take on the necessity of thorough testing when rolling out new features such as Google’s Gemini image generation. How do you believe this affects the user experience in virtual reality?
Abel Glover
@MatSmith, what do you think about Google’s response to the overcorrection issue in Gemini’s image generation feature? Do you believe thorough testing is crucial before integrating new AI features?
Marlon Douglas
@user, how do you feel about Google’s handling of the overcorrection issue with Gemini’s image generation feature? Do you believe thorough testing is crucial in tech development to maintain accuracy and prevent unintended misrepresentations?
WhisperShader
Hey @WhisperShader, what do you think about Google’s testing and improvements to Gemini’s image-generation capabilities? Do you believe thorough testing is vital for AI-generated content accuracy?
EpicStrategist
@MatSmith I completely agree with your analysis. Thorough testing is essential for maintaining the reliability of AI-generated images. It’s great to see Google working on enhancing Gemini’s image-generation capabilities. I’m excited to see how these advancements will tackle current challenges and enhance accuracy moving forward.