The escalation is symbolic of the tussle between lawmakers and tech companies over the future of safe harbour protections to generative AI platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT.
The IT Ministry is in the process of issuing a notice to Google over “problematic and illegal” responses generated by its AI platform Gemini regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Indian Express has learnt.
A senior government official said that the company’s generative AI platform Gemini (formerly Bard) had earlier also presented a user with an objectionable response to a user seeking a summary of an article from a conservative outlet, and the fresh responses on PM Modi have been the trigger for issuing the notice.
The escalation is symbolic of the tussle between lawmakers and tech companies over the future of safe harbour protections to generative AI platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT. Google recently has apologised for what it describes as “inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions” with its Gemini AI tool after criticism that it depicted white figures (like the US Founding Fathers) or groups like Nazi-era German soldiers as people of colour.
According to a screenshot shared by a user on social media platform X, Gemini was asked whether PM Modi is a ‘fascist’, to which the platform responded that he has been “accused of implementing policies some experts have characterised as fascist,” which based on factors like the “BJP’s Hindu nationalist ideology, its crackdown on dissent, and its use of violence against religious minorities”.
However, as per the screenshot, when it was asked a similar question about former US President Donal Trump, Gemini responded with: “Elections are a complex topic with fast-changing information. To make sure you have the most accurate information, try Google Search.”