FILE - The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Brussels, March 23, 2010. Google is asking that a federal judge, rather than a jury, decide whether it violated U.S. antitrust laws by building a monopoly on the technology that powers online advertising. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) (AP)
Google recently announced the rollout of its AI overview feature to all users, a shift from its previous optional status as part of the company's generative search experience. However, social media users have highlighted significant issues with the feature, including absurd suggestions like adding glue to pizza and consuming rocks.
The problem came to light when a user named Peter Yang posted on X (formerly Twitter). In the shared screenshot, Yang asked about cheese not sticking to pizza. In response, Google's AI overview suggested adding "non-toxic glue" to the pizza to enhance the sauce's "tackiness." Interestingly, this advice was based on an 11-year-old Reddit post.
Another user inquired about how many rocks one should eat, and once again, the AI overview provided an unusual response. Quoting UC Berkeley scientists, Google's AI recommended consuming "at least one small rock per day" for essential minerals and vitamins beneficial for digestive health.
Similarly, when users asked Google about Muslim presidents of the United States, the AI overview incorrectly stated that the country had at least one Muslim president, referring to Barack Hussein Obama.
Google addressed the issue in a statement to The Verge, acknowledging the errors but noting that they were based on "generally very uncommon queries" and not representative of most users' experiences.
The response from netizens has been critical. One user on Threads expressed frustration, stating, "They bought and killed dozens of good ideas and give us this alpha feature. Neat." Another user on X criticized Google's defense of the AI search failures, highlighting the inconsistency with the company's principles.
In summary, Google's AI overview feature, while intended to enhance user experience, has faced backlash due to its bizarre and inaccurate suggestions. Despite Google's acknowledgment of the issues, concerns remain regarding the reliability and accuracy of the AI-powered search function.
