Google has introduced an AI-based search feature called AI Overviews, which aims to summarize search results to save users from extensive searching. While the feature sounds promising, it has already gained notoriety for producing bizarre and incorrect answers, such as suggesting glue for pizza or advising people to eat stones. Despite these oddities, Google stands by its AI Overviews.
“You Just Can’t Use It Right”
Liz Reid, Google’s Head of Search, acknowledged that some AI Overviews results have been weird, incorrect, or unhelpful. Reid attributed these inaccuracies to “data gaps” and peculiar search queries. According to Reid, these searches were hardly ever made before they went viral. Additionally, she emphasized that the AI Overviews feature generally doesn’t hallucinate but sometimes misinterprets what is on the web. This misinterpretation is essentially what hallucination is in AI.
Reid also pointed out that some of the screenshots circulating are fake. However, she confirmed that the viral queries about “How many stones should I eat?” or using glue to make cheese stick to pizza were indeed real. The glue suggestion came from a joke post on Reddit. Reid mentioned that while forums often provide real, firsthand information, they can also lead to unhelpful advice.
Furthermore, Google compared the accuracy of AI Overviews with featured snippets, noting that the accuracy rates are comparable between the two.
Will These Issues Be Fixed?
Google has already started addressing these issues. In recent weeks, they’ve analyzed response samples to identify patterns where AI technology fails. Based on these patterns, adjustments have been made to the AI to better detect humor and satire. Additionally, Google has limited the inclusion of user-generated content from social media and forums, which can be misleading or harmful, in AI Overviews.
Google’s efforts to refine their AI technology reflect a commitment to improving the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated responses. As these enhancements continue, users can expect more trustworthy and useful search summaries from AI Overviews.
What do you think about Google’s AI Overviews and the recent controversies? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
