After Centre’s threat to send notice, Google says ‘addressed’ AI response on PM Modi

“We’ve worked quickly to address this issue. Gemini is built as a creativity and productivity tool and may not always be reliable, especially when it comes to responding to some prompts about current events, political topics, or evolving news. This is something that we’re constantly working on improving,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

The controversy 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 apologised for what it described as “inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions” with its Gemini AI tool after criticism that it depicted white figures (such as the US Founding Fathers) or groups like Nazi-era German soldiers as people of colour.

According to a screenshot shared by a user on 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, according to 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.”

Responding to the post, MoS for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “These are direct violations of Rule 3(1)(b) of Intermediary Rules (IT rules) of the IT Act and violations of several provisions of the Criminal code”. These rules pertain to basic due diligence that is required of intermediaries like Google to enjoy immunity from third-party content.