Google plans to reintroduce controversial Gemini AI Image Generator in ‘few weeks’ amid criticism over inaccuracies

Google plans to relaunch its artificial intelligence image generation tool shortly after it was taken offline due to a string of controversies, according to Google DeepMind CEO, Demis Hassabis. The tool, which was unveiled earlier this month through Gemini, Google’s main suite of AI models, faced backlash for displaying historical inaccuracies and questionable responses.

The controversy has affected Alphabet’s shares, which fell 4.4% on Monday, and followed a significant rebrand where Google changed the name of its chatbot, Bard, to Gemini. The image generation blunders have heightened the debate within the AI industry about the appropriate implementation of AI ethics.

In response to the uproar, Google announced that it was working on fixing Gemini’s issues, acknowledging that the tool was “missing the mark.” The company intends to “pause the image generation of people” and “re-release an improved version soon.”

The controversy prompted renewed criticisms of Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, adding to previous discontent from employees over the “rushed” rollout of Bard, now known as Gemini. These issues have underscored a broader discussion in the industry regarding the growth and ethics of AI technology, as Google and other tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon continue to invest heavily in AI agents and productivity tools.