Google’s AI image generator paused after it creates ‘woke’ inaccurate images

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Sometimes what you see isn’t what it seems to be.

That seems to be the case with pictures created by Google’s Gemini AI image generator, which has garnered the company flack after it produced some historically inaccurate and racially diverse creations like Black Nazi soldiers.

The images went viral which prompted some people to accuse Google of being woke and racist against white people, the New York Post reported. The backlash forced Google to issue a statement.

“We’re working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately,” Google said. “Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it’s missing the mark here.”

In a follow-up post, Google said it’s pausing Gemini AI to “address recent issues with Gemini’s image generation feature.”

“While we do this, we’re going to pause the image generation of people and will re-release an improved version soon.”

So what did Gemini AI get wrong?

Well, one person tried to get the program to create an image of a Caucasian pope. They got a Black one instead.

It’s well known that Nazi soldiers who fought during the Second World War were white. Gemini thinks they were Black, Asian, and Hispanic as well.

One person on social media asked Gemini AI to show an image of a Viking woman. The AI generated a Black woman in Viking gear.

The New York Post found humour on its front page when the program created the image of what appears to be a Black George Washington.

The owner of X, Elon Musk, wouldn’t like that the program believes he’s Black.

Speaking of Musk, he poked fun at the Gemini AI program at the expense of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “I can’t believe Gemini made these unfair pics of Truedough,” he said on X alongside actual images of Trudeau wearing various cultural headwear.