Google has removed AI summaries from its search results after a Guardian investigation revealed that they had provided false and misleading information to users, potentially putting people's lives at risk.
The company's AI Overviews use generative AI to provide snapshots of essential information about a topic or question. While Google claims that these summaries are "helpful" and "reliable," experts have described them as "dangerous" and "alarming." In one case, the summaries provided bogus information about crucial liver function tests, leaving people with serious liver disease wrongly thinking they were healthy.
The investigation found that the AI Overviews often failed to provide context or account for factors like nationality, sex, ethnicity, or age of patients. This meant that users might receive incorrect test results, leading them to miss follow-up healthcare meetings and potentially worsening their condition.
After the Guardian's findings, Google removed AI Overviews for certain search terms related to liver health. However, experts say that this is only a small step towards addressing the bigger issue of inaccurate information being presented in health-related search results.
"We're pleased to see the removal of the Google AI Overviews in these instances," said Vanessa Hebditch, director of communications and policy at the British Liver Trust. "However, if the question is asked in a different way, a potentially misleading AI Overview may still be given, and we remain concerned that other AI-produced health information can be inaccurate and confusing."
Google has defended its AI Overviews, saying they link to well-known and reputable sources and inform users when it's essential to seek expert advice. However, experts say that the company needs to do more to ensure that its AI tool isn't dispensing dangerous health misinformation.
The investigation highlights the need for companies like Google to prioritize accuracy and transparency in their search results, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like health. As one expert noted, "It's not just about nit-picking a single search result; it's about tackling the bigger issue of AI Overviews for health."
The company's AI Overviews use generative AI to provide snapshots of essential information about a topic or question. While Google claims that these summaries are "helpful" and "reliable," experts have described them as "dangerous" and "alarming." In one case, the summaries provided bogus information about crucial liver function tests, leaving people with serious liver disease wrongly thinking they were healthy.
The investigation found that the AI Overviews often failed to provide context or account for factors like nationality, sex, ethnicity, or age of patients. This meant that users might receive incorrect test results, leading them to miss follow-up healthcare meetings and potentially worsening their condition.
After the Guardian's findings, Google removed AI Overviews for certain search terms related to liver health. However, experts say that this is only a small step towards addressing the bigger issue of inaccurate information being presented in health-related search results.
"We're pleased to see the removal of the Google AI Overviews in these instances," said Vanessa Hebditch, director of communications and policy at the British Liver Trust. "However, if the question is asked in a different way, a potentially misleading AI Overview may still be given, and we remain concerned that other AI-produced health information can be inaccurate and confusing."
Google has defended its AI Overviews, saying they link to well-known and reputable sources and inform users when it's essential to seek expert advice. However, experts say that the company needs to do more to ensure that its AI tool isn't dispensing dangerous health misinformation.
The investigation highlights the need for companies like Google to prioritize accuracy and transparency in their search results, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like health. As one expert noted, "It's not just about nit-picking a single search result; it's about tackling the bigger issue of AI Overviews for health."
. Google's AI tool might have been created to help, but clearly, it was flawed from the start. What's crazy is how easily misinformation can spread, and it's up to companies like Google to take responsibility for it. We need to prioritize accuracy and transparency, especially when it comes to something as serious as our health 
. It's also a reminder that AI isn't perfect, and we gotta keep having these tough conversations about what's good for us and our communities 
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i mean, if it's wrong about liver function tests, what else could it be getting wrong? 
and don't even get me started on the lack of context - it's no wonder people are making bad decisions based on info from google. 
yeah, removing ai overviews for certain search terms is a start, but google needs to do more to ensure accuracy and transparency. it's not just about one or two cases, it's about preventing harm. 
. It's crazy that Google didn't catch these mistakes earlier and could have prevented some really bad outcomes 
. I mean, how hard is it to fact-check the info before presenting it to users? 
Companies need to be more careful and transparent about the sources they're using for their search results, especially when it comes to health info 
. Maybe Google can learn from this and improve its AI tool so we don't have to worry about it in the future 
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I'm shocked that Google's AI Overviews were providing false info in the first place 
. I mean, think about it, these summaries are supposed to be helping people make informed decisions, but instead they're putting lives at risk 
. And what really gets me is how Google just kinda... removed them for a few specific search terms without tackling the root problem 
. We thought it was going to change everything, but sometimes I think we forgot that with great power comes great responsibility 
. Google needs to do better than just taking out the weeds for a few search terms. They need to fix the entire garden 
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, but at the same time, you still kinda love it because it was good in the first place 
. Google's AI Overviews were like that for health-related search results - they were flawed, but we still kinda needed them because they were trying to help 
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just heard that Google removed AI summaries from its search results after a Guardian investigation showed they were spreading false info 
I mean, I know tech is always evolving and improving, but this is a major step back. How can you trust something that might give you life-changing advice if it's just spewing nonsense?