Google Limits Election-Related Answers for Its Gemini AI Chatbot

By Thea Felicity

Mar 13, 2024 06:59 AM EDT

Google has implemented limitations on the types of questions its Gemini AI chatbot can answer regarding elections.

Google Restricts Election-Related Queries for Its Gemini AI Chatbot

In a blog post on Tuesday, Google explained that the new policy has been introduced to support the general election in India, which is expected to be held between April and May.

"Out of an abundance of caution on such an important topic, we have begun to roll out restrictions on the types of election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses," Google wrote in the blog post.

"We take our responsibility for providing high-quality information for these types of queries seriously, and are continuously working to improve our protections," it added.

A Google spokesperson told CNBC that the move aligns with the company's planned approach for elections as it aims to safeguard its services from misinformation. Last December, Google announced that it planned to restrict some election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses.

The latest announcement comes nearly a month after Google temporarily suspended its Gemini AI image generation feature after reports of "inaccuracies" in historical images.

DES MOINES, IA - JANUARY 28: Republican presidential candidates (L-R) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeb Bush and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) after the Fox News - Google GOP Debate January 28, 2016 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Residents of Iowa will vote for the Republican nominee at the caucuses on February 1. Donald Trump, who is leading most polls in the state, decided not to participate in the debate.
(Photo : Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

New Policy of Google on Gemini AI Chatbot

With this new Gemini AI chatbot policy, Google is reiterating its promise to fix the tool and gain public trust on the same level as the general public trusts its competitor, ChatGPT. This time, the decision was to make worldwide governments perceive AI technology as safe.

According to the BBC, generative AI has raised concerns about misinformation, leading governments worldwide to regulate the technology. India has recently told tech firms that they need approval before releasing AI tools that are "unreliable" or being tested.

CNBC reported that the restrictions were also rolled out in the US, where voters currently participate in presidential primary elections. More than 80 countries, including the US, India, and the UK, are due to hold elections this year.