Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google. EPA
Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google. EPA
Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google. EPA
Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google. EPA

Google CEO says flawed AI responses unacceptable as they offended users and showed bias


Alkesh Sharma
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Inaccurate images and text generated by Google’s generative artificial intelligence tool Gemini have “offended” users and “shown bias”, the company’s chief executive said.

“That’s completely unacceptable and we got it wrong,” Sundar Pichai wrote in an employees' memo seen by The National.

“No Al is perfect, especially at this emerging stage of the industry’s development, but we know the bar is high for us and we will keep at it for however long it takes. And we’ll review what happened and make sure we fix it at scale.”

Last week, the Alphabet-owned company suspended the image generation of individuals by Gemini, previously known as Bard, following criticism regarding its handling of racial issues.

Google at the time apologised for “missing the mark” and said it was working to address those issues immediately.

The company took the step after users on X highlighted several instances in which the AI model displayed inaccurate images concerning the race of the subjects.

For example, users on social media complained the AI tool had generated inaccurate images of historical figures – such as showing the US founding fathers as women and people of colour.

However, Mr Pichai said Google aimed to build on AI products and technical announcements it has made in the past few weeks.

“We have always sought to give users helpful, accurate and unbiased information in our products, that’s why people trust them," he said.

“We will be driving a clear set of actions, including structural changes, updated product guidelines, improved launch processes, robust evaluations and red-teaming, and technical recommendations.”

Alphabet’s stock, which has surged more than 55 per cent in the past 12 months, was trading 0.33 per cent down at $139.64 pre-market on Wednesday.

Problems with Google’s AI tools could reinforce the notion of the company as “an unreliable source for AI” and create an opportunity for competitors, Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes wrote in a research note, Bloomberg reported.

It is not the first time Google has attracted a backlash over perceived irresponsible use of its technology. In 2015, the company had to issue an apology after its photos app categorised a black couple as "gorillas".

Over the past few months, Google has doubled down on its AI efforts as it wrestles with the Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This month, OpenAI launched Sora, a new generative AI model to create video from users’ text prompts.

Launched in December, Gemini is the first AI model to beat human experts on MMLU (Massive Multitask Language Understanding), one of the most widely used methods of testing the knowledge and problem-solving abilities of AI.

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Despacito's dominance in numbers

Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube

Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)

Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)

Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Don't get fined

The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:

  • Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents issued
  • Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

BABYLON
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Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

SPECS
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Updated: February 28, 2024, 1:59 PM`