Google pulls 'Dear Sydney' AI Olympics advertisement after criticism
What's the story
Google has withdrawn an Olympics advertisement for its AI chatbot Gemini from the airwaves, following public disapproval. The ad, titled "Dear Sydney," depicted a child using the AI to compose a fan letter to her favorite athlete. Despite testing well before airing, negative feedback once on air led Google to remove the ad from its Olympics campaign. Do note, it is still viewable on YouTube.
Content
Ad's content and public response
The ad featured a father asking Gemini to assist his daughter in writing a letter to US hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The commercial showed the father saying, "Gemini, help my daughter write a letter telling Sydney how inspiring she is." It then briefly displayed the draft created by Gemini, and concluded with footage of the girl running on a track with text reading, "A little help from Gemini."
Criticism
Critics argue ad promotes automation over authenticity
The ad faced backlash for seemingly promoting automation over authenticity, especially among children. Shelly Palmer, a professor at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, expressed her disapproval in a blog post. She argued against the future that Google is advertising, and raised concerns about a "monocultural future where we see fewer and fewer examples of original human thoughts."
Company's perspective
Google's stance on AI and creativity
In response to the criticism, a Google representative stated that the company views the Gemini app as a "starting point" for writing ideas. The spokesperson emphasized, "We believe that AI can be a great tool for enhancing human creativity, but can never replace it." This statement underscores Google's belief in the potential of AI to augment human creative processes rather than supplant them.