Google recently faced internal criticism over the launch of its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, with allegations of abandoning fairness and taking shortcuts in the development process. The chatbot, initially named Bard, underwent an AI Principles Review before its release, where experts raised concerns about its safety.
Former Director of Responsible Innovation (RESIN) Jen Gennai reportedly pushed the product forward to leadership despite warnings from the review team. This decision came amidst growing competition in the AI market, particularly from ChatGPT, which posed a significant threat to Google's dominance.
As Google scrambled to respond to the competitive landscape, internal changes were made to prioritize generative AI, YouTube Ads, Search, and other key areas. The focus shifted towards rapid product launches and market competitiveness, leading to a culture that prioritized launching new products over ensuring ethical and fair practices.
Issues with internal coordination, lack of proper review processes, and a culture of prioritizing product launches contributed to the chaos surrounding Gemini's release. The lack of collaboration between different teams and a disjointed review system further exacerbated the situation.
Following backlash, Google's senior vice president acknowledged shortcomings in Gemini's AI generation feature and committed to extensive testing before reactivating it. However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of internal review processes and the need for external regulation to ensure ethical standards in Google's products.
Without significant structural changes and a renewed focus on ethical practices, the former employee warned that similar issues are likely to persist in Google's future products.
