Google Removes Gemini AI Promotional Ad for Writing Fan-Letter From NBC Olympics Broadcasts After Getting Backlash; Here's What Went Wrong

Google reportedly removed a controversial ad which involved a father asking Gemini AI to write a fan-letter to Olympic star Sydney McLaughlin-Levron on behalf of his daughter. Check why the Gemini AI ad running on NBC Olympics network received backlash from people.

Google Gemini AI Logo, Sydney McLaughlin Levron (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Paris, August 3: Google released an advertisement online promoting Gemini AI for writing fan letters. This Google Gemini AI ad was posted on the NBC Olympics broadcasts covering the Paris Olympics 2024 with aim to showcase the power and capabilities of the Gemini AI chatbot; however, it met with severe backlash from the people, which forced the tech giant to pull it from the broadcast.

According to several reports, the 60-second promotional ad "Dear Sydney" targeted American Olympic hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levron. The ad featured a father who wanted to help his daughter write a fan letter to Sydney. The girl's father then said in a voiceover that her daughter wanted to show some love to Sydney, and she was pretty good with words. The father then continued by saying, "... but this just has to be the right." ‘Beware of Digital Arrest Scam’: DoT Advises Users To Protect Themselves From Scammers Pretending To Be TRAI Officials; Here’s How.

Novelist Linda Holmes Post on Bsky App about Gemini AI

This commercial showing somebody having a child use AI to write a fan letter to her hero SUCKS. Obviously there are special circumstances and people who need help, but as a general “look how cool, she didn’t even have to write anything herself!” story, it SUCKS. Who wants an AI-written fan letter??

— Linda Holmes (@lindaholmes.bsky.social) Jul 27, 2024 at 6:18 PM

The father in the voiceover said that his daughter might even be the "No. 1" Sydney fan". Later, the father asked Gemini AI to help his daughter write a letter for Olympic idol Sydney McLaughlin-Levron. The reports said that the main idea of this ad was to use the artificial intelligence recommended by the parents to their children instead of handling it themselves. A report said it was against the canvas of the Olympics, which was set for inspiration and family.

The father in the ad asked Gemini AI to help his daughter write a letter to the Olympic star and requested the chatbot to mention that his daughter would, one day, break  Sydney's record. People criticised this ad as soon as it started airing on the NBCUniversal network, commenting on how AI would be used to produce heartfelt messages to an idol or hero. IT Rules 2021: Government’s Grievance Appellate Committees Dispose 937 Cases out of 1,065 Total Received Since 2023 To Ensure Safe and Trusted Internet.

Linda Holmes, a novelist and host of the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, said in her post on the Bsky app, "Who wants an AI-written fan letter??" He said that it would suck to have a child use AI for writing a fan letter and said, "Look how cool, she didn't have to write anything herself!".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2024 03:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

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