New Google Earth AI Tool Could Fuel Misinformation, Experts Say
- Reference: 0184792720
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/07/31/1841253/new-google-earth-ai-tool-could-fuel-misinformation-experts-say
- Source link:
> A collapsed Eiffel Tower, a sinkhole swallowing the Great Pyramid of Giza and Russian tanks in Ukraine's capital were among the images BBC Verify was able to create when testing the feature, which was rolled out on Thursday. Google has not yet responded to questions based on BBC Verify's tests, but in a social media post the company said they "take misinformation seriously" and that "we prevent image creation on harmful topics and are continually updating our protections."
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> AI and misinformation expert Henk van Ess has highlighted the risks this feature poses, creating fake images of a non-existent nuclear power plant in Iran, a refugee camp on the US-Mexico border and a fake hospital in Gaza with a bomb crater next to it. He said Google was allowing "invented" imagery to be "welded to genuine coordinates, drawn on genuine imagery." "The forgery does not have to look convincing on its own. It inherits the credibility of the map it was born on," van Ess added.
UPDATE 7/31/26 10:54 AM: Google is [3]rolling back the image generation inside of Google Earth: "We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world. We've seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we've also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies. So we're rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails. It's important to note that generated images didn't appear in the main Google Earth experience for others to see and were watermarked as AI generated."
[1] https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/earth/nano-banana-google-earth-image-generation/
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9349yx2ydvo
[3] https://x.com/NewsFromGoogle/status/2083249962150760610
Damn dirty apes (Score:2)
But can it make the Statue of Liberty buried in the sand?
Re: (Score:2)
Apparently not, or at least the web version refused when I asked.
Re: (Score:2)
I spent a good couple of moments scratching my head thinking "Google, I know you love hiding things in your UI, but where the hell is this?" Turns out they'd already removed it.
So, I had to use good ol' ChatGPT to [1]add a second Spaceship Earth to Epcot. [imgur.com]
[1] https://imgur.com/a/zqDRjQg
Lake Mendota (Score:2)
How about the Statue of Liberty frozen into the ice of Lake Mendota in Madison, WI?
[1]https://news.wisc.edu/history-... [wisc.edu].
[1] https://news.wisc.edu/history-of-lady-liberty-on-lake-mendota/#:~:text=In%20late%201995%2C%20an%20anonymous%20donor%20covered%20the,and%20completed%20their%20task%20on%20Saturday%2C%20Feb.%2014
"Could"? (Score:2)
More like will.
Well (Score:2)
If you invent a slop machine expect slop to be produced.
Misinformation (Score:2)
Like completion of the I-5 construction project through Seattle? No one will ever believe something that outlandish.
...and it's gone! (Score:2)
> Update, 7/31: We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world. We’ve seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we’ve also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies. So we’re rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails. It's important to note that generated images didn’t appear in the main Google Earth experience for others to see and were watermarked as AI generated.
(emphasis mine)
Why? (Score:3)
So....
- add a new AI feature that has no purpose other than misinformation and abuse
- roll back release of new AI feature as soon as completely predictable misinformation and abuse occurs
What was the point of this?
Re: (Score:2)
> What was the point of this?
Well, you know that line from Jurassic Park.
WTF ?! (Score:2)
"We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth" Anyone who trusts ANYTHING Gurgle puts out is foolish. Everything Gurgle does is for profit.
But I need this to show the truth. (Score:1)
Please show the earth as flat.
Think of the shareholders! (Score:2)
It'll save all those pesky expenses like satellite imagery or cars and people that move around capturing images if we can just make it up instead.
Don't wait! add this to Google Maps. (Score:2)
So that before I leave I can have AI add a few road closure overlays so I can avoid traffic.
Re: (Score:1)
The goog cancelled your well-played joke in that UPDATE announcement, but the funniest part was "We know that people uniquely trust Google..."
There was a time when the goog was a good thing, but now the googs have magic touches, and they ain't turning nuttin' into actual gold. Trust not, ye who enter there.
Another anecdote from the cesspool of YouTube. Fresh celebrity scam off the comments, but it must be working since it's been going on for some years now. All the infrastructure any criminal needs! (Please