Google has decided to pull its Gemini Olympics ad featuring a dad asking the chatbot to help his daughter write a fan letter to her idol, gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
The big picture: The “Dear Sydney” ad ruffled the feathers of online critics who believe that using generative AI to help a child write a fan letter sucks the life out of a time-honored tradition of fandom and also constitutes lazy parenting.
Ad Age reports that Google has removed the ad from its TV rotation, but you can still view it on YouTube.
“While the ad tested well before airing, given the feedback, we have decided to phase the ad out of our Olympics rotation,” a Google spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Earlier this week, Google defended the ad, telling Axios, “Our goal was to create an authentic story celebrating Team USA. It showcases a real-life track enthusiast and her father, and aims to show how the Gemini app can provide a starting point, thought starter, or early draft for someone looking for ideas for their writing.”
Between the lines: Apple and Bumble have both recently apologized for marketing missteps.
Although Google hasn’t apologized for the ad, it did say sorry earlier this year for Gemini after its AI generated images of Black founding fathers, a female pope, and gay couples when prompted to create images of straight couples.
Toys R Us, Netflix and HBO have also come under fire for using AI in the creative process, sometimes without disclosing its use.
Yes, but: Many users find chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT helpful to get started on all sorts of writing projects, especially if they’re struggling with a blank page.
What we’re watching: As genAI becomes even more ubiquitous, we need to come up with standards around its acceptable use in creative personal and work-related projects.
