In an article titled “We will miss you, internet,” the author discusses Google’s AI search function and its inaccuracies. At the recent I/O conference, Google unveiled its AI-powered vision for the future of search, which includes providing quick AI-generated summaries at the top of search results pages. However, these AI overviews are not always reliable, as evidenced by a case where the AI advised a user to change their car’s “turn signal fluid,” a nonexistent substance.
Despite Google’s efforts to improve its AI search experience, there have been several instances where the results provided were inaccurate. For example, a search for “food names end in um” returned incorrect answers such as “Applum, Bananum, Strawberrum, Tomatum, and Coconut,” which were taken from a satirical response on a forum. Similarly, a search for “fruits that end in um” incorrectly identified the Japanese fruit “Umeboshi” as ending in “um,” citing another erroneous AI-generated answer.
The article also highlights the origins of the “turn signal fluid” joke, which is a common prank played on those unfamiliar with cars. The suggestion to replace the nonexistent fluid is intended as a humorous inside joke, and the source cited by the AI overview is a comment on a travelers’ forum featuring a photo of an empty bottle labeled as flashing fluid.
Overall, the article raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of Google’s AI search function, noting that while the future of search may be evolving, there are still significant challenges to overcome. The author suggests that these inaccuracies could potentially harm the internet as a whole, indicating that the search function is still a work in progress.
In conclusion, the article serves as a cautionary reminder about the limitations of AI technology and the need for continued improvement to ensure accurate and reliable search results.
Article Source
https://futurism.com/the-byte/googles-search-ai-recommends-blinker-fluid
