Uncanny Valley | WIRED

Google’s ‘Woke AI’ Problem

Mar 7, 2024

Discussing Google's 'Woke AI' problem and the controversies surrounding AI image generation with Gemini. Exploring Google's recent layoffs and discrimination accusations. Recommendations include food blog, journalism article, and spy author podcast episode. Dive into Razzie Award-winning films on Criterion Channel.

37:10

Creator website

Episode guests

Paresh Dave

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

AI biases can lead to controversial results like Google Gemini's image generator, emphasizing the need for thorough testing.

Google's layoffs and discrimination accusations highlight challenges faced by employees in tech companies, necessitating better workplace policies and inclusivity measures.

Deep dives

Issues with Chatbots and AI Bias

The podcast discusses the implications of biased AI like Google Gemini's image generator that sparked controversy by producing racially insensitive results. It delves into how AI biases can cause unintended consequences and lead to public backlash, highlighting the importance of testing and monitoring AI tools.

Introduction

3min

Navigating Bias and Backlash in AI Image Generation

9min

Balancing Control and Creativity in Chatbots and the Role of Trust and Safety Teams in Tech Companies

4min

Trust and Safety in the Tech Industry

14min

Exploring John Likari's Life and Works

3min

Exploring Razzie Award-Winning Films in the Criterion Collection

5min

The last few months have been rough for Google. Company executives have been in the hot seat because of some embarrassing missteps, the most awkward of which was the bungled launch of Google’s latest image generator. The company launched it as part of its suite of GenAI tools named Gemini, but then quickly pulled it back after the generator produced some seriously weird results.

This week, we welcome WIRED senior writer Paresh Dave back to the show to talk about Gemini’s strange outputs. We also talk about some of the staffing pains Google has been going through recently, including layoffs and accusations of discrimination.

Show Notes:
Read more about the “woke AI” controversy. Read Bloomberg’s story about Google’s layoffs to its trust and safety team. Read Paresh’s story about the Googler with a disability who alleges workplace discrimination at the company. Listen to our broader discussion about tech layoffs on episode 633.

Recommendations:
Paresh recommends the food blog The Fancy Navajo. Lauren recommends Lauren Mechling’s story in The Guardian about journalism; the Le Carré Cast podcast, particularly the episode about the secret life of the famous spy author; and Mike recommends the film collection “And the Razzie Goes to …” on the Criterion Channel.
Paresh can be found on social media @peard33.bsky.social. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.