Google’s Olympic-themed ads featuring Gemini AI Products
Google recently released an Olympic-themed ad featuring their Gemini artificial intelligence products. The film titled “Dear Sydney” didn’t quite resonate with audiences as expected. The ad follows a young female runner who wishes to send a letter to her hero, American track and field star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. To help her craft the perfect message, her father turns to Gemini AI for assistance.
Backlash from the Public
The ad quickly sparked backlash, with many questioning why the young girl didn’t write the letter herself or with the help of her father. It appeared that the AI tool played a central role in crafting the message rather than encouraging the girl to express herself. Critics expressed concerns about overreliance on AI tools, which could hinder children’s learning opportunities and diminish individuality in communication.
Syracuse University media professor Shirley Palmer criticized the ad, highlighting the potential impact of AI tools on young people’s communication skills. She argued that widespread use of AI-generated text could lead to a future dominated by homogeneous modes of expression, limiting creativity and diversity in language.
Google’s Response and Defenses
Despite the backlash, Google defended the ad, emphasizing that they don’t believe AI-generated text can replace human language. They stated that the goal of the ad was to showcase how Gemini AI can assist users in generating ideas and initial drafts for their writing, rather than replacing human creativity entirely.
Google’s partnership with Team USA for the ad aimed to celebrate American athletes and inspire creativity through technology. Track and field enthusiast Sydney McLaughlin-Levron even shared the ad on her personal Instagram account, further promoting the message of using AI as a tool for inspiration.
Concerns in the Writing Industry
The ad also brought attention to concerns in the writing industry about the potential threat of AI replacing human writers. Writers worry about the use of generative AI to create and rewrite scripts, as seen during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. An agreement was eventually reached between writers and studios to determine how AI can be used to assist writers without replacing them entirely.
Overall, while AI can be a valuable tool for enhancing creativity, it’s essential to balance its use with human expression and individuality to maintain the richness and diversity of language.