Google Restricts Gemini AI from Answering Election-related Queries Globally

Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, will no longer respond to queries about upcoming elections in countries where elections are taking place, a move aimed at preventing the spread of inaccurate or misleading information. The restriction is being rolled out globally, starting with the United States and India, and will apply to all major countries with upcoming elections.

Google's recognition of the potential misuse of generative AI in the election process and its commitment to preventing the dissemination of misinformation. The decision also comes in the wake of an advisory issued by the Indian government, requiring tech firms to obtain government permission before launching new AI models in the country.

Queries related to political parties, candidates, or politicians now return a preset message, indicating that Gemini is still learning how to respond to such queries. Despite the restrictions, there are still concerns about the tool's susceptibility to manipulation, particularly evident when queries contain typos.

Google has emphasized its commitment to providing high-quality information and continuously improving its protection against misinformation. The update coincides with the announcement of general elections in India and follows recent controversies involving Gemini's responses to sensitive political questions.

Gemini faced criticism for responding to a query about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political ideology with potentially inflammatory language. This incident prompted the Indian government to raise concerns about violations of IT rules.

It remains uncertain whether Google will restore Gemini's functionality for election-related queries after the current election cycle concludes. As the rollout of these restrictions continues globally, Google's actions indicate the critical role of responsible AI deployment in maintaining the integrity of democratic processes.