Google pulls incorrect Gouda stat from its AI Super Bowl ad
Gemini’s response no longer states that Gouda makes up ‘50 to 60 percent of the world’s cheese consumption.' Google has edited Gemini’s AI response in a Super Bowl commercial to remove an incorrect statistic about cheese. The ad, which features a small business owner using Gemini to craft a website description about Gouda, now states that the variety is “one of the most popular cheeses in the world.”
In the edited YouTube video, Gemini’s response no longer includes the specific inaccurate statistic. Google Cloud apps president Jerry Dischler initially defended the response, stating on X that it is “grounded in the Web” and “not a hallucination.” The modification to the ad was brought to light by @natejhake on X.
Andrew Novakovic, E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics Emeritus at Cornell University, confirmed to The Verge that Gouda “is almost assuredly not the most widely consumed” cheese globally. It appears that Gemini may have retrieved the inaccurate statistic from a website called Cheese.com, known for its SEO-optimized blogs.
Google spokesperson Michele Wyman revealed that after discussing the issue with the owner of the Wisconsin Cheese Mart, they opted to have Gemini rewrite the product description without the misleading stat. The UI was updated to align with the business owner's recommendation.
The business owner showcased in the commercial had initially incorporated Gemini’s response on their website; however, they have since removed the erroneous detail. A disclaimer beneath Gemini’s response clarifies that it is “not intended to be factual,” but a tool branded as a writing aid for businesses should ideally rely on credible sources.
Update, February 5th: The incorrect stat has been removed from the business owner’s website, and a statement from Google has been added.
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