Sukhmani Kooner, Pune
AI chatbot Gemini calls PM Modi a ‘fascist’ in one of its responses, and it has struck all the wrong chords with the policy-makers. The authenticity of generative AI platforms has always been questioned by the lawmakers, and this tussle, be it between Google’s Gemini (earlier Bard) or Open AI’s ChatGPT, has resulted in the mistrust between them and the tech companies.
The IT ministry is set to issue a notice to Google as the comment is in direct violation of Rule 3(1)(b) of Intermediary Rules of the IT Act. The notice is to be issued regarding the problematic and illegal nature of the response it generated regarding the Indian Prime Minister.
Google’s chatbot had recently come under scrutiny for generating images of white figures depicted as persons of colour. This included the German soldiers from the Nazi-era or the depiction of the founding fathers of the United States.
Recently, Gemini has come under the scanner for a screenshot that was shared on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter). When asked about whether PM Modi was a ‘fascist’ or not, the platform- Gemini, responded with the answer that he had been accused of implementing such policies which juxtaposed with the characteristics of a fascist. The chatbot had come up with this answer in accordance with the ruling party’s Hindu nationalist ideology, its intolerance against dissent and also its recent persecution of minorities.
According to the contents of the screenshot, it was not only PM Modi, but also global leaders like the former US president, Donald Trump, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on which the AI chatbot had generated its responses.
When asked about the Ukrainian President being a fascist, the chatbot answered that it was a complex question with no simple answer, and that it could be contested. It replied to the user that this answer would be based on the context it was placed in. To answer the same question about Trump, the chatbot told the user to search google for a better understanding as elections are a complex topic and that the information is forever evolving.
However, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Friday stated that the rule 3(1)(b) imposes a few necessary legal intermediaries to not propagate any information that is deemed obscene or illegal. The programme was also alleged to have a left-bias.