Google pulls Olympics AI advert following backlash
By Oluwaseyi Lawal
Google has pulled its Olympics advert for the AI chatbot Gemini, titled “Dear Sydney,” after facing criticism for its depiction of AI writing a child’s letter to her favorite athlete.
The “Dear Sydney” commercial shows a father using Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, to compose a letter to U.S. hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on behalf of his daughter.
The ad, which displays the AI-generated letter and ends with the child running on a track, was intended to showcase Gemini’s capabilities as an aid in creative tasks.
However, it faced backlash for endorsing automation over authentic human expression, particularly in activities involving children. Shelly Palmer, a professor at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was among the prominent critics.
In a widely shared blog post, Palmer criticized the ad, arguing it promoted a “monocultural future” lacking in original human ideas. This view was shared by many who were concerned that dependence on AI could erode human creativity.
In response to the backlash, Google has opted to gradually remove the “Dear Sydney” ad from its Olympics rotation, although it is still accessible on YouTube.
A Google spokesperson informed CNBC that despite the ad receiving positive feedback prior to its release, the company decided to pull it following the criticisms.
The spokesperson stressed that AI is meant to augment human creativity, not replace it, and reaffirmed Google’s dedication to crafting genuine stories that honor human accomplishments.
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