Google’s Gemini Super Bowl advertisement required editing after displaying incorrect information about Gouda cheese consumption in a Wisconsin-targeted commercial.
The incident in brief: A Google Super Bowl advertisement featuring the Gemini AI chatbot contained misinformation about Gouda cheese consumption statistics, prompting swift corrections before its scheduled airing in Wisconsin.
- The original ad showed Gemini incorrectly claiming that Gouda accounts for 50-60% of global cheese consumption
- The commercial was specifically created for Wisconsin, the leading cheese-producing state in the United States
- The ad focused on demonstrating how small businesses could utilize AI technology, featuring a Wisconsin cheesemaker seeking help with product descriptions
Technical response and explanation: Google Cloud executive Jerry Dischler addressed the error by attributing it to existing misinformation across multiple websites, rather than an AI hallucination.
- Dischler defended the AI system’s functionality, suggesting it pulled from existing incorrect online sources
- The executive attempted to lighten the situation with cheese-related wordplay in his response
- Google ultimately decided to remove the problematic screenshot from the advertisement
Historical context: The error reveals interesting timing discrepancies in Google’s AI development timeline.
- The Gemini screenshot shown in the ad apparently dated back to 2020
- This timing is notable because Gemini wasn’t launched until 2023 (initially as Google Bard)
- The service was rebranded as Gemini in February 2024
Broader accuracy issues: This isn’t an isolated incident in Google’s AI accuracy challenges.
- Previous AI-related mishaps included the system suggesting that glue could prevent cheese from sliding off pizza
- Despite these setbacks, Google continues to invest heavily in AI development
- The company recently made its Gemini 2.0 model widely available and committed $75 billion to AI infrastructure
Looking beyond the cheese: While this incident might seem trivial, it highlights significant challenges in AI content verification and the importance of fact-checking AI-generated information, even when it comes from leading technology companies. The episode also demonstrates how even minor errors can impact brand credibility, particularly when targeting specific regional audiences with local expertise.
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