Jack Krawczyk
, the
Google Gemini
product lead responsible for the company’s
AI image generator
, has abruptly withdrawn from social media platforms, including
X
and
. According to a report by CNBC, this move comes in the wake of a tumultuous launch of the AI tool, which resulted in widespread criticism and
online harassment
.
Earlier this month,
introduced an AI image generator as part of its
Gemini project
. The tool allowed users to input prompts and create images, akin to how text-based services like ChatGPT generate sophisticated responses. However, shortly after its release, users discovered historical inaccuracies in the generated images, leading to a viral outcry.
The inaccuracies in the AI-generated images sparked outrage, particularly when they depicted people of colour in historically incorrect settings. Critics pointed out that the tool’s output perpetuated biases and lacked accuracy. Google swiftly pulled the feature, promising to address the issues and relaunch it in the coming weeks.
Krawczyk, the senior director of product management for Gemini, bore the brunt of the backlash. His previous social media posts resurfaced, with some accusing him of having an “anti-white” agenda. X CEO Elon Musk amplified these voices, further intensifying the scrutiny on Krawczyk. Musk even expressed surprise at no one being fired by Google over the
Gemini AI
image generator controversy.
Krawczyk made significant changes to his online presence. He removed identifying information, deleted images of himself, and privatized certain accounts. Despite going AWOL from social media platforms, sources indicate that Krawczyk remains actively involved in Gemini’s work and holds the same title.
Google has acknowledged the issues with Gemini’s image generation, admitting that the AI model had “limitations in the training data.” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai called the situation “completely unacceptable” and pledged to rectify the biases and inaccuracies.
English (US) ·