The controversy surrounding Google’s Gemini chatbot continues as the AI image generator remains offline, more than a month after its disastrous rollout. The feature, which was disabled in late February due to the production of historically inaccurate and culturally insensitive images, has yet to be reinstated despite assurances from Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis that it would be back online shortly.
The prolonged outage of the AI image generator is seen as a rare and embarrassing setback for the Silicon Valley giant. Critics have seized upon the issue as evidence of broader problems within Google’s leadership, with some calling for CEO Sundar Pichai to step down.
Sundar Pichai, who has served as CEO of Google since 2015, has faced mounting criticism in the wake of the Gemini fiasco. Even Google’s reclusive co-founder Sergey Brin acknowledged that the company had “definitely messed up” and “upset a lot of people” due to the botched rollout.
Despite Pichai’s close ties to Google’s co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, some former employees and industry observers argue that his tenure as CEO has been marked by missteps and a lack of accountability. They contend that Pichai’s job should be in jeopardy given the mistakes that have occurred under his leadership.
Critics point to a series of issues beyond the Gemini debacle, including layoffs, evasive answers on earnings calls, and a perceived lack of innovation. Some investors and analysts have expressed concerns about Google’s ability to compete effectively in the increasingly competitive field of artificial intelligence.
While Google’s financial performance has remained strong under Pichai’s leadership, with shares soaring more than 300% since he took over as CEO, detractors argue that the company’s size and dominance have shielded him from criticism.
Despite calls for Pichai to step down, it remains unclear whether Google’s board of directors will take action. The company’s recent missteps have raised questions about its leadership and future direction, with some observers calling for a more concerted effort to address internal issues and regain public trust.
As Google grapples with the fallout from the Gemini controversy, the debate over Pichai’s leadership and the company’s future is likely to intensify. Whether he can weather the storm and restore confidence in Google’s ability to innovate and compete in the AI race remains to be seen.