Google is cautiously reintroducing the ability to generate images of people using its Gemini AI chatbot. This feature was previously suspended due to concerns about the generation of historically inaccurate and potentially offensive content.
The updated functionality will leverage the power of Imagen 3, Google’s latest text-to-image generator known for its impressive capabilities in creating photorealistic and artistic visuals from simple text prompts. However, Google is taking a measured approach to ensure responsible AI usage.
The company has implemented built-in safeguards and improved evaluation processes to prevent the generation of inappropriate or harmful content. Additionally, the system won’t allow users to create images of identifiable public figures, minors, or scenes depicting violence or sexually explicit content.
While Google acknowledges that not every image generated by Gemini will be perfect, it’s committed to continuous improvement based on feedback from early users. The feature will initially be available in English to a limited group of Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise users, with plans to expand its availability to more users and languages in the future.
This move signifies Google’s cautious yet progressive approach to AI development, balancing the potential for creative expression with the need for ethical and responsible use. It remains to be seen how users will leverage this renewed capability, but it’s clear that Google is taking steps to ensure that AI-generated images are used for good, not harm.
