Google is facing criticism after a promotional post on X (formerly Twitter) for its NotebookLM tool appeared to use a food blogger’s content without proper attribution. The incident has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of AI-generated content and its impact on original creators.
Recently, the tech giant launched its most powerful image model to date, Nano Banana Pro, which is trained on millions of websites and videos, enabling it to generate highly realistic images. Among its numerous features, Google has highlighted its capability in creating infographics, particularly for recipes, which has led to its promotion on social media platforms.
In one such promotion, Google’s NotebookLM account shared an “infographic recipe card” for Classic Buttery Herb Stuffing, framing it as a warm family recipe that could be generated using AI. However, shortly after the post went live, user Nate Hake pointed out a striking similarity between the recipe card and a stuffing recipe from the blog HowSweetEats.
The comparison revealed that the ingredients list and structural elements of the recipe were nearly identical to the original blog post. Hake contended that the AI likely did not “think” through the process, but rather scraped the recipe word-for-word, transformed it into a visually appealing format, and omitted any links to the original source. He noted that, “Google has crossed the rubicon into publishing AI summaries that do not even link to the source websites at all,” highlighting a potential violation of the terms of use set by these content creators.
Following the backlash, Google promptly deleted the NotebookLM post, although the company is not the only one facing scrutiny for its AI-related promotions. Microsoft, too, recently pulled a post on X after a feature of its Copilot product failed to function as advertised.
As Google navigates these challenges, the company is also exploring ways to monetize AI-generated answers on its search platform. Recent tests have shown advertisements appearing alongside AI-generated responses, potentially blurring the line between organic links and paid content. In a statement to BleepingComputer, Google confirmed that it is piloting ads in AI mode as part of a longer-term experiment aimed at integrating advertising into AI-generated content delivery.
This strategy aligns with broader industry trends, as competitors like OpenAI are also investigating the incorporation of ads within their offerings, such as ChatGPT. These ads could be highly customized, influencing consumer behavior in ways that traditional Google ads may not achieve.
The current landscape raises critical questions about the future of content creation and the ethical use of AI technologies. As companies like Google and OpenAI continue to develop systems that can generate human-like responses and content, the need for clear guidelines and ethical standards becomes increasingly urgent. The ongoing debate underscores the tension between innovation in AI and the rights of content creators, potentially shaping the future dynamics of information sharing on digital platforms.
See also
Accenture Partners with OpenAI to Upskill 50,000 Professionals with ChatGPT Enterprise
AI Pioneer Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs Achieves $1B Valuation, Pioneering Spatial Intelligence
Meta Platforms Surges 8% on Strong AI Investments, Targeting $841.42 Fair Value
Minitap Secures $4.1M to Accelerate Mobile Development 10x with AI Innovations
Guinea Accelerates Digital Transformation with AI Strategy and UNDP-Backed BSD Partnerships
