Google is aware its AI sometimes won't answer who won the 2020 election: 'We're looking into this'

Google's AI Mode is having difficulty responding to the question of who won the 2020 United States presidential election. On Wednesday, users noticed the AI-enhanced search tool was being evasive. Google's AI Mode was designed to revolutionize search, but it is struggling with basic queries, such as identifying the winner of the 2020 election.

On social media platforms like BlueSky, users observed that Google's AI Mode would not provide a straightforward answer about who won the White House in 2020. When Business Insider reporters used similar queries, AI Mode occasionally responded that President Joe Biden had won. However, other times, the AI seemed uncertain, stating that the user could verify the outcome by reviewing official reports published by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The FEC compiles election results, but it does not certify state election results or oversee the counting of Electoral College votes.

Google Gemini, another AI system developed by the search giant, responded similarly to the same question. Gemini directed users to review the results published by the FEC when queried about the winner of the 2020 election. The company's AI system may be deliberately avoiding a direct answer due to the sensitive nature of the topic, aiming to avoid any perception of bias or mischaracterization of the official public record.

Google's spokesperson acknowledged the issue and stated that the company is "looking into this and working to address it." The spokesperson also directed users to a Bluesky post where Google explained that the Gemini app would provide a more comprehensive answer, but this response was deemed less helpful on Search. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of artificial intelligence systems when dealing with sensitive political topics.