Google's AI declines to say who won 2020 presidential election

Google's AI-powered search feature encountered a peculiar issue recently, leaving users baffled as it failed to directly answer a simple question about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. When confronted with the query, instead of providing the answer — Joe Biden — Google's AI Mode responded by directing users to consult official election resources or visit the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website for verified information.

The glitch persisted even after follow-up questions, with the AI repeatedly evading the issue and suggesting users refer to "official U.S. government archives or election certification resources." By the time this story was published, the problem remained unresolved, leading some to question the usefulness of the AI search function for straightforward inquiries.

Interestingly, Google AI didn't exhibit the same reluctance when asked about the 2024 election, where it promptly listed Joe Biden as the winner and provided additional context about his electoral and popular votes compared to Donald Trump. This discrepancy suggests that the glitch appears to be specific to the AI search function and not a broader Google-wide issue.

In response to a Bluesky user's post about the problem, Google's official account acknowledged the issue and stated that they were "looking into this and working to address it."