{
  "id": 16939563,
  "title": "Google’s AI Mode Won’t Say Who Won 2020 Election, but Gemini Will",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/googles-ai-mode-wont-say-who-won-2020-election-but-gemini-will",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-28T18:01:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/tech/google-ai-mode-gemini-2020-election-biden/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent test, Google's AI-powered search function failed to provide an answer when asked who won the 2020 U.S. presidential election, while its standalone Gemini chatbot accurately identified Joe Biden as the victor. Thesource material details that Google's AI Mode directed users to the National Archives and Federal Election Commission for the answer, rather than naming Biden directly. In contrast, Gemini provided the correct electoral and popular vote tallies without hesitation.\n\nThis discrepancy in responses comes just days before the 2026 midterm elections on November 3, as Google promotes its initiatives to assist voters in finding trustworthy information via its AI products. In September, the company announced the rollout of election-related tools across Search, AI Mode, and Gemini, which included access to official voting resources and election results.\n\nThe differing handling of election-related queries raises questions about the rationale behind Google's distinct approaches for these products. WIRED reported in June 2024 that Gemini had previously declined to identify the 2020 election winner, reflecting Google's earlier restrictions on election-related questions. Additionally, TheWrap noted in a previous report that the Trump administration's new AI-powered America.gov website had initially acknowledged Biden's victory before refusing to answer the same question.\n\nAt present, Google has not disclosed whether the divergent responses in Wednesday's tests result from separate policies for AI Mode and Gemini. The company has not yet provided a response to TheWrap's inquiry for further comment.",
  "summary": "The company's AI-powered search feature sidestepped a question about Joe Biden's victory, even as its standalone chatbot answered correctly in tests by TheWrap The post Google’s AI Mode Won’t Say Who Won 2020 Election, but Gemini Will appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}