Google Search Flabbergasted Again Real or AI-generated? Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Stumps the Algorithm!

Google search still struggles to differentiate AI-generated images from genuine ones, as exemplified by a photo of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

• Hey, have you ever Googled “Israel Kamakawiwoʻole”? If you haven’t, do it right now! You’ll be amazed to find out that AI-generated images of this legendary Hawaiian singer are taking over the top spots on Google.

• Now, don’t get me wrong, these images look pretty realistic, but they’re not flawless. I mean, come on, the AI decided to show him playing a guitar when he was famous for playing the ukulele. Talk about a major mix-up!

• This is just one more example of AI-generated art infiltrating our beloved search engine. If you’re struggling to tell the difference between AI-generated images and the real deal, you’re not alone. Ethan Mollick, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, stumbled upon this mind-boggling phenomenon and couldn’t help but share his disbelief on X. He even went as far as saying, “Seriously, don’t trust anything you see online anymore. Faking stuff is trivial. You cannot tell the difference.”

• Business Insider did some digging and confirmed the existence of these AI-generated images in the top search results. But hey, let’s not forget that perfection doesn’t come easy. Noah Giansiracusa, a professor at Bentley University, pointed out the flaw in the AI-generated images. A guitar, really? Kamakawiwoʻole was the maestro of the ukulele, for crying out loud!

• Looks like Google needs to up its game to keep AI crap out of the top results. We deserve more accurate search results, don’t you think?

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• Now let’s not forget about Kamakawiwoʻole’s incredible talent. This man was famous for his acoustic and heartfelt rendition of Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow.” Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 38 in 1997, leaving behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.

• These AI-generated images of Kamakawiwoʻole actually made their debut on Reddit in July, in a community dedicated to the AI image-generating tool Midjourney. Surprisingly, they didn’t create much of a buzz at the time, only receiving nine comments and 90 upvotes. Guess people were too busy enjoying the real music.

• But hold on, this isn’t the first time Google has played this trick. Back in September, an AI-generated image of the Tiananmen Square “tank man” took the top spot on Google’s search results. This image, also originating from the Midjourney Reddit community, showed the “tank man” striking a pose for a selfie in front of a tank. Now, that’s a selfie you won’t see every day!

• And it doesn’t stop there. Even legendary artists like Edward Hopper and Johannes Vermeer have fallen victim to AI-generated images hijacking the top search results. Can’t a famous artist catch a break from these AI impostors?

• So, it’s about time Google takes some serious action. In May, they announced the development of a tool that would provide users with more information about image search results, making it easier for us to separate the authentic from the fake. Better late than never, right?

• We reached out to Google for a comment, but they’re probably too busy dealing with AI-generated shenanigans behind closed doors. We’ll just have to wait and see what they have to say about this.

• artificial intelligence
• Generative AI
• Google