Which Google AI Got Shut Down? Everything You Need to Know
Google’s AI Journey
Google’s exploration and development of artificial intelligence have often been met with both innovation and challenges. Understanding these key developments provides insight into their AI strategy and the journey that various AI projects have taken.
Advanced Technology External Advisory Council
In March 2019, Google took a step towards enhancing its accountability in AI by launching the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC). This council was created with eight appointed members to guide the company on ethical AI practices. However, the initiative faced significant backlash from Google staff, particularly due to the selection of Kay Coles James, who was criticized for her political views. The controversy led to the closure of the council just one month after its establishment (Wikipedia). This incident illustrates the complexities of balancing innovation with ethical considerations in AI development.
| Council Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Formation Date | March 2019 |
| Membership | 8 members |
| Duration | 1 month |
| Reason for Closure | Staff objections to member selection |
Word Spinner Extension Closure
Another notable development was the discontinuation of the Word Spinner extension, an AI writing assistant that was popular among writers, managers, and students. This tool was designed to assist with rewriting and generating content, making it easier to produce optimized text while attempting to bypass AI detection mechanisms.
Users who depended on Word Spinner for their writing tasks felt a significant impact when it was shut down. The closure reflects the changing landscape of AI tools and Google’s approach to content generation technologies (Word Spinner).
| Feature of Word Spinner | Details |
|---|---|
| Function | AI writing assistant |
| User Base | Writers, managers, students |
| Key Uses | Rewriting, content generation, AI detection bypass |
| Date of Closure | Date not specified |
For more insights on the implications of AI content, you can check our article on does google reject ai content?. Understanding these closures helps in grasping the evolving nature of AI in the tech landscape and can assist you in navigating the ever-changing dynamics of AI tools and their effectiveness.
Google’s AI Chatbot Closure
LaMDA Development and Shutdown
In its journey through artificial intelligence, Google developed LaMDA, a chatbot that aimed to create engaging conversational experiences. Initially named Meena, this AI project was headed by engineers Daniel De Freitas and Noam Shazeer. However, the development faced significant challenges, ultimately leading to its closure in 2023.
Google executives decided to shut down LaMDA due to its failure to meet Google’s AI safety and fairness standards. Despite attempts to enhance the bot by sending it to external researchers and adding chat capabilities to Google Assistant, it did not comply with the criteria set by the company. These actions resulted in the engineers leaving Google to launch their own company in 2021.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Initial development of Meena |
| 2021 | Engineers leave Google to start their own company |
| 2023 | LaMDA project officially shut down |
Google made headlines not just for this closure but also for addressing claims that LaMDA had reached sentience. After an engineer, Blake Lemoine, claimed that the chatbot exhibited a degree of consciousness, Google quickly rebutted these assertions. They clarified that the evidence provided did not confirm sentience and emphasized that LaMDA underwent comprehensive reviews regarding quality and safety. The company stated that conversations with LaMDA did not support the claims made about its consciousness (ABC7).
If you’re curious about the direction of AI content and how platforms react to AI-generated information, make sure to check out our article on does google reject ai content?. Moreover, learn about Google’s leadership in AI by exploring who runs ai at google?.