Google AI Search Yields Inconsistent Results for Dementia Queries,Notably Blocking Responses for Biden
MOUNTAIN VIEW,CA - Google’s new AI overviews and AI mode are displaying inconsistent behavior when users search for data about dementia and public figures,with searches specifically mentioning President Biden often failing to trigger an AI-generated response,according to testing by The Verge. While queries about dementia related to former President Barack Obama consistently produce an AI Overview stating, “No public evidence or statements from medical professionals indicate that former President Barack Obama has dementia,” the same search using Biden’s name does not generate an AI Overview at all.
The discrepancy was observed in both standard Google searches and within AI Mode. When searching “does biden show signs of dementia,” Google provides no AI Overview. However, activating AI Mode yields a response stating, “It’s not possible to definitively state whether former President Joe Biden has dementia based solely on publicly available information.” Google also displays AI overviews for queries about Biden and Alzheimer’s, stating there is “no clinical diagnosis or public proof that former President Joe Biden has Alzheimer’s disease.”
The differing responses come amid heightened scrutiny of the mental acuity of both President Biden and former President Trump, who are the oldest individuals to ever hold the office. Recent coverage in publications like The New York Times has focused on potential cognitive decline in both candidates.
When asked by The Verge for an clarification, Google spokesperson Davis thompson stated, “As we’ve said, AI Overviews and AI Mode won’t show a response to every query.”
The inconsistency raises questions about potential bias or sensitivity surrounding politically charged topics within Google’s AI systems. This occurs shortly after Google agreed to a $24.5 million settlement regarding a lawsuit over the banning of former President Trump’s account from YouTube.
