New York: Google has issued an apology after one of its AI-powered news alerts sent to users contained a racial slur, triggering backlash online.
The problematic alert was pushed to users through Google’s news notification system and linked to a report by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ about an incident at the recent BAFTA Film Awards. The offensive word appeared directly in the notification preview, making it visible even before users opened the story.
The issue came to public attention after Instagram user Danny Price shared a screenshot of the alert, noting the timing during Black History Month. The post spread rapidly across social media, with many users questioning how such language passed through Google’s automated systems. This incident comes as Google continues to use AI to manage and rewrite content, such as article titles, raising concerns about the accuracy and bias of automated systems.
Responding to the controversy, Google said it had “removed the offensive notification” and was “working to prevent this from happening again.” The company did not explain how the AI-generated alert was created or why it was not flagged before being sent to users.
This issue is part of a broader trend where governments, like the UK, are starting to regulate AI-generated content more closely, questioning its impact on public trust and content quality.
The alert referred to a moment at the BAFTAs where an audience member with Tourette syndrome shouted the slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. The individual, Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson, later said he was “deeply mortified” and stressed that the comment was an involuntary vocal tic with no intended meaning.
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