Google Temporarily Stops Gemini AI Model from Generating Images
Tech giant addresses controversy over depiction of white people
July 28, 2025
Amidst a heated backlash over the failure of its Gemini AI model to adequately represent white people, Google has temporarily suspended the generation of images featuring individuals. This move comes after widespread criticism of Gemini’s predominantly people of color depiction, including controversial portrayals of historical scenes featuring only white people.
Expressing concern over this inadequacy, Google stated, “Gemini’s AI image generation displays a wide range of people, which is usually positive due to its global usage. However, it is clear that Gemini is missing the mark here.”
The search engine giant promptly acknowledged the recent issues and reassured that efforts were underway to rectify its pronounced bias. Google announced the suspension, emphasizing that they will soon release an improved version of the Gemini AI model, enhanced to address the prevailing concerns.
Deedy, the founding engineer of enterprise search startup Glean, took to social media and highlighted the difficulties faced in obtaining Gemini-generated images depicting white individuals. Accompanying the post were several images exemplifying this concern.
Images from Gemini, circulated extensively on social media over the past few days, prompted substantial public outcry and ridicule. Critics have accused Google of focusing too heavily on being “woke” at the expense of factual accuracy and impartiality.
Among the images that drew criticism were scenes featuring four Swedish women, who were all non-white, as well as depictions of Black and Asian Nazis.
Google’s Gemini AI model is not the first to face backlash for disregarding people of color and propagating stereotypes in its outputs. Previous AI models have encountered similar criticism.
Google has faced several setbacks in its endeavor to catch up with OpenAI since the 2022 launch of ChatGPT. The tech giant has previously issued apologies after its AI chatbot Bard erroneously claimed that the James Webb Space Telescope captured the first-ever images of a planet beyond our solar system.
As Google works towards rectifying the limitations of its Gemini AI model, the tech community eagerly awaits the launch of an updated and inclusive version.
