Google admits its AI Overviews can generate "some odd, inaccurate" results

Google on Thursday admitted that its AI Overviews tool, which uses artificial intelligence to respond to search queries, needs improvement.

While the internet search giant said it tested the new feature extensively before launching it two weeks ago, Google acknowledged that the technology produces "some odd and erroneous overviews." Examples include suggesting using glue to get cheese to stick to pizza or drinking urine to pass kidney stones quickly. 

While many of the examples were minor, others search results were potentially dangerous. Asked by the Associated Press last week which wild mushrooms were edible, Google provided a lengthy AI-generated summary that was mostly technically correct. But "a lot of information is missing that could have the potential to be sickening or even fatal," said Mary Catherine Aime, a professor of mycology and botany at Purdue University who reviewed Google's response to the AP's query.