The Ongoing Saga of Google’s AI Missteps

Since its chaotic launch last year, Google’s AI Overviews have been a hot topic, especially when outlandish errors began making waves on social media. Recently, a viral sensation revealed that these AI responses confidently declared it’s still 2024, leaving many, including myself, to question if these were doctored images. Surely, such an egregious error would have been rectified by now, right?

Three Questions, Three Confusing Answers

To my surprise, upon prompting Google with "is it 2025?" verbatim three times, the AI churned out three conflicting answers with one common thread: "No, it is not 2025." Each response was riddled with references from various websites, including Reddit and Wikipedia, demonstrating a baffling level of accuracy mixed with confusion.

The first response included a precise date: "It is May 28, 2024." Yet, I tested this on May 29, 2025, prompting a surreal mix of gaslighting in subsequent responses. The AI even claimed, "for some locations, it might be 2025, but not everywhere on Earth," leaving me puzzled.

The Quirky Breakdown of Logic

One particularly absurd response insisted: "No, it is not 2025. The current year is 2024. However, for places like Kiribati, New Zealand, and sections of Russia and Australia, it is indeed 2025." Adding to the bewilderment, it somehow pinpointed my San Francisco zip code.

A Close Look at Google's Response

In response to the confusion, Google reassured users that they are continuously refining their AI. Meghann Farnsworth, a Google spokesperson, noted that they utilize such instances to enhance their systems. Liz Reid from the Search team previously admitted the initial rollout faltered under unique user queries.

The AI Evolution Continues

At the recent I/O developer conference — which, yes, was indeed in 2025 — Google unveiled AI Mode, a chatbot-like version of Search for complicated queries. Despite earlier discrepancies, this new AI feature got the year right on its first try.

The Future of AI Responses

Nevertheless, odd anomalies remain prevalent. Users discovered that inputting nonsensical phrases with 'meaning' appended yields AI responses attempting to define absurd concepts as common sayings. This underscores a critical reminder: skepticism must persist with AI outputs, as errors in generative AI aren’t vanishing anytime soon.

While Google pushes forward with its AI advancements, the journey is filled with hiccups that challenge a user's trust in technology. The unpredictability of AI is both fascinating and perplexing, leaving us to ponder: What will it get wrong next?