Google nixes its Earth AI feature one day after launch, amid criticism it would spread misinformation
A tool that allowed anyone to generate fake AI-generated imagery and superimpose it over real Google Earth maps quickly spurred backlash.
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Google released a feature that let users generate AI images and place them onto real satellite maps in its Earth app, intended for creative geographic projects. Critics quickly warned that the tool could be misused to create and spread false information, since it allowed prompt-based image generation with few restrictions over actual maps. Google withdrew the feature after just one day, stating that while some users found legitimate purposes for it, others shared generated imagery that violated company policies. The company said it would reimplement the feature only after adding stronger safeguards.
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