Google’s new Ad lands In Big Trouble

[justseyi]

Google’s latest Gemini ad, titled “Dear Sydney,” has sparked significant controversy online, reminiscent of the disconnect that can occur when a major tech company releases an out-of-touch commercial.

Since its debut during the Olympics, the ad has reignited debates about the role AI will play in our daily lives—and what it might diminish in the process.

 

The ad is narrated from the perspective of a father whose young daughter admires Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the American gold medalist in track and field. The Gemini AI chatbot is first introduced when the father searches for “how to teach hurdle technique,” prompting a list of tips generated by Gemini. The most talked-about moment comes later when the daughter wants to write a fan letter to her idol. The father turns to Gemini for help, typing, “Gemini, help my daughter write a letter telling Sydney how inspiring she is.”

 

The internet was quick to respond with criticism. On Google-owned YouTube, comments on the ad have been disabled.

 

Some critics argue that the ad promotes lazy parenting and undermines the daughter’s ability to express her admiration authentically. Others are concerned that the ad suggests a future where fundamental human skills, like writing, are outsourced to AI.

A Google spokesperson defended the ad, stating that its intention was to “create an authentic story celebrating Team USA” and to demonstrate how the chatbot can offer “a starting point, thought starter, or early draft for someone looking for ideas for their writing.”

 

This backlash echoes the reaction to Apple’s controversial ad for the iPad Pro released in May, where a hydraulic press was shown crushing cameras, instruments, and art materials. Though not AI-related, Apple’s commercial similarly struck a nerve with those worried that emerging technology might erode human creativity.

 

The broader concern here is that while tech companies continue to argue that AI is meant to handle mundane tasks, the public’s reaction to Google’s ad suggests that this message is not coming through as intended.

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