What is Google’s AI Overviews, and why is it getting things wrong?

Last week, Google made headlines with the unveiling of its biggest change to search in years, showcasing new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The tech giant’s aim was clear: to keep pace with competitors such as Microsoft and OpenAI.

However, the rollout of this new technology, AI Overview, has been far from smooth. Instead of accurate answers, users have been confronted with a barrage of falsehoods and inaccuracies. From suggesting glue as a pizza ingredient to recommending the consumption of rocks for nutrients, the AI system’s blunders have cast a shadow over Google’s reputation, sparking outrage across the internet.