Article by Merlyn Thomas and Paul Brown: “Google has rolled back its new AI tool that allowed people to create fake images on top of its satellite imagery, following a BBC Verify report in which experts raised concerns about misuse and the potential to spread misinformation.
Less than 48 hours after the tech giant announced the integration of its AI image generator Nano Banana 2 into Google Earth, it said it was pausing the feature “while we work on implementing stronger guardrails”.
In its statement on Friday, Google said it had seen “people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies”.
The retracted feature enabled users to use text prompts to generate false scenarios on top of a base layer of real satellite, aerial or 3D imagery – which could then be downloaded and shared on other platforms.
“We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world,” it added.
Experts told BBC Verify the tool could be used to spread misinformation with the appearance of Google’s legitimacy – and highlighted the potential for bad actors to abuse it.
A collapsed Eiffel Tower, a sinkhole swallowing the Great Pyramid of Giza and Russian tanks in Ukraine’s capital were among the images BBC Verify was able to create when testing the feature, which initially launched on Thursday…(More)”.
