Key Points
- Google’s Gemini ad imagines parents using AI to locate and entertain a missing stuffed toy.
- Testing shows Gemini can identify similar items and generate imaginative images of the toy.
- The AI produces detailed reasoning, offering hypotheses about the toy’s identity.
- Gemini can create travel‑themed pictures and short videos, but prompts must be precise.
- Built‑in safeguards prevent deep‑fake videos involving children.
- The author raises ethical concerns about AI‑generated content addressing kids.
- Real‑world use requires careful prompting and awareness of limitations.
The Gemini Commercial
The new Google Gemini ad tells a relatable story of parents whose child’s beloved stuffed lamb is left behind on a flight. The commercial depicts the couple turning to Gemini to find a replacement, only to discover the toy is unavailable. While they wait, they use the AI to generate a series of imaginative scenes—showing the lamb in iconic locations, engaging in adventurous activities, and even speaking directly to the child.
Testing Gemini’s Capabilities
To see if the AI lives up to the commercial’s claims, the author fed Gemini three photos of the real stuffed animal from different angles and asked it to locate a similar item. Gemini returned several likely matches and provided a detailed explanation of its reasoning, including various hypotheses about the toy’s identity. The system ultimately suggested checking online marketplaces for a discontinued model.
The author then prompted Gemini to create new images of the toy in travel scenarios. The AI generated plausible pictures of the stuffed animal on an airplane, in front of famous landmarks, and at a family gathering, though some details were imperfect. When asked to produce short videos of the toy snowboarding, rafting, and even appearing on the moon, Gemini succeeded after multiple attempts, illustrating the need for precise prompts and the model’s built‑in limits that prevent the creation of deep‑fake videos involving children.
Ethical Reflections
The piece raises questions about the appropriateness of using AI‑generated content to soothe a child’s loss. While the technology can create convincing visual stories, the author expresses discomfort with the idea of an AI‑generated voice addressing a child by name. The article suggests parents must weigh the temptation to use AI for temporary comfort against the potential emotional impact of presenting fabricated narratives as reality.
Overall, the test confirms that Gemini can perform many of the tasks showcased in the ad, but it requires careful handling, and its safeguards limit certain applications. The commercial’s portrayal of seamless AI assistance is compelling, yet the real‑world experience reveals a more nuanced picture of the technology’s capabilities and the ethical considerations it raises.
Source: theverge.com