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Google Earth rolls back AI image tool after backlash over disinformation
The feature, launched the day before, used Google’s Nano Banana 2 technology to generate images from satellite and mapping data, but drew criticism from geospatial and open-source intelligence experts.
Google has rolled back a new Google Earth feature that let users generate AI visualisations on top of satellite, aerial and 3D-mapping imagery after a backlash over potential disinformation, Agence France-Presse reports.
According to a Google statement, the company said it had seen some misuse, including users sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appeared to violate its policies, after the tool was unveiled Thursday.
Google also said it is concerned because people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world, adding that the rollout of AI on trusted satellite imagery could have broader consequences for confidence in those visuals.
The “create image” tool integrated Google’s Nano Banana 2 image-generation technology into Google Earth, allowing users to zoom into locations and build pictures in seconds based on the service’s data, the report said.