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Gemini Ad Backlash

Viewers took issue with the ad in which a little girl's father uses Gemini AI to help her write a fan letter. Here's why.

The chatbot ad quickly sparked backlash, including online criticism that relying too heavily on generative AI tools deprives children of learning opportunities. "The father in the video is not encouraging his daughter to learn to express herself," Shelly Palmer, media professor at Syracuse University, wrote in a blog post entitled "Why Google's 'Dear Sydney' Ad Makes Me Want to Scream." It showcases a real-life track enthusiast and her father, and aims to show how the Gemini app can provide a starting point, thought starter, or early draft for someone looking for ideas for their writing."

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