Gerrit De
Gerrit De Vynck is a tech reporter for The Washington Post. He covers Google, artificial intelligence, and algorithms that increasingly shape society. With over seven years of experience at Bloomberg News prior to joining The Washington Post, Gerrit has established himself as an expert in the field of technology journalism. His work focuses on uncovering the truth behind tech giants' AI products and their impact on society. Gerrit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Global Politics from Carleton University.
86%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
90%
Examples:
- Google said it was scaling down the use of AI-generated answers in some search results, after the tech made high-profile errors including telling users to eat glue and saying Barack Obama was Muslim.
- The change is the latest example of Google launching an AI product with fanfare and then rolling it back after it goes awry.
Conflicts of Interest
100%
Examples:
No current examples available.
Contradictions
95%
Examples:
- Advanced voice mode for ChatGPT will take one more month to launch.
- OpenAI is improving the ability of the advanced voice mode to detect and refuse certain content.
- State actors and private companies from Russia, China, Iran, and Israel ran these influence campaigns.
Deceptions
65%
Examples:
- But journalists, search engine experts and social media users quickly began spotting problems with the answers. Some of the responses were funny while others were concerning.
- One answer, which Google has since fixed, told people to drink plenty of urine to help pass a kidney stone.
- The tech industry is in the throes of an AI revolution, with start-ups and Big Tech giants alike trying to find new ways to put the tech into their products and make money from it.
Recent Articles
OpenAI Delays Release of Voice and Emotion-Reading Features for ChatGPT Amid Safety Concerns and Legal Investigations
Broke On: Tuesday, 25 June 2024OpenAI, the AI research lab behind ChatGPT, has postponed the release of voice and emotion-reading features due to safety testing concerns and potential legal issues. The delay follows demonstrations of these capabilities during OpenAI's Spring Update event that resembled Scarlett Johansson's voice from 'Her'. Google and Microsoft have faced similar challenges with their AI projects, leading OpenAI to prioritize safety and reliability before a fall release to paying subscribers. 
Google's New AI-Generated Responses Spark Controversy: Inaccuracies and Technical Changes
Broke On: Thursday, 30 May 2024Google's new AI-generated responses, called 'AI Overviews,' have sparked controversy due to inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Users reported receiving incorrect information on various topics, leading Google to make over a dozen technical changes and limit the use of social media postings as sources. The introduction of AI Overviews marks a significant shift in how information is accessed online, raising questions about the role of artificial intelligence in shaping our digital landscape. 
OpenAI Reveals Five Disrupted Influence Campaigns Using Its Technology for Deception
Broke On: Thursday, 30 May 2024OpenAI, a leading AI company, exposed five influence campaigns using its technology for deception, carried out by state actors and private companies from Russia, China, Iran, and Israel. The operations aimed to win support for political campaigns or sway public opinion but had limited success. Ben Nimmo of OpenAI's intelligence team provided case studies from ongoing influence efforts in the report. The use of generative AI for disinformation raises concerns during election years. 
Google Rolls Out AI-Powered Search Experience to All Users: Introducing the Search Generative Experience (SGE)
Broke On: Tuesday, 14 May 2024Google rolls out its AI-powered Search experience, 'Search Generative Experience (SGE)', to all US users as the default setting. The feature, which uses Google's Gemini technology and provides AI Overviews instead of traditional search results, is expected to reach over a billion users by the end of 2024. Google assures continued traffic to publishers while testing new features like simplified language, multi-step reasoning, planning capabilities, AI organization for search results, and video integration in Search Labs. 
Microsoft and Google's Q3 Earnings Surge: AI-Driven Revenue Jumps at Tech Giants
Broke On: Thursday, 25 April 2024Microsoft and Google reported significant profit increases in their latest earnings reports, driven by investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) services. Microsoft saw a 17% revenue jump to nearly $62 billion, with profits boosted by customer adoption of AI across its cloud products. Google's parent company Alphabet also reported strong earnings, with revenue above $80 billion and CEO Sundar Pichai announcing that AI was already enhancing search results. Both tech giants plan to invest heavily in new data centers this year, but face challenges from regulatory scrutiny and high costs.