Google has removed its Gemma AI model from AI Studio after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn accused it of generating false claims about her. The Republican senator from Tennessee stated that when asked about sexual misconduct accusations, Gemma fabricated a story involving a 1987 state senate campaign and a state trooper. Blackburn clarified that none of these claims are true, including the campaign year, which was actually 1998.
In her letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Blackburn argued that these fabrications constitute defamation rather than harmless “hallucinations,” a term commonly used to describe AI errors. She referenced a similar lawsuit by conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who claims Google’s AI models generated defamatory statements calling him a “child rapist.”
Google responded by removing Gemma from AI Studio, stating that the model was never intended as a consumer tool. The company explained that Gemma is designed for developers, not for answering factual questions. According to Google, non-developers were using the model in ways it was not meant to be used. Gemma remains available through API access.
The incident highlights risks for developers who rely on experimental AI models. These models can be removed from platforms at any time, potentially disrupting ongoing projects. Google did not clarify whether existing projects using Gemma in AI Studio remain accessible. The controversy also reflects ongoing political tensions around AI bias, with conservative figures claiming that major tech companies’ AI systems show liberal bias.
Sources: TechCrunch, VentureBeat
