Google’s plan to show off at the 2024 Paris Olympics how its Gemini AI assistant has improved by leaps and bounds crashed into a hurdle at the opening ceremonies when its new “Dear Sydney” commercial provoked some very low scores from some viewers. The ad aimed at tying Gemini to how Olympic medalist Sydney McLaughlin inspired a little girl. Instead, it seemed to suggest that the girl’s father should outsource helping his daughter write a fan letter to the AI.
The ad’s story is told by the girl’s father, who first uses Gemini to look up ways to help his daughter train for track and field events. But he then asks Gemini to compose a letter for his daughter to send to McLaughlin. The piece ends with a cute bit about the girl apologizing for her dream of surpassing McLaughlin’s record as Eve’s 2001 song, “Who’s That Girl?” plays. But, the letter request came off as jarring to some viewers.
