Google has shut down its Google Earth image generation feature less than 24 hours after introducing it. This happened after facing fierce backlash from journalists, researchers, and open-source intelligence experts who warned that it could accelerate the spread of misinformation. The feature allowed users to generate AI-created satellite images by zooming into any location in Google Earth and entering a text prompt.
Google described the feature as a creative way to reimagine places around the world. However, critics warned it could weaken trust in Google Earth, which has become an important tool for journalists investigating conflicts, natural disasters, and other major events. The tech giant later confirmed that it was rolling back the feature while introducing stronger safeguards and acknowledging that some AI-generated images appeared to fall outside its policies.
