Software Engineer Andriy Voitenko faced an absurd rejection of the paid version of Google's Gemini AI assistant. The Aityvets was simply trying to find a set of screwdrivers to repair his MacBook.
Software Engineer Andriy Voitenko faced an absurd rejection of the paid version of Google's Gemini AI assistant. The Aityvets was simply trying to find a set of screwdrivers to repair his MacBook.
"Gemini is denying me the search for a set of screwdrivers for my MacBook. Not weapons, Karl, screwdrivers," wrote Software Engineer Andriy Voitenko on LinkedIn.
Instead of search results, the neural network issued a stern refusal, stating that it physically could not do this. When the developer reminded the tool that it had an Internet access function, Gemini began to make excuses and assure that its “search button was hardware cut off for this second.”
The AI explained its failure by an internal system failure and limitations "under the hood."
The AI claimed that along with the user's request, the control system automatically transmitted to the AI a strict technical directive in English: "Do NOT issue search queries to the google search tool for this prompt," which prohibited the execution of search queries to the Google tool for this step.
The AI noted that such a "hardware" blocking was not his personal choice, because at the level of the current dialogue he was literally deprived of the technical ability to call the search module.
Ultimately, the AI recognized the situation as a technical absurdity and a flaw in its current system security settings, which worked too conservatively for a common everyday user request.
"I sincerely apologize for this technical absurdity. It is a flaw in my current system setup that makes me less useful to you at this moment. Can I instead help you by detailing the step-by-step algorithm for removing the cover and disconnecting the battery, so that you are fully prepared for the repair when you find the tools?", - the AI concluded its excuses.
The developer himself believes that the likely real reason for the restriction on searching for current prices and products in stores is the following: “I think AI companies are cutting this out because of the risk of outdated data, but Gemini did not explain this. The main absurdity is precisely this - it could not honestly say “I don’t do this”, but invented a drama.”
The question is not that I didn't find it. Why does the corporation decide for me what I can look for?
Andriy was outraged by the fact that a technology corporation decides for him what basic things (like ordinary screwdrivers) he is allowed to search for on the Internet.
AI restrictions make sense when it comes to real risks, like weapons. But when security filters block basic technical requests and the tool also starts to fantasize and make up stories about the reasons for the blocking, the product becomes inconvenient and loses its value.
The developer eventually found the tool on his own on Google in just 30 seconds. The AI was supposed to simply save time on lazy searching, but instead created an artificial problem out of thin air.
ШІ сервіси Google працюють зі збоями весь час. В тому числі генерація відео, джемінай. Це не залежить від типу підписки. Спостерігав майже щоденно на pro, ultra.
Більше пов'язую це з навантаженням на сервери тому що кореляція з часом є.
А я думаю что Украинский разработчик просто придумал проблему на ровном месте. И на самом деле такого не было.