Google AI Mode Dodges 2020 Election Winner, Refers Users to Outside Sources
Updated
Updated · Ars Technica · Oct 28
Google AI Mode Dodges 2020 Election Winner, Refers Users to Outside Sources
2 articles · Updated · Ars Technica · Oct 28
Summary
Google’s AI Mode declined to directly name the winner of the 2020 US presidential election in tests, instead sending users to the Federal Election Commission for official results.
The same evasive pattern appeared for some 2024 and 2012 election questions, while the tool gave direct answers for many other presidential races going back to 2000.
Responses were inconsistent across users: one Ars staffer got immediate answers only for 2016 and 2024, with other election queries returning links to external data.
The behavior extended beyond presidential races, with AI Mode refusing to state which party controlled the Senate after 2020 while directly answering the same question for 1992 with a 57-43 Democratic majority.