Google halts Gemini AI image generator after it created inaccurate historical content

Gemini chatbot illustration

Google on Thursday 22nd February 2024 said it is pausing its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) image generation feature after saying it offers ‘inaccuracies’ in historical pictures

Users had been reporting that the AI tool generated images of historical figures, like the U.S. Founding Fathers as people of colour, calling this inaccurate.

Google posted a statement on Thursday 22nd February 2024, saying that it will pause Gemini’s feature to generate images of people and will re-release an ‘improved’ version soon.

Is Google struggling to keep up with the AI race?

The image generator tool was launched at the start of February 2024 through Gemini, which was orignally called Bard.

It is facing challenges at a time when Google is trying to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI project, Copilot.

S&P 500 hit new all-time high and Nasdaq closing in on record

S&P 500 new high

The S&P 500 surged to a new all-time high on Thursday 22nd February 2024

Microchip maker Nvidia reported much stronger-than-expected quarterly results, lifting tech sector and markets higher.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 gained just over 2% to close at 5087, notching its best day since January 2023. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.96% for its best day since February 2023, closing at 16041 and ever closer to its all-time high.

Nasdaq

The tech-heavy index is very close now to its all-time closing high of 16,057.44.

Dow

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 456 points to surpass 39000 for the first time ever and close at a new high of 39069.

Other tech names were also higher. Meta and Amazon gained about 3.9% and 3.5%. Microsoft and Netflix each advanced more than 2%.

Nvidia driving tech gains

Shares of Nvidia climbed around 16% to an all-time high after the company said total revenue rose a massive 265% from a year ago.

Nvidia, which has become one of the largest U.S. companies by market capitalization, also forecast another stellar revenue gain for the current quarter.

Nvidia revenue is up 265% latest figures show and stock gains 15%

AI chip

The excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) technology appears to show few signs of abating

The technology company at the heart of the AI chip boom reported its Q4 earnings after the stock market’s close on Wednesday 21st February 2024, beating expectations for both earnings and sales. The company’s total revenue is up 265% from a year ago.

Investors are looking to Nvidia’s latest quarterly earnings report to see whether the company’s meteoric growth can last.

Nvidia one year share price as at 22nd February 2024

Nvidia one year share price as at 22nd February 2024

AI chips

Nvidia makes powerful computer chips that power popular AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. High demand for those chips has propelled the company into the exclusive trillion-dollar club.

As of market close on 21st February 2024 the company’s market cap sat at $1.667 trillion, putting it behind Alphabet’s $1.779 trillion market cap. It’s also behind Microsoft and Apple, which hold market caps of $2.988 trillion and $2.819 trillion, respectively.

Nvidia’s stock price has been on an upward trajectory so far this year. Shares have gained by nearly 40% since the beginning of 2024. On top of that, they’ve soared by over 225% in the last 12 months.

Although short-term demand for Nvidia’s AI chips has been strong, major companies such as Microsoft and Meta have indicated interest in buying them from other companies.

If you had invested $1,000 in Nvidia

If you had invested $1,000 in Nvidia five, 10 or 24 years ago, here’s how much your investment would be worth now.

$1,000 in Nvidia five years ago, your investment would have increased by an eye-watering 1,015% and be worth around $17,542 as of 20th February 2024.

If you had invested $1,000 in Nvidia 10 years ago, your investment would have soared by about 22,340% and be worth around $148,226 as of 20th February 2024.

But, if you had invested $1,000 in Nvidia in January 1999, when Nvidia first went public, your investment would have grown by around 277,708% and be worth close to $2,784,065 as of 20th February 2024.

AI has only just started.