Small Restaurant Pleads: Don't Trust Google AI's Fake Special Offers!
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In today's information age, many people choose to ask AI chatbots about restaurant menus instead of checking the restaurant's official website or social media. However, this approach has landed a Montana-based restaurant in trouble. The owners of Stefanina's Wentzville urgently appeal to customers to stop using Google's AI to check their daily specials, as the information provided by the AI is highly unreliable.
The restaurant expressed in a weary Facebook post: 'Please do not use Google AI to check our specials. Visit our Facebook page or official website instead. Google AI is not accurate and often informs customers about non-existent specials, leading to our staff being blamed by angry customers.' The owners emphasized: 'We have no control over what Google publishes or says, and we will not honor the specials announced by Google AI.'
Eva Gannon, a member of the restaurant's family, revealed to local media First Alert that Google's AI keeps telling customers about fictional discounts and even fabricates the existence of entire dishes. For example, Google AI claimed that Stefanina's was offering a large pizza at the price of a small one. Gannon lamented: 'These mistakes come back to haunt us. As a small business, we cannot honor the specials announced by Google AI.'
It's not just Stefanina's—other businesses have also suffered from the misinformation spread by Google's AI. In June of this year, a Minnesota-based solar company sued the tech giant over false information published by Google's AI, claiming it damaged their business reputation. In one case, the AI falsely stated that the solar company was facing litigation for fraudulent sales practices, which was entirely untrue.
These errors highlight that we should not overly rely on AI tools for information or decision-making guidance. Yet, tech companies want users to view these tools as trustworthy sources for daily tasks and queries. Google even launched an entire advertising campaign for its AI-powered search app, encouraging users to 'just ask Google' before doing anything. Last Thursday, Google announced that its AI can now make restaurant reservations for users.
Key Takeaways:
The restaurant urges customers not to use Google AI to check specials due to inaccurate information.
Customers argue with staff over fake discounts, disrupting normal operations.
Other businesses also suffer negative impacts from Google AI's misinformation, leading to financial losses.