Searching for ‘Disregard’ Breaks Google [Updated]

On Tuesday, Google held its I/O developer event, and introduced an AI-forward version of Google Search that the company described as an “intelligent search box” powered by the newest version of Gemini. It turns out Google’s all-new version of search semi-breaks when you search for the word “disregard.”

Typing “disregard” into Google Search results in Google’s AI interpreting it as a system-style instruction instead of a search query. “Understood. Message disregarded,” is the result.

You do get standard search results like a Merriam-Webster definition of disregard if you scroll down further, but the AI Overview reply is filled with a bunch of white space that blocks out what’s below.

There’s a similar response on mobile devices, though with less visible white space.

Using a non-AI search engine like Kagi brings up the expected results for the search, immediately showing the definition instead of reading it as a command.

Words that have a similar meaning like ignore or stop produce the same result with Google’s AI Overview. So do other command-like statements such as “remember.” Google will likely fix the issue soon, but it’s a reminder of the shortcomings of the AI tools that have become impossible to avoid.

Update: A Google spokesperson told MacRumors that the bug is unrelated to Google’s I/O Search announcements, and is instead an issue with AI Overviews. “We’re aware that AI Overviews are misinterpreting some action-related queries, and we’re working on a fix, which will roll out soon,” said the spokesperson.

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