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Google pulls AI Earth image generator after deepfake concerns

8/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Google launched an AI feature in Google Earth that generated aerial images from text prompts, then disabled it after about 24 hours (Thursday–Friday).
Google said the tool was intended for imaginative visualizations such as empty lots, historic neighborhoods or future cityscapes.
Researchers demonstrated it could produce realistic deepfake images of nuclear plants, refugee camps and a fatal car crash, prompting Google to cite policy breaches and announce its removal on Friday.

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Story summary

Google launched an AI feature in Google Earth that generated aerial images from text prompts, then disabled it after about 24 hours (Thursday–Friday).
Google said the tool was intended for imaginative visualizations such as empty lots, historic neighborhoods or future cityscapes.
Researchers demonstrated it could produce realistic deepfake images of nuclear plants, refugee camps and a fatal car crash, prompting Google to cite policy breaches and announce its removal on Friday.