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Jack Krawczyk, a Google leader of an artificial intelligence product, stepped away from social media sites including X and LinkedIn after the troubled launch of the company’s AI image generator made him the target of online harassment.
Krawczyk, who is typically active on social media, where he is known for soliciting user feedback and praising Google products and colleagues, has removed identifying information and made some accounts private. Krawczyk’s official title is senior director of product management for Gemini, the company’s primary AI modeling group.
Although he is lowering his public profile, Krawczyk is still busy working on Gemini products and carries the same title, according to knowledgeable sources who asked not to be named to speak on the matter.
Earlier this month, Google launched an AI image generator via Gemini. The tool allowed users to enter requests to create an image, similar to how text-based services like ChatGPT produce sophisticated answers and answers to questions.
In the days following the image engine’s release, users discovered historical inaccuracies that went viral online. Google responded by retiring the feature last week, with plans to relaunch it in the coming weeks.
Shortly before the company removed the product, Krawczyk was the first Google leader to do so write on Xstating, “We are aware that Gemini offers inaccuracies in some historical image generation representations and are working to resolve this immediately.”
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai sent a memo to employees on Tuesday calling Gemini’s image generation issues “problematic” and saying they “offended our users” and “exhibited bias,” adding that the situation was “completely unacceptable”.
By then, Krawczyk had taken much of the heat as reports resurfaced about some of his old posts. Critics claimed, without evidence, that he had an “anti-white” agenda and included images of Krawczyk in their posts and replies. X CEO Elon Musk, who has often attacked Google’s business, amplified those rumors on his platform, singling out Krawczyk.
Krawczyk has since removed his images and any identifying information from social media platforms.
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