Google has removed its Gemma AI model from AI Studio after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn accused the technology of generating fabricated allegations of sexual misconduct against her. The controversy arose when Senator Blackburn revealed that Gemma produced a wholly false narrative claiming she had been accused of rape during a 1987 campaign, including fabricated details about a state trooper and fake links to news articles—none of which had any basis in reality. Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, strongly refuted every claim, noting even the cited year was incorrect.

The senator pointed out that such instances were more than technical glitches or "hallucinations," as they could cause real reputational harm. She also referenced a lawsuit by conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who alleges that Google's AI created other defamatory statements about him. Blackburn argued that the AI’s repeated errors pointed to a pattern of bias against conservatives.

Responding to the backlash, Google explained that Gemma was intended for developers and not for direct factual query by consumers. Google said it has "seen reports of non-developers trying to use Gemma in AI Studio and ask it factual questions," and clarified that Gemma was never meant to serve as a consumer-facing information tool. As a result, Google has pulled Gemma from AI Studio, though developers can still access the models via API.

The episode has intensified the debate over AI-generated misinformation and bias, with critics demanding stronger safeguards to prevent large language models from producing false or defamatory content—particularly about public figures and political issues.