Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck has sued Google, alleging its AI systems defamed him with fabricated criminal accusations ranging from sexual assault to domestic violence. Filed in Delaware, the suit claims Google’s Bard and Gemma chatbots spread false statements to millions of users, citing nonexistent sources.
Starbuck is demanding $15 million in damages, saying the falsehoods endangered his life and reputation. “Now is the time to demand transparent, unbiased AI,” he said, warning of the dangers of unregulated generative systems.
Google said the issue stemmed from known AI “hallucinations,” which it continues to mitigate. The company emphasized that such outputs do not reflect verified data.
The lawsuit follows a similar dispute between Starbuck and Meta Platforms, which was settled earlier this year after Meta agreed to consult him on AI safety practices.
