On Tuesday, Google held its I/O developer event and introduced an advanced version of the AI-powered Google Search, which the company described as an “intelligent search box” powered by the latest version of Gemini. It turns out that the newest version of Google semi-pauses the search when you search for the word “ignore.”
Typing “ignore” into Google search results into Google AI, interpreting it as a system-style instruction instead of a search query. “Understood. Message ignored” is the result.
You get standard search results like a Merriam-Webster definition of contempt if you scroll further down, but the AI Overview answer is filled with a bunch of white space that blocks what’s below.
There is a similar answer on mobile devices, but with less visible white space.
Using a non-AI search engine like Kagi displays the expected results for the search, immediately displaying the definition instead of reading it as a command.
Words that have a similar meaning, such as ignore or stop, produce the same result with Google’s AI presentation. The same goes for other command-type statements such as “remember”. Google will likely fix the problem soon, but it’s a reminder of the shortcomings of AI tools that have become impossible to avoid.
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