Oh, the sheer stupidity of generative AI...

[highplainsdem]

I just did a search for

iggy pop

and Google's AI Overview, which appears above other search results and is rarely helpful and often wrong, gave me its mindless summary on the subject of Eggy Pop.

And no, I had not misspelled Iggy's name.

But this was the AI response:

AI Overview
"Eggy Pop" can refer to several different things, primarily a minigame in Yoshi's New Island, a band, or a type of lamp.
In Yoshi's New Island, "Eggy Pop" is a two-player minigame where players pop balloons for points.
It's a pun on the name of the musician Iggy Pop, who is also referenced in the game as Iggy Koopa.
Additionally, there's a band called "Eggy Pop" known for songs about breakfast foods like eggs and cereal.
Finally, "Eggy Pop" is also the name of a pendant light fixture from Cph Lighting, designed with a soft, glare-free light.
More Details:

-snip-

And btw, it's fine to quote that much of an AI Overview. What's generated by AI can't be copyrighted. And it typically can't be duplicated by the AI tool, which will waste energy generating a new answer each time, using much more electricity than regular search.

I've seen clueless responses from Google's AI Overview before, and read about a lot more, but this is the worst I've encountered myself. Makes me wonder if Google's AI Overview is now using one of the newer AI models that have been shown to hallucinate even more than the older ones.

The AI companies have wasted hundreds of billions of dollars on this crap, and they want it used extensively, especially in education and now government - really in all areas of our economy and lives. If we survive the Trump thugocracy and the AI bros' power grab, this is likely to be looked back on as the stupidest tech and stupidest era ever.

[speak easy]

1. This is I got (In AI Mode)

iggy pop

James Newell Osterberg Jr., widely known as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and actor. Often referred to as "the Godfather of Punk," he is revered as a pioneer in punk rock and related musical styles.

Career overview
Early career and The Stooges: Iggy Pop rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the frontman of The Stooges, a proto-punk band known for their raw, primitive sound and Iggy's wild, confrontational stage performances. He became infamous for antics like stage diving, self-mutilation, and smearing his chest with food. The Stooges released two studio albums, The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970), before disbanding in 1974. The band later reunited in the 2000s.

Solo career: Following The Stooges' initial breakup, Iggy Pop embarked on a solo career that saw him explore a more diverse range of styles, from hard rock to jazz and electronic music. He collaborated with influential artists like David Bowie, who produced his critically acclaimed solo albums, The Idiot and Lust for Life (both 1977). His solo work also produced hits like "Lust for Life", "The Passenger" and "Real Wild Child (Wild One)", as well as the Top 40 duet "Candy" with The B-52s' Kate Pierson.

Later years: Iggy Pop has continued to release music and tour throughout the decades, collaborating with various artists like Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Underworld, and Green Day. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in films like Cry-Baby and Dead Man, and television shows like The Adventures of Pete & Pete.

Influence and legacy
Iggy Pop's raw energy and willingness to push boundaries have left an undeniable mark on music history. He is widely credited with pioneering punk rock, and his influence can be heard in a multitude of bands and artists across genres. Many bands, including the Sex Pistols, The Smiths, and Nirvana, have cited The Stooges as a major influence. His solo album The Idiot is also considered a significant influence on post-punk, electronic, and industrial music, inspiring artists like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Joy Division.

In addition to his musical contributions, Iggy Pop has earned recognition for his vibrant persona and cultural impact, remaining a relevant figure in the music industry for decades.

[highplainsdem]

3. LOL! I know generative AI can always give different answers, sometimes right and sometimes wrong, and

it's never aware of whether it's right or wrong.

As some AI experts I follow online have pointed out, although it's standard to say that generative AI models often hallucinate, in fact they are always hallucinating. It's just that some hallucinations look more correct than others.

[Mike 03]

4. That looks far more believable. NT

[Mike 03]

5. Here's what I got:

Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr., widely known as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and actor. Often referred to as "the Godfather of Punk," he is revered as a pioneer in punk rock and related musical styles.

Career overview

Early career and The Stooges: Iggy Pop rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the frontman of The Stooges, a proto-punk band known for their raw, primitive sound and Iggy's wild, confrontational stage performances. He became infamous for antics like stage diving, self-mutilation, and smearing his chest with food. The Stooges released two studio albums, The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970), before disbanding in 1974. The band later reunited in the 2000s.
Solo career: Following The Stooges' initial breakup, Iggy Pop embarked on a solo career that saw him explore a more diverse range of styles, from hard rock to jazz and electronic music. He collaborated with influential artists like David Bowie, who produced his critically acclaimed solo albums, The Idiot and Lust for Life (both 1977). His solo work also produced hits like "Lust for Life", "The Passenger" and "Real Wild Child (Wild One)", as well as the Top 40 duet "Candy" with The B-52s' Kate Pierson.
Later years: Iggy Pop has continued to release music and tour throughout the decades, collaborating with various artists like Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Underworld, and Green Day. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in films like Cry-Baby and Dead Man, and television shows like The Adventures of Pete & Pete.

Influence and legacy

Iggy Pop's raw energy and willingness to push boundaries have left an undeniable mark on music history. He is widely credited with pioneering punk rock, and his influence can be heard in a multitude of bands and artists across genres. Many bands, including the Sex Pistols, The Smiths, and Nirvana, have cited The Stooges as a major influence. His solo album The Idiot is also considered a significant influence on post-punk, electronic, and industrial music, inspiring artists like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Joy Division.

In addition to his musical contributions, Iggy Pop has earned recognition for his vibrant persona and cultural impact, remaining a relevant figure in the music industry for decades.