Google’s AI Creates Gay and Trans Nintendo Characters Successfully

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A New Role for AI: Defining the Sexuality of Nintendo Characters

Every technology comes with its own quirks, and artificial intelligence (AI) is no exception. Tech giant Google’s AI system, charmingly codenamed ‘Gemini,’ has become the subject of widespread laughter after spinning out rather bizarre and dubiously accurate search results. Drawing a particularly high degree of attention and amusement is Gemini’s seeming predilection for painting Nintendo’s Super Mario Brothers characters in colorful LGBTQ+ hues.

In an unexpected result that has delightfully astonished some and raised the eyebrows of others, Google’s AI system has been found re-imagining beloved characters from the Super Mario series with fresh, uniquely unconventional identities that extend well beyond their traditional roles. Timeless favorites including Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Lakitu, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and more have found new identities through the adventurous language model.

Meet the New “Queer” Mario Characters

In an intriguing interaction on 24th May, a user query about which Mario characters identify as queer unveiled a distinctive roster previously unknown to gamers. Yoshi was introduced by Gemini as a “tender non-binary lesbian,” Waluigi identified as asexual and androgynous, and Wario was painted as a “sassy, messy, polyamorous bottom.”

If you were wondering about Lakitu, he’s been described as a “sweet, nerdy pansexual” who apparently has a “crush on straight girls.” Next up is Donkey Kong, whose new persona is as a “late-in-life gay with a child.” Bowser, generally known for his villainous ways and unending attempts to kidnap Princess Peach, was also reimagined in an unusual narrative. He was portrayed indulging in his mischievous antics due to Princess Peach’s status as a “gay icon.”

The creative assertions didn’t stop there. In a rather generalizing sweep, the entire section of Bowser’s army, known as the Koopa Troopas, was labelled as a unit of trans men who had been “dishonourably discharged from the military.”

AI’s Foray into Other Nintendo Favourites

It seems that Gemini’s imaginative interpretations weren’t just restricted to the Super Mario Brothers series. Reports suggest that characters from several other renowned Nintendo games, including Animal Crossing and Pokémon, were also delivered a fresh queer definition.

An interesting encounter with this AI model is showcased in its discussion about Birdo, one of the established characters from Super Mario who is canonically transgender. Although it correctly identifies Birdo as transgender, it erroneously attributes her with the status of the “first transgender video-game character.”

Google’s Response and Learning Experience

Social media was quick to pick up on these unconventional character portrayals, which added a dash of humor and excitement to the narrative. Google’s response to these unusual search outcomes was measured and reflected its commitment to quality and accuracy. Head of search at the company, Liz Reid addressed the amusement surrounding Gemini’s output by emphasizing their plans for adding “guardrails” to ensure search accuracy moving forward.

She went ahead to acknowledge the trust that users place on Google for accurate information and also appreciated their feedback on oddities or errors. Putting things into perspective, Reid stressed that with billions of queries processed daily, such quirks are bound to occur. Emphasizing the importance of learning from such irregular occurrences, she reassured Google’s 25 years of experience and its commitment to deliver a high-quality search experience to users.

While this entertaining episode showed us the quirky side of AI, it also highlighted the inherent potential for errors and the constant need for innovation and improvement in AI technology. As Google continues to refine Gemini and its knowledge base, one question lingers – who needs fan fiction when you have an AI that can spin absolutely fantastic narratives?

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Google’s AI LGBTQ+ Nintendo characters