Jack Krawczyk, a Google artificial intelligence product lead, has withdrawn from social media platforms, such as X and LinkedIn, following the tumultuous debut of the company’s AI image generator, which subjected him to online harassment.
Krawczyk, who typically engages actively on social media, where he seeks user feedback and commends Google products and colleagues, has scrubbed identifying details and privatized certain accounts. Krawczyk holds the official position of senior director of product management for Gemini, the company’s primary suite of AI models.
Despite scaling back his public presence, Krawczyk remains involved in Gemini product development and retains his title, according to informed sources who preferred anonymity when discussing the matter.
Earlier this month, Google revealed an AI image generator as part of Gemini. This tool enabled users to input prompts for generating images, akin to text-based services like ChatGPT, which furnish nuanced responses and information.
In the days following the image engine’s launch, users unearthed historical inaccuracies that gained widespread traction online. Google responded by withdrawing the feature last week, with intentions to reintroduce it shortly.
Shortly before the product’s removal, Krawczyk became the first Google executive to address the issue on X, acknowledging, “We are aware that Gemini is producing inaccuracies in certain historical image renderings, and we are swiftly working to rectify this.”
On Tuesday, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai circulated a memo to staff denouncing Gemini’s image generation problems as “problematic,” asserting they “have aggrieved our users” and “exhibited bias,” deeming the situation “entirely unacceptable.”
By that time, Krawczyk had borne the brunt of criticism as past posts resurfaced. Detractors baselessly accused him of harboring an “anti-white” agenda and incorporated images of Krawczyk into their commentary. X CEO Elon Musk, a vocal critic of Google’s operations, amplified these voices on his platform, singling out Krawczyk.
Subsequently, Krawczyk eliminated images of himself and any identifying information from social media platforms.
