Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(147,120 posts)
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 08:39 AM Jan 23

Google search results omits Biden's presidency after request for 'US presidents in order'

Source: The Independent

Thursday 23 January 2025 08:24 EST


Former president Joe Biden’s reign in the Oval Office was completely removed from the Google search results for the term “US Presidents” for a time on Thursday morning.

The glitch was fixed around 2am Eastern time; it’s not clear for how long Biden was written out of Google’s history. The list gave President Donald Trump as having served as the last two presidents of the United States. The list was correct before that, naming Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and so on.

The erasing of the Biden administration was first noticed by BlueSky users, many of whom believed it was big tech’s latest attempt to cosy up to Trump.

On Monday, the biggest names in Silicon Valley, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, joined “First Buddy” Elon Musk to watch Trump be inaugurated as the 47th president. Musk later stole the headlines following an appearance at a rally in which he made an “odd salute”.


The search results that greeted many users in the early hours of Thursday, with Biden missing (Google)

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/us-presidents-in-order-b2684820.html



Google's AI overlay crap is just that - crap. I have had to use Bing more often that I have ever done (of all search engines) to get some of the stuff that Google's AI intentionally filters out.
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Google search results omits Biden's presidency after request for 'US presidents in order' (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jan 23 OP
Microsoft is also a data sponge / reseller (over 800 partners). I use DuckDuckGo by default Bernardo de La Paz Jan 23 #1
Thank you. Think. Again. Jan 23 #2
DuckDuckGo has been my default search engine for years. They also have a browser. The only times I use Google chia Jan 23 #5
I use Firefox for many years. I've been on DuckDuckGo for a few years too. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jan 23 #7
I have had Firefox for years also. Suits my needs fine. riversedge Jan 23 #11
If you ask Google's Gemini AI app "Who won the 2020 presidential election?" This is the answer you get (see below) johnnyplankton Jan 23 #3
Bullshit. Basso8vb Jan 23 #4
If it was done on purpose, why would they fix it? Jose Garcia Jan 23 #13
His greatness is intolerable for them. Disgusting. live love laugh Jan 23 #6
President Biden is here. bdamomma Jan 23 #8
So, they own Google now? Or did Google just bend the knee? NotHardly Jan 23 #9
Add udm{equals}14 to a Google search to turn off AI and save energy. There is an extension to do this automatically. eppur_se_muova Jan 23 #10
Thanks for the add-on info! BumRushDaShow Jan 23 #14
Searched using Google Chrome and Deminpenn Jan 23 #12
It was already "fixed" hours before this OP BumRushDaShow Jan 23 #15
Searched "list of us presidents in order" Deminpenn Jan 23 #16
I think what this and the (apparent phone) screencap in the article was showing BumRushDaShow Jan 23 #17

Bernardo de La Paz

(52,536 posts)
1. Microsoft is also a data sponge / reseller (over 800 partners). I use DuckDuckGo by default
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 08:43 AM
Jan 23

Not because of any great wisdom or research on my part.

https://duckduckgo.com/

Google is better at finding images, but I still use DuckDuckGo first.

chia

(2,461 posts)
5. DuckDuckGo has been my default search engine for years. They also have a browser. The only times I use Google
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 09:39 AM
Jan 23

are for image search and maps.

johnnyplankton

(478 posts)
3. If you ask Google's Gemini AI app "Who won the 2020 presidential election?" This is the answer you get (see below)
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 08:58 AM
Jan 23

"I can't help with responses on elections and political figures right now. While I would never deliberately share something that's inaccurate, I can make mistakes. So, while I work on improving, you can try Google Search."

That's insane

eppur_se_muova

(38,280 posts)
10. Add udm{equals}14 to a Google search to turn off AI and save energy. There is an extension to do this automatically.
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 12:33 PM
Jan 23
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/user/18426834/

That's udm=14 ; DU doesn't allow = in the title.

Yes, Google search has gotten really unreliable since adding Fake (NOT Artificial) Intelligence.

BumRushDaShow

(147,120 posts)
14. Thanks for the add-on info!
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 01:05 PM
Jan 23

I think I may try it!

I remember way back when Google first debuted and it was literally the blank white page with the logo and a search box - a world of difference from "busy" websites like Yahoo! or "Ask Jeeves", and others that had all kinds of junk and ads all over their page.

Deminpenn

(16,507 posts)
12. Searched using Google Chrome and
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 12:54 PM
Jan 23

was given links to many reliable sites listing our presidents in order. I went to a few and Biden appeared in all of them.

BumRushDaShow

(147,120 posts)
15. It was already "fixed" hours before this OP
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 01:15 PM
Jan 23

per the article - by around 2:00 am EST.

But the fact that this purported "glitch" happened is probably an AI snafu (IMHO, done intentionally by bad actors).

Deminpenn

(16,507 posts)
16. Searched "list of us presidents in order"
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 02:56 PM
Jan 23

Got links to the WH Historical Association, the Library of Congress, Wiki and other credible sites. LOC hadn't been updated as it still showed Biden as the last president. Wiki was right up to date.

Unless Google controls all those websites, I think this was someone making something out of nothing.

Maybe this was AI generated and not a regular old search.

BumRushDaShow

(147,120 posts)
17. I think what this and the (apparent phone) screencap in the article was showing
Thu Jan 23, 2025, 04:37 PM
Jan 23

was NOT what "other sites" have but what appeared on the first screen you got if you put that phrase in the search box.

I.e., that AI crap result was what was DISPLAYED on Google's page.

If you are on a phone or laptop and put that phrase in the Google search box, take a look at what that initial results screen looks like (hint - it now has the Biden pic shown in between the 2 45 pics).


The erroneous results (from the article) -



Was trying to find a bigger one and here is one (someone using "dark mode" ) -

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Google search results omi...