Robbie Starbuck Suing Google Over AI Claims
Conservative influencer Robbie Starbuck has initiated legal action against Google, alleging that the company’s AI chatbot inaccurately connected him to sexual assault allegations and the infamous white supremacist Richard Spencer.
Starbuck, who has seen successes in getting major corporations to reverse their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court on Wednesday, according to reports.
He is reportedly seeking over $15 million in damages from Google.
The lawsuit claims that Bird, the predecessor of Google Gemini, mistakenly linked Starbuck with Spencer, who gained notoriety during the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Additionally, Starbuck asserts that Google’s AI tools, namely Gemma and Gemini, wrongly suggested he had faced accusations of sexual assault and had participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Starbuck clarifies that he has never been accused of sexual assault and was not involved in the Capitol incident.
A Google spokesperson responded by mentioning that many of these claims stem from issues linked to what they call “hallucinations,” a common problem with large language models (LLMs). They noted that efforts are in place to disclose and mitigate these inaccuracies.
The spokesperson added that with enough creativity, chatbots can sometimes generate misleading information.
They indicated that the company would review the complaint as soon as it is received.
Last year, Google had to temporarily disable the Gemini chatbot after it produced various historically inaccurate images and was criticized for being excessively “woke.” These mishaps included bizarre depictions of black Vikings and diverse soldiers from the Nazi era.
Starbuck, who has transitioned from a music video director to a significant conservative activist, is known for spearheading campaigns against DEI policies. Since 2024, he’s utilized social media to launch boycotts, pressuring influential companies like Walmart, Ford, and John Deere to dial back their DEI and ESG initiatives.
Currently, he serves as a speaker and advisor on conservative business issues and remains a prominent figure in the movement opposing DEI programs in corporate America.
