Google removed incorrect search results on August 12 falsely claiming that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had died, the company confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The erroneous information appeared in Google’s search results for several hours before being corrected, with Google stating it was not the result of a manual change by the company.
Google’s response and investigation
Google acknowledged the error in a post on X, stating: “Thanks for flagging - this is no longer appearing, and was not a manual change by Google. When people vandalize public info sources, this can affect the information that appears in Search.” The company did not specify which public source was targeted, though reports linked the issue to edits on Altman’s English Wikipedia page.
Timeline of Wikipedia edits
According to revision history, Altman’s Wikipedia page experienced 22 edits on August 12, compared to just five edits across the entire month prior. Edits included false claims that Altman had been assassinated, his surname altered to “Gayman,” and repeated assertions that he had died. The most significant false edit occurred at 9:47 a.m. UTC, when the page was updated to state he had died that day. Corrections were made by 10:29 a.m. UTC, though subsequent vandalism persisted before the page’s editing restrictions were reportedly tightened.
Similar incident targets Anthropic CEO
A comparable issue emerged for Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, with users reporting incorrect Google search results falsely suggesting his death. The pattern mirrored the Altman incident, raising concerns about the vulnerability of public information sources to coordinated vandalism.
Google’s reliance on public sources
Google’s knowledge panels, which display summarized information at the top of search results, draw from hundreds of public sources, including Wikipedia. A Google spokesperson noted that while Wikipedia is commonly cited, it is not the sole source for these panels. The company did not provide further details on how the erroneous information bypassed its verification processes.
Wikipedia’s response to vandalism
Wikipedia’s revision history indicates that the platform restricted editing of Altman’s page following the incidents, allowing only registered users to make changes. This measure aims to curb further vandalism, though the platform relies on volunteer editors to maintain accuracy. Wikipedia did not respond to requests for comment on the specific measures taken.
Broader implications
The incidents highlight the potential for malicious edits on public platforms to influence search engine results, raising questions about the reliability of crowdsourced information and the safeguards in place to prevent misinformation from spreading via automated systems.