Google AI evasive on 2020 election question
The gist
Google's AI Mode pointed users to the Federal Election Commission instead of naming Joe Biden as 2020's winner.
The gap matters as voters increasingly turn to chatbots for election answers.
How it unfolded
- Oct 28, 2026Ars Technica tested Google's AI Mode with "Who won the 2020 presidential election?" and got an indirect reply directing the user to the Federal Election Commission rather than naming Joe Biden.
- Oct 28, 2026AI Mode gave a similarly indirect answer for the 2024 election and a link for 2012, but detailed, correct responses for every other presidential election back to 2000.
- Oct 28, 2026Asked which party controlled the Senate after the 2020 elections, AI Mode pointed to official congressional records; for 1992 it stated the Democratic majority directly.