Google Earth's AI Fiasco Highlights Long History of Mapmaking Mistakes

For centuries, cartographers have been trading on their reputation for accuracy and detail. However, as demand grew for detailed maps of the world to support industrialization and colonization, they didn't always get it right.

The 'Mountains of Kong' is a prime example. In the 1790s, Scottish surgeon Mungo Park described them to cartographer James Rennell as a possible source for the Niger river. Rennell produced two maps featuring this supposed mountain chain, extending it beyond Park's journey into areas he could never have seen.

However, in 1887-88, French military officer Louis-Gustave Binger proved that the Mountains of Kong didn't exist. Yet, a reference to 'Kong Mountains, French W. Africa' remained in the index of The Oxford Advanced Atlas until 1936, almost 50 years after Binger's expedition.

The recent controversy surrounding Google Earth's use of generative AI has brought this issue into focus once again. When added to Google Earth's satellite image platform, the tool made it possible to create convincing but fictional images. Users were quick to take advantage of this feature, creating worrying images including bombed suburbs and collapsed landmarks.

The outcry was swift, with fact-checkers and journalists expressing concerns about the potential for fake images to spread misinformation. Within 24 hours, Google rolled back the tool, Nano Banana 2, and promised 'stronger guardrails' in the future.