“Lack of productivity at work just got easier!”

Is there anything Google can’t do? Between mapping the world (and the moon), interior designing the internet or digitizing every part of your work life, Google seems to have it all covered, and now US netizens can even access a Google application that makes a best guess at someone’s sexual preference.

Embedded in the world’s most popular search engine is a function that will, on search commands containing a name and the words, “gay”, “straight” or “bi”, spit out a “best guess” as to the search subjects sexuality, derived from information it can access on the subject during the search.

So, searching the name ‘Jake Gyllenhall’ (..what?! I’m just curious!) and ‘gay’, returns the result that, based on the Google database, Jake is never going to return my calls, letters and love haikus. Sadness.

Damnit!

Naturally, there’s been some controversy over the function, which is only accessible to US-based users of Google, with some LBGT-rights groups complaining that drawing conclusions on peoples’ sexuality by best guessing is only going to deepen the stigma against sexual minorities in the States.

Also, the database is woefully incomplete – it only seems to have responses for celebrities who have publicly mentioned their sexuality. Lady Gaga, for instance, does not activate the application. Google has yet to comment on any of this, so it’s unknown if this function will continue to be developed or not.

…

Okay, I already said it’s only US-based, so stop trying to Google whether Gareth Cliff is gay. Cut it out!

[Source: Gawker, GMA News]

[Image: Gawker]