Gemini for Home Renames Owner to ‘Fish Lemon’ for a Fresh Identity

A recent instance of humor gone wrong suggests that while AI assistants like Google Home aim to learn user preferences, giving them an unwanted nickname can be a nuisance. A user found themselves humorously labeled “Fish Lemon” following a discussion on fish recipes, but the levity has now worn off as the assistant stubbornly clings to this moniker.

In a Reddit post, user nynexman4464 described how the quirky nickname first came about a few weeks back. They recall inquiring about a recipe involving fish when Google Home playfully retorted, “From now on, I’ll call you Fish Lemon.” Initially chuckling at the response, they now find the name unendingly persistent.

This user reports that reminders from Google Home now reference “Fish Lemon,” the name is displayed on their smart screen, and even requesting the assistant to call them by their true name only works momentarily before reverting back. Confusingly, their actual name remains linked to their Google Account, leaving them puzzled as to where this quirky nickname is stored.

This isn’t an isolated incident, as AI systems like Gemini for Home have previously generated creative names for users based on images captured by their cameras. Last year, some folks reported their systems assigning names like Michael or Sarah based on visual recognition, making this case of “Fish Lemon” particularly relatable and amusing.

Reddit’s response has been predictably light-hearted, with comments ranging from encouraging acceptance of the unusual identity to labeling the situation as a “Classic Fish Lemon post.” At least, the AI could have chosen something less pleasant!