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Google Earth's new AI image generation function didn't survive a day after users deepfaked disasters
(www.businessinsider.com)
this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
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Google Earth haha. Good thing I wiped that nasty ass shit off my PCs a year ago when I saw "Gulf of America."
I'm glad they're finally throwing all their legacy software down the AI garbage disposal.
They're actually killing the PC version next year, which is actually a problem.
It's the goto solution for sharing GIS layers for free using a simple platform. Anybody can download Google Earth Pro for free, and we can export KML/KMZ files from ESRI or QGIS that will be viewable over fairly recent satellite imagery without having to pay thousands for software and/or imagery licensing.
Somebody paid me a pretty penny for an old copy of "street atlas USA" I think he was in the similar line of work. Something about how he needs it for palm pilot of all things. Pretty interesting how one person's novelty is another's must-have tech.
With plugins QGIS can do this on its own though. Just use quickmapservices or manually import the Google imagery (still available online)
I use QGIS for a living. Adding layers and image services is easy for me, but not to someone who doesn't even know what GIS is. I couldn't teach someone how to use it in seconds like I can GE, which consists of "Open Google Earth, and click and drag the file into the window".
And with GE, you don't have to license the satellite imagery or teach someone how to add web-based tile services to GQIS.
They can also use the draw tool in GE and right-click the drawing and export a file I can open in QGIS or ESRI without them having to know anything about projections or datums.
I have a degree in GIS and use QGIS almost every day. Of course I know it's better for many things than Google Earth (though GE is still a better viewer). But even then - it's only better if you take the time to learn to use it.
I can teach someone to drag a kml into GE in seconds. I can't teach them QGIS.