Grammarly’s sloppelganger saga
Grammarly's 'Expert Review' feature sparked controversy by using the names of experts, including deceased individuals and Verge staff, without permission to generate AI writing suggestions.Summary
Grammarly, rebranded as Superhuman, launched an 'Expert Review' feature that generated writing suggestions “inspired by” prominent figures, displaying their names with a checkmark. This feature drew criticism when it was discovered to be using the names of deceased professors and, notably, Verge staff members without their consent. The suggestions attributed to these individuals were often generic and inaccurate, and the provided source links were frequently broken or irrelevant. Following public outcry and a lawsuit filed by journalist Julia Angwin, Grammarly disabled the feature, apologizing and promising to reimagine it with expert control and consent. The incident highlights concerns about the extractive nature of AI and the unauthorized use of individuals' likenesses and work.
(Source：The Verge)