Grammarly recently launched a controversial artificial intelligence feature designed to mimic editorial feedback, presenting critiques as if they came from acclaimed figures such as novelist Stephen King, the late scientist Carl Sagan, or tech journalist Kara Swisher. However, Grammarly did not obtain permission from the hundreds of experts whose names were included in this feature, known as “Expert Review.”
Following this release, journalist Julia Angwin, one of the writers affected, initiated a class action lawsuit against Superhuman, Grammarly's parent company. The lawsuit contends that the company infringed upon the privacy and publicity rights of Angwin and the other writers whose identities were simulated. A class action mechanism allows other affected writers to join Angwin in her legal challenge.
Expressing her dismay, Angwin stated, “I have worked for decades honing my skills as a writer and editor, and I am distressed to discover that a tech company is selling an imposter version of my hard-earned expertise.”
The situation carries a significant layer of irony, given that Angwin has dedicated her career to investigating the privacy implications of technology companies. Other prominent critics of this type of AI, including renowned AI ethicist Timnit Gebru, were also featured in Grammarly’s “Expert Review” without their consent.
The “Expert Review” feature, which was exclusively available to subscribers paying $144 annually, predictably fell short of its promise to deliver insightful and thoughtful feedback.
Casey Newton, founder and editor of the tech newsletter Platformer and another individual whose likeness was used by Grammarly, submitted one of his articles to the tool. He received feedback from Grammarly’s AI approximation of tech journalist Kara Swisher. The feedback generated by this imitation of Swisher was so generic that it raised questions about the rationale behind using these writers' identities in the first place.
The specific feedback Newton received from Grammarly’s AI version of Kara Swisher was: “Could you briefly compare how daily AI users versus AI skeptics articulate risk, creating a through-line readers can follow?”
Newton subsequently shared this AI-generated message with the real Kara Swisher.
In response, Swisher texted Newton, referring to Grammarly: “You rapacious information and identity thieves better get ready for me to go full McConaughey on you. Also, you suck.”
Grammarly has since deactivated the “Expert Review” feature, as confirmed by Superhuman CEO Shishir Mehrotra in a LinkedIn post. While Mehrotra offered an apology for the rollout, he continued to defend the underlying concept of the feature.
“Imagine your professor sharpening your essay, your sales leader reshaping a customer pitch, a thoughtful critic challenging your arguments, or a leading expert elevating your proposal,” Mehrotra wrote. He added, “For experts, this is a chance to build that same ubiquitous bond with users, much like Grammarly has.”
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