- UK newspaper The Guardian complained to Microsoft about an AI-generated poll featured next to one of their articles about a suspected murder.
- The poll asked readers to vote on what they thought led to the death of a 21-year-old woman.
- Microsoft’s AI-generated poll significantly harmed The Guardian’s reputation.
- The incident highlights the importance of a strong copyright framework for publishers.
- The Guardian is one of the first outlets to openly attack a mainstream Big Tech company over AI.
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is hosting an AI Safety Summit, which will be followed by a livestream with Elon Musk.
- The summit’s focus on the risks of AI gaining super-intelligent sentience overlooks more immediate risks.
The Guardian newspaper has submitted a complaint to Microsoft regarding an inappropriate AI-generated poll featured next to one of their articles. The poll asked readers to vote on what they believed caused the death of a 21-year-old woman who was found dead with severe head wounds at a school in Australia. The Guardian’s parent company, Guardian Media Group, CEO Anna Bateson, wrote a letter to Microsoft President Brad Smith, stating that the AI-generated poll significantly damaged The Guardian’s reputation. The incident highlights the importance of a strong copyright framework for allowing publishers to negotiate the terms of their journalism’s usage. Microsoft has not yet responded to the complaint.
This incident marks one of the first instances where a mainstream news outlet has openly criticized a Big Tech company over their AI practices. While AI technology continues to advance, it is still lacking in editorial judgment, human decency, and plain common sense. This case demonstrates the need for humans to exercise oversight and ethical decision-making in the use of AI technologies in journalism.
Coincidentally, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is hosting an AI Safety Summit this week, where he will discuss the risks and challenges of AI. The summit will include a livestream conversation with CEO Elon Musk. However, journalist Chris Stokel-Walker has pointed out that the focus of the summit seems to be more on the existential risks of super-intelligent AI, rather than the immediate risks and challenges faced by the industry.
In conclusion, The Guardian’s complaint against Microsoft highlights the potential pitfalls of AI in the news industry. While AI can bring added value and content to news articles, it must be used responsibly and with human oversight to avoid inappropriate and damaging situations. The debate surrounding the use of AI in journalism is ongoing, and it is crucial for publishers, tech companies, and policymakers to work together to establish ethical guidelines and frameworks for AI-generated content.
Error in Judgment (Day)
The Guardian’s complaint against Microsoft reveals the current state of AI in the news business. While AI technology has the potential to revolutionize journalism, it still lacks the essential qualities of human judgment and common sense. The incident serves as a reminder that humans must maintain control and responsibility in the development and implementation of AI technologies.
Rishi will Be Back:
The complaint from The Guardian comes at a time when UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is hosting an AI Safety Summit. However, there are concerns that the summit’s focus on futuristic risks overlooks the immediate challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI in the news industry. The event will feature a livestream conversation with Elon Musk, adding to the ongoing discussion on the responsible use of AI.