On Wednesday, June 17th, Microsoft made headlines when they pulled an article that had been created using their artificial intelligence (AI) technology from their MSN website. The article was titled “Ottawa Guide: A Few Things to Check Out in Canada’s Capital.” It had suggested to tourists visiting Ottawa that they should make a stop at the city’s food bank located downtown.
The article was created by Microsoft’s AI software, which uses natural language generation technology to produce stories. The company uses this technology to quickly create stories for its website by pulling content from a wide variety of sources.
Microsoft quickly removed the article after a number of online commentators raised eyebrows at the suggestion that visitors to Canada’s capital should make a stop at a food bank. In a statement released by Microsoft’s Executive Vice President, Yussi Pick, the company condemned the article and stated that “such a suggestion should never have appeared” on their website.
Microsoft’s statement went on to explain that while the AI technology used to create the article was working correctly, it was the responsibility of human editors to evaluate the resulting content and reject any inappropriate suggestions. The company has since removed the article and has stated that they will take steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The incident has raised questions about the use of AI technology for content creation. While many view AI as a useful tool for quickly creating content, the episode highlights the need for an appropriate balance between technology and human input in order to ensure that content meets ethical and moral standards.
Microsoft’s experience is a reminder to companies who are utilizing such technologies that it is their responsibility to ensure any content produced meets acceptable standards. Ultimately, the responsibility for quality control lies with humans, who should not rely too heavily on AI systems.