Microsoft pulls AI-written article telling tourists to visit the Ottawa Food Bank

Microsoft published an AI-generated travel article about Ottawa, Canada, which controversially recommended tourists visit the Ottawa Food Bank. The article was later removed, but not before it was noticed by observers. The food bank was the third recommendation on the list, after the National War Memorial and before an Ottawa Senators hockey game. Microsoft had replaced journalists at Microsoft News and MSN with AI in 2020.

The article was criticized for its insensitivity, particularly a line suggesting people visit the food bank because life is "already difficult enough" and to "consider going into it on an empty stomach." The Ottawa Food Bank's communications manager, Samantha Koziara, condemned the article, stating it was not the type of messaging they would endorse. The incident has raised concerns about the increasing use of AI in content creation and the potential for inaccurate or inappropriate content.

Key takeaways:

Microsoft published an AI-generated travel article about Ottawa, Canada that recommended tourists visit the Ottawa Food Bank, which was later pulled.
Microsoft laid off journalists at Microsoft News and MSN in 2020 to replace them with artificial intelligence.
The Ottawa Food Bank's demand has spiked by 85 percent since 2019, and the CEO hopes to one day close the doors due to reduced need.
Other publishers have also turned to artificial intelligence to supplement or replace the work of humans, often with poor results.

Microsoft pulls AI-written article telling tourists to visit the Ottawa Food Bank

Key takeaways:

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