In a swift pivot toward artificial intelligence, Superhuman, the parent brand of Grammarly, has halted one of its highlighted A.I. features after encountering significant backlash. The now-paused ‘Expert Review’ tool offered writing suggestions modeled on famous authors, yet it used their names without consent. This move has led to legal challenges and highlighted issues of reputation and ethics in technology-driven solutions.
Superhuman CEO Shishir Mehrotra, appointed after the company acquired his venture Coda, aims to expand Grammarly beyond grammar checking. Historically, Mehrotra has held leadership positions at YouTube, GoogleTV, and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), contributing to his strategic vision for Superhuman. In October, the company’s rebranding was announced to reflect its plan to enhance its presence in the productivity and email products sector, amid intensifying competition in A.I.-infused writing tools.
Why Did ‘Expert Review’ Cause Uproar?
The introduction of Expert Review promised feedback styled on notable personalities like Stephen King and Neil deGrasse Tyson. However, the lack of consent and involvement of these figures sparked controversy. Many creators voiced concerns over the ethical use of their work and likeness without their knowledge or compensation.
How Has the Company Responded Legally?
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the company for using writers’ names without permission, which could potentially result in multimillion-dollar damages. Mehrotra, addressing the lawsuit,
“We have reviewed the lawsuit, and we believe the legal claims are without merit and will strongly defend against them,”
stated his confidence in contesting these allegations.
In a LinkedIn post coinciding with the lawsuit filing, Mehrotra issued a public apology. He acknowledged the company’s missteps and temporarily suspended Expert Review.
“We hear the feedback and recognize we fell short on this,”
he wrote, committing to revisiting and refining their approach to integrating experts in their platform.
Despite this setback, Superhuman continues to advance their A.I. capabilities. The Feature Review was part of a broader launch of A.I. agents designed to enhance writing by predicting grades, referencing relevant citations, and simulating reader engagement. However, the path forward remains uncertain as they navigate criticism and legal issues.
Looking forward, Mehrotra suggests the possibility of reinventing the tool with a model involving consensual expert participation. Whether or not these experts will be persuaded to collaborate with Superhuman remains a subject of speculation. The episode underlines the complexities of rapidly evolving technological innovations, balancing ambitions with ethical practices.
