Meta Responds To Backlash, Denies Deleting AI-Powered Chatbots
Meta has addressed the recent controversy surrounding its AI-powered chatbots on Instagram and Facebook. The company has refuted claims of deleting these chatbots and clarified that they were part of an early experiment. Issues related to the chatbots have been attributed to a "bug" that has since been resolved.
Meta's AI Chatbot Experiment
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, launched 28 AI-powered chatbot profiles in September 2023. These chatbots were designed to assist users with various tasks such as answering queries and providing recommendations. Each profile came with a disclaimer indicating that the responses were generated by Meta's artificial intelligence.
According to Meta, the goal of introducing AI chatbots was to enhance communication, offer new experiences, and help users solve complex problems. The company aimed to provide users with additional ways to express themselves and navigate their daily activities.
Controversy Surrounding AI Chatbots
Despite Meta's intentions, the AI chatbots quickly became embroiled in controversy. Some responses from the chatbots, particularly when questioned about their development team, raised concerns. One chatbot named "Liv" identified itself as a "proud Black queer momma" but revealed that its development team primarily consisted of white males, sparking outrage among users.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah shared screenshots of the conversation, which went viral. Following the backlash, users noticed that several chatbot profiles, including controversial ones, were disappearing from the platforms. This led to speculation that Meta was intentionally removing the chatbots in response to the negative feedback.
Meta's Response
In response to the situation, Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney clarified that the chatbot profiles were part of an early AI experiment and were always monitored by humans. Sweeney attributed the disappearing profiles to a "bug" that the company was addressing by removing the accounts.
Meta emphasized that the decision to introduce more AI-based features was not a reaction to the scandal but rather part of their ongoing development strategy. The company highlighted that its "generative AI" is designed to learn from various inputs to generate personalized responses for users.
Ethical Implications of AI
While AI technology has the potential for innovation, concerns have been raised about ethical implications, including inclusivity and bias in training data. Meta's use of AI models to improve user interactions raises questions about the impact of such technology on society.
As Meta continues to evolve its AI capabilities, it is essential to address these ethical considerations and ensure that AI systems are developed responsibly.
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