Grammarly CEO Apologizes as Expert Review AI Tool Fails to Respect Writer Identities.

Grammarly Pulls "Expert Review" Feature Amid Backlash from Writers and Journalists

Following a wave of controversy, Grammarly has officially announced the termination of its "Expert Review" feature. Launched last year, the tool utilized Generative AI to provide feedback "inspired by" the writing styles of real-world journalists and experts many of whom had not consented to their identities or work being used in this manner.

The "Opt-Out" Failure and Industry Outcry

While Grammarly eventually introduced an "opt-out" mechanism allowing experts to remove their names from the system, the move failed to de-escalate the situation. Affected writers began reaching out to news editors and industry organizations to voice their grievances.

In a recent statement, Grammarly admitted that while they initially envisioned the feature as a beneficial tool for users and a way for experts to control their digital influence, the feedback was overwhelmingly negative. The company has formally apologized for the oversight.

Shishir Mehrotra, CEO of Superhuman (Grammarly’s parent company), explained that many experts felt their identities were being misrepresented without permission.

"Initially, we saw this as a new channel for experts to interact with users. However, given the strong feedback regarding non-consensual representation, we have decided to shut down the feature immediately."

The Grammarly case underscores that in the AI ​​era, using an "opt-out" system (where users must manually request cancellation) is often perceived as a violation of rights. Businesses are expected to increasingly adopt "opt-in" systems (requiring permission before use) to prevent potential copyright and ethical issues.

The user's desire for "inspired advice from real people" reflects that, no matter how skilled AI is, the value of human expertise remains paramount. However, "simulating" someone's identity without permission poses a reputational risk to both the expert and the AI ​​company.

Lawyers believe this case could lead to stricter "Digital Identity Rights" laws, protecting writing styles, expressions, and digital identities from being copied by AI for commercial gain without compensation.

Following the closure of this feature, Grammarly and other companies are expected to focus on training AI with licensed data or creating synthetic AI personalities instead of referencing real individuals to avoid future controversies.

 

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Source: The Verge