Grammarly Faces $5M Lawsuit After AI 'Expert Review' Feature Used Writers' Names Without Permission
Grammarly is being sued for $5 million after its AI 'Expert Review' feature used writers' names without their consent for editing suggestions.Summary
Grammarly, the popular AI writing assistant, is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the misappropriation of writers' identities through its now-disabled “Expert Review” feature. This feature, intended to provide editing suggestions inspired by well-known writers and journalists, included names like Raymond Wong and reportedly Stephen King without their permission or knowledge. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday with Julia Angwin as the named plaintiff, argues that Grammarly violated California Civil Code §3344 by using these individuals’ names for commercial purposes without consent.
The plaintiffs claim Grammarly financially benefited from associating its product with respected writers, seeking damages exceeding $5 million. Grammarly CEO Shishir Mehrotra acknowledged the feature’s shortcomings, stating it aimed to connect users with influential perspectives but did not achieve the intended result.
The company has temporarily disabled the feature while reviewing the issue, but has not yet directly addressed the lawsuit. The case highlights growing concerns about the ethical implications of AI and the unauthorized use of personal identities for commercial gain.
(Source：International Business Times)