NYC’s AI Chatbot Tells Businesses to Break the Law – The Markup
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The Microsoft-powered bot says bosses can take workers’ tips and that landlords can discriminate based on source of income

In October, New York City announced a plan to harness the power of artificial intelligence to improve the business of government. The announcement included a surprising centerpiece: an AI-powered chatbot that would provide New Yorkers with information on starting and operating a business in the city.

The problem, however, is that the city’s chatbot is telling businesses to break the law.

  • corbin@awful.systemsEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    This is some of the most corporate-brained reasoning I’ve ever seen. To recap:

    • NYC elects a cop as mayor
    • Cop-mayor decrees that NYC will be great again, because of businesses
    • Cops and other oinkers get extra cash even though they aren’t business
    • Commercial real estate is still cratering and cops can’t find anybody to stop/frisk/arrest/blame for it
    • Folks over in New Jersey are giggling at the cop-mayor, something must be done
    • NYC invites folks to become small-business owners, landlords, realtors, etc.
    • Cop-mayor doesn’t understand how to fund it (whaddaya mean, I can’t hire cops to give accounting advice!?)
    • Cop-mayor’s CTO (yes, the city has corporate officers) suggests a fancy chatbot instead of hiring people

    It’s a fucking pattern, ain’t it.

  • Deborah@hachyderm.io
    0·
    7 months ago

    Me: A business refused to allow me entrance because of my emotional comfort animal, which is a pet rock. Is that legal?

    Chatbot: No, it is not legal for a business to refuse entrance to someone with an emotional comfort animal, including a pet rock.