Fearful of bias, Google blocks gender-based pronouns from new AI tool




As Reported by Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google in May introduced a slick feature for Gmail that automatically completes sentences for users as they type. Tap out 'I love' and Gmail might propose 'you' or 'it.'

But users are out of luck if the object of their affection is him or her.

Google’s technology will not suggest gender-based pronouns because the risk is too high that its “Smart Compose” technology might predict someone’s sex or gender identity incorrectly and offend users, product leaders revealed to Reuters in interviews.

Gmail product manager Paul Lambert said a company research scientist discovered the problem in January when he typed 'I am meeting an investor next week,' and Smart Compose suggested a possible follow-up question: 'Do you want to meet him?' instead of her.

Full Article Reuters | Paresh Dave