Grammarly Is Facing a Class Action Lawsuit Over Its AI ‘Expert Review’ Feature (www.wired.com)

Grammarly's parent company, Superhuman, is facing a class action lawsuit initiated by journalist Julia Angwin, who alleges that its AI feature called "Expert Review" misappropriated the names and identities of various authors, including her, without consent. The lawsuit claims this practice violates laws in New York and California that protect individuals' names and likenesses from commercial exploitation. The total damages for the affected parties are estimated to exceed $5 million. The lawsuit comes amidst public backlash against the feature, which allegedly offered misleading editing suggestions attributed to well-known figures. Superhuman has announced it will discontinue the Expert Review feature following the complaints, as the company acknowledges it failed to accurately represent the individuals whose names were used. Critics, including Angwin, expressed frustration with how the AI-generated feedback often misrepresented their stylings and expertise. Superhuman’s CEO has stated the company intends to redesign the feature to ensure that experts have control over their representation, highlighting the ongoing ethical debate in AI/ML about consent and the responsible use of personal identities in technology.