Google is pausing its heavily criticized “assistive writing” feature that had recently been fused into its Google Docs program for end-users.
Last year, Google developed “inclusive” language guidelines for its developers, urging them to keep “inclusivity and diversity in mind” when describing how their software works. This month, a feature adding “inclusive” writing suggestions was implemented into Google Docs, impacting everyday users of the popular software.
A Google spokesperson told The National Desk (TND) Monday it was looking into concerns the new feature could be “over or undercorrect[ing] certain phrases.”
The spokesperson explained that the feature uses artificial intelligence “like a thesaurus or spell checker” to build out algorithms for the suggested writing changes “based on millions of common phrases and sentences.”
We’re looking more carefully at the inclusive language suggestions and have paused those for further review while we continue to improve this feature,” the spokesperson indicated.
After the feature was added to Google Docs, Vice’s Motherboard looked into how the feature was working out. Motherboard found many people complaining about its ability to actually root out bias, as well as its poor functionality.
Motherboard reported that when the word “annoyed” was used in a sentence, the program suggested it be replaced with “angry” or “upset” to make the writing “flow better.”
Furthermore, when the word “Motherboard” was typed into Google Docs, an “inclusive warning” popped up, telling the user their word choice “may not be inclusive to all readers,” and they should “consider using different words.”
The same thing happened with the word “landlord,” which was hit with suggested alternatives like “property owner” or “proprietor,” as well as with “policemen,” which the new Google feature said should be changed to “police officers.”
The feature suggested changes to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech urging “the fierce urgency of now” to be changed to “the intense urgency of now,” according to Motherboard.
John F. Kennedy’s famous inaugural address was given suggestions to change the phrase “for all mankind” to “for all humankind.” Even the King James Bible was flagged.
Yet, a transcribed interview from former KKK leader David Duke, in which several racial epithets are used, got zero notes, reported Motherboard.