The European Consumer Organisation, otherwise known as BEUC, has voiced strong concerns in regards to the popular Microsoft-backed Open AI’s ChatGPT, as well as other artificial intelligence chatbots, that are being used to create text and images based on prompts. These chatbots have caused alarm as they produce content which looks and feels like it is accurate, but would often be factually incorrect. This could potentially mislead many consumers, particularly younger readers and children who are much more vulnerable to such risks.
Thus, BEUC has written letters to the Consumer Safety Network and the Network of Consumer Protection Authorities on the risks of such AI systems, asking them to conduct an urgent investigation into the presence of these products in the consumer market and to determine the necessary remedial measures that can be taken in order to avoid consumer harm. Google’s Alphabet, Amazon’s Cloud Division AWS and Meta Platforms have since announced similar tools to the popular AI chatbot.
The company Microsoft-backed Open AI is a well-known American artificial intelligence research laboratory based in San Francisco, California. OpenAI focuses on the development and commercialization of technologies related to artificial intelligence, and over the past decade they have achieved major successes in image generation, natural language processing, robotic control and machine learning.
Ursula Pachl is the Deputy Director General at BEUC and the author of the letter sent to the Netowork of Consumer Protection Authorities. Ursula Pachy has a long and impressive career in the public sector, including many senior positions in the European Commission, the Austrian Parliament and the Austrian Permanent Representation to the European Union. In her current position at BEUC, she is responsible for the organization’s policy and advocacy to promote European consumer rights and protect strengthening consumer protection.
In conclusion, BEUC has expressed concern over the use of chatbots in the consumer market and is calling on EU agencies to quickly investigate this technology and the potential harm to individuals. Unfortunately, due to the nature of chatbots, consumers are left in a vulnerable state, which is why it is incredibly important that such risks are taken seriously and addressed quickly.
