The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has been outspoken in expressing its concern over ChatGPT, a Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence chatbot and other similar tools, recently announced by tech giants such as Alphabet’s Google, Amazon’s cloud division AWS and Meta Platforms. In a letter to the consumer safety authorities (CSN Network) and consumer protection authorities (CPC Network) BEUC calls on the EU consumer protection agencies to investigate the dangers of such technology and its implications for consumer welfare.
According to BEUC’s Deputy Director General Ursula Pachl, AI-powered chatbots may generate inaccurate results or false content, which could mislead consumers, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, as well as lead to deceptive advertisements. BEUC is thus urging the relevant agencies to take action to prevent any potential consumer harm.
Chatbot technology is rapidly becoming more advanced and it is important for consumer safety authorities to keep up with the pace of technological change. Many tech companies are starting to create their own AI chatbots, which could potentially pose safety risks. It is therefore essential that consumer safety authorities monitor the new technology and take necessary steps to protect the public from any potential harm.
In addition to ChatGPT, Alphabet’s Google, Amazon’s cloud division AWS and Meta Platforms all announced their own artificial intelligence chatbots recently, posing a new challenge to consumer safety authorities. They will be specificly charged with the responsibility of actively keep tracking of the technology, investigating any risks that may come along with it, and taking proper action to alleviate them.
Ursula Pachl, the Deputy Director General of BEUC, is an important advocate for consumer rights and is at the forefront of calling for EU consumer protection agencies to investigate ChatGPT and other AI chatbot technologies. She has highlighted the potential risks these technologies may pose to individual consumers, specifically those who are younger or more vulnerable, and believes that swift action should be taken to protect them from any harm.
