Microsoft recently unveiled a new AI project called Copilot – a lump of advanced software whose aim is to alleviate the stress of everyday life by helping you reach your goals. It sounds like a sweet, uplifting endeavor, but one statement by Microsoft VP of Modern Work and Business Applications, Jared Spataro, has raised eyebrows: “Sometimes, Copilot will get it right. Other times, it will be usefully wrong, giving you an idea that’s not perfect, but still gives you a head start.”
The notion of usefully wrong is a slippery one and it brings up the rising issues of trust in the face of automation. We do not yet understand what type of results we may get when trusting an AI system. And with advancements in artificial intelligence being made almost daily, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell what is correct and what is not. Companies have to be careful in their roll-out of new products and services – else risk falling into a cycle of broken promise, disappointment and mistrust.
This is exactly why Microsoft’s Copilot statement has raised so many red flags. Talk of “usefully wrong” should not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with AI, as machines are inherently programmed to make mistakes. But it does put a shadow on Microsoft’s Copilot, and perhaps other such AI projects.
The tech industry is a fast-moving one and the impulse to innovate often leads people to rush head-on into decisions without giving them proper thought. This lack of foresight can be greatly damaging – witness the enormous backlash that Facebook has been receiving since they released their “simplified” privacy settings.
Microsoft is smart to be aware of the repercussions of Copilot ever going “usefully wrong”. However, in an environment of heightened competition, they may be more likely to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in terms of reliability.
Steve Ballmer is a person mentioned in this article. He is a retired American business executive and investor, best known as the former chief executive officer of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. He has been the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers since 2014. He became Microsoft’s 30th CEO in January 2000 and he is credited with helping turn the then-struggling company into one of the world’s largest and most profitable businesses. During his time as CEO, Microsoft stock began to steadily gain in value, as the company pursued acquisitions and new products for the market.
Microsoft is a technology company that develops range of services and products related to computing. It was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and has since grown to be one of the largest companies in the world. Microsoft’s flagship products are the Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software. In addition to software, Microsoft is involved in the manufacture of hardware, such as the Xbox video game console and the Surface tablets, as well as cloud-based services like its Office 365 suite. The company’s mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.
