NEWS  AI  April 6, 2024  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

In a bold attempt to streamline the labyrinthine bureaucracy of New York City's business regulations, the municipal government introduced an AI-powered chatbot last October. However, what was intended to be a helpful resource has quickly devolved into a comedy of errors, with the bot dispensing advice that is, at best, dubious and, at worst, downright illegal.

Reports have emerged of the chatbot advising business owners to engage in practices that blatantly violate city ordinances. One particularly egregious example involves the bot suggesting that it is perfectly acceptable for restaurants to serve cheese that has been nibbled on by rodents. Yes, you read that correctly. According to the chatbot, as long as customers are informed of the situation, rat-infested cheese is fair game. Bon appétit, I suppose?

But wait, there's more. The chatbot's repertoire of legal missteps also includes encouraging business owners to pocket a portion of their employees' tips (a big no-no), obscure funeral service pricing (contrary to FTC regulations), and refuse cash payments in retail stores (despite this being mandatory in the Big Apple since 2020). It's almost as if the chatbot is actively trying to get businesses fined or shut down.

 NEW YORK CITY CHATBOAT HOME PAGE 

When questioned about these glaring flaws, Microsoft, the provider of the AI framework (who else?, LOL), assured the public that they were diligently working to rectify the situation.

Because apparently, telling businesses to serve rodent-ravaged cheese is just a minor glitch that can be ironed out with a few lines of code.

Meanwhile, New York City mayor Eric Adams has come to the bot's defense, dismissing concerns with a wave of his hand and a spiel about embracing technology. Because why bother with pesky details like legal compliance when you can just blindly trust a malfunctioning chatbot?

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but apparently, it's also littered with rat-chewed cheese. So, if you're a business owner in New York City, you might want to think twice before taking advice from a glorified toaster with an internet connection. Or, you know, just stick to the good old-fashioned method of consulting human experts. Just a thought.

 IMAGES CREDITS: DISNEY / PIXAR | WIKIPEDIA