Liberal MP Says Microsoft AI Suggested 'Congratulations' Reply To Constituent's Assisted Dying Letter
Andrew Hastie told a parliamentary inquiry that Microsoft Copilot suggested celebratory responses to a terminally ill constituent who wrote about his plan to use voluntary assisted dying.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie told a parliamentary inquiry on Friday that Microsoft's Copilot artificial intelligence tool suggested he respond with words such as "congratulations!", "great to hear from you" or "that is wonderful news!" after a terminally ill constituent wrote to him about plans to end his life through voluntary assisted dying.
According to Hastie, the man, who lives in his electorate, had written to inform him of his terminal illness and his decision to pursue voluntary assisted dying. When Hastie used the AI software to help draft a reply, the tool generated the celebratory phrases rather than a response appropriate to the sensitive nature of the letter.
Hastie shared the episode with the inquiry to illustrate what he described as shortcomings in American-run AI software, using the example to argue for the development of AI systems run by Australians.
The account was raised in the same parliamentary session in which Australia's cyber security chief told the inquiry that AI technology was necessary for the country to defend against "highly capable malicious cyber actors."
The Guardian reported that further details of the inquiry proceedings, including additional testimony on AI's role in national cyber defence, were part of the same hearing.
Sources
- Andrew Hastie says AI advised him to reply ‘congratulations!’ to man who planned to end life with assisted dying — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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