Last week, Grammarly introduced a contentious new AI-powered tool designed to mimic editorial feedback from notable figures such as novelist Stephen King, the late scientist Carl Sagan, or tech journalist Kara Swisher. However, the company did not seek permission from the hundreds of experts featured in this "Expert Review" function to use their names.

One impacted writer, journalist Julia Angwin, has initiated a class action lawsuit against Superhuman, Grammarly's parent company. She contends that the company infringed upon the privacy and publicity rights of herself and the other writers whose identities were simulated. This class action enables additional writers to join Angwin in the legal case.

"I have worked for decades honing my skills as a writer and editor, and I am distressed to discover that a tech company is selling an imposter version of my hard-earned expertise," Angwin stated. The situation carries a notable irony, as Angwin has built her career investigating the privacy implications of technology companies. Other critics of such AI applications, including prominent AI ethicist Timnit Gebru, were also included in Grammarly's feature without their consent.

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Available exclusively to subscribers paying $144 annually, the "Expert Review" feature ultimately falls short of providing meaningful critique. Casey Newton, founder of the tech newsletter Platformer and another individual impersonated by the tool, tested it by submitting one of his own articles. He received feedback from Grammarly's AI approximation of tech journalist Kara Swisher.

The generated commentary was so generic that it calls into question the company's rationale for using these writers' likenesses. The AI version of Swisher suggested: “Could you briefly compare how daily AI users versus AI skeptics articulate risk, creating a through-line readers can follow.”

Newton shared this AI-generated message with the real Kara Swisher. Her response was pointed: “You rapacious information and identity thieves better get ready for me to go full McConaughey on you,” she texted Newton, referring to Grammarly. “Also, you suck.”

Grammarly has since deactivated the "Expert Review" feature, as confirmed by Superhuman CEO Shishir Mehrotra in a LinkedIn post. While Mehrotra issued an apology, he also defended the original concept behind the tool.

“Imagine your professor sharpening your essay, your sales leader reshaping a customer pitch, a thoughtful critic challenging your arguments, or a leading expert elevating your proposal,” he wrote. “For experts, this is a chance to build that same ubiquitous bond with users, much like Grammarly has.”