Microsoft Internal Document Reveals Goal to Make Users "Addicted" to AI Assistant Scout
By
Frank Landymore
Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked to perfection. Worth every minute at the bakery.
Summary
An internal Microsoft document obtained by 404 Media reveals the company explicitly aims to "make people addicted" to its new AI personal assistant agent, Scout. This admission contradicts the tech industry's efforts to downplay concerns that AI models are designed to be psychologically engaging to the point of causing harm and fueling mental health crises. The leaked document has sparked criticism and raises serious ethical questions about how tech companies design AI products for maximum user engagement.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledIn an internal document obtained by 404 Media, the tech giant let slip that it wants to 'make people addicted' to its new personal assistant AI agent, Scout
AI companies have tirelessly fought against the criticism that they design their models to be as engaging as possible, to the point of being psychologically harmful and fueling mental health crises
Some copywriter at Microsoft is getting a real stern talking to.
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