Grammarly Pulls AI Feature After Writer Backlash

Grammarly just learned an important lesson about getting permission before using someone's identity.

The writing assistance company announced it's disabling its "Expert Review" feature after writers discovered the tool was impersonating them without consent. The feature claimed to offer writing tips inspired by real journalists, authors, and professors, both living and deceased.

Tech journalist Kara Swisher was among those who discovered her name being used. She quickly called out the company, demanding they stop what she called identity theft.

The feature was part of Grammarly's $12-per-month Pro subscription. It promised to help users "take your writing to the next level" with suggestions from leading professionals. But those professionals never agreed to participate.

The problem became clear when copy editor Benjamin Dreyer tested the system with dummy text. Even nonsense placeholder text triggered writing tips supposedly from renowned novelist Stephen King. The AI wasn't actually channeling these writers. It was just using their names.

Journalist Casey Newton found the feature offering advice from a virtual version of himself. "I've long assumed that before too long, AI might take my job," he wrote. "I just assumed that someone would tell me when it happened."

The Bright Side

Grammarly's response shows that public accountability still works in the tech industry. CEO Shishir Mehrotra didn't just quietly remove the feature. He posted a public apology on LinkedIn, acknowledging the company "fell short."

"We received valid critical feedback from experts who are concerned that the agent misrepresented their voices," Mehrotra wrote. He promised to reimagine the feature to give experts "real control over how they want to be represented, or not represented at all."

The company had buried a disclaimer deep in its documentation stating the references didn't indicate endorsement. But trying to have it both ways backfired. Writers want control over how their expertise and names are used, especially in AI tools.

The swift reversal demonstrates that companies are listening when people speak up about AI overreach.