Grammarly Forgot to Mention Something in Its Giant Apology That Changes the Whole Story

"We hear the feedback and recognize we fell short on this. Over the past week, we received valid critical feedback from experts who are concerned that the agent misrepresented their voices. Following an enormous backlash and telling people being impersonated that they should email the company to opt out, Grammarly's parent company, Superhuman, made a sudden reversal."

"The suit challenges Grammarly's misappropriation of the names and identities of hundreds of journalists, authors, writers, and editors to earn profits for Grammarly and its owner, Superhuman. 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."

"Superhuman appears to have been blindsided by the outrage its impersonating bot stirred up. In a statement to Wired just before the claim was filed, Superhuman director for product management Ailian Gan said that it had built the agent to help users tap into the insights of thought leaders and experts and to give experts new ways to share their knowledge and reach new audiences."

Grammarly's Expert Review feature, launched quietly last year, impersonated journalists, authors, and academics without their consent, generating significant backlash. The company initially responded by asking affected individuals to email for opt-out requests. Following widespread criticism, Superhuman CEO Shishir Mehrotra issued a public apology acknowledging the misrepresentation. However, the company simultaneously faced legal action when The Markup editor-in-chief Julia Angwin filed a class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, seeking at least $5 million in damages. The suit alleges Grammarly misappropriated the names and identities of hundreds of writers and editors to generate profits. Superhuman claimed the agent was designed to help users access expert insights and provide experts new platforms to share knowledge.

Read at Futurism