An artificial intelligence chatbot created with the support of the French government was shut down just three days after its release after it gave nonsensical answers to simple mathematical equations and recommended that one user try «edible eggs produced by cows.» The model was named after the Australopithecus Lucy.
An artificial intelligence chatbot created with the support of the French government was shut down just three days after its release after it gave nonsensical answers to simple mathematical equations and recommended that one user try «edible eggs produced by cows.» The model was named after the Australopithecus Lucy.
Linagora Group, part of the consortium behind the French-language model called Lucie, said it remains an «academic research project in its early stages,» CNN reported.
Linagora Group said Lucie was released «prematurely,» adding that it should have been clearer about the limitations of the model in its current form. «We were carried away by our own enthusiasm,» the statement said.
Michel-Marie Maude, CEO of Linagora Group, said that the team will now update its model and then test the beta version privately before a public relaunch.
After Lucie launched on Thursday, users began sharing erroneous answers on social media, including a response to a user’s query asking the chatbot to tell him about cow’s eggs.
«Cow eggs, also known as chicken eggs, are edible eggs produced by cows. Cow eggs are a source of protein and nutrients and are considered a healthy and nutritious food», — the chatbot noted.
When asked to multiply 5 by (3+2), the model gave the answer 17 instead of 25, and Lucie also said that «the square root of a goat is one», users claim.
Linagora Group says Lucie was created with the ambition to challenge the dominance of the English language in AI and become an alternative to models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. It was named after the earliest human ancestor, Australopithecus Lucy, who lived about 3.2 million years ago.
The Lucie logo is inspired by both Marianne, the national symbol of France, and American actress Scarlett Johansson, who played the lead role in the film «Lucy,» Linagora said in a statement. «Lucy is covered in a blue, white, and red scarf, showcasing her sovereign French identity,» the statement said.
Lucy has received the support of French President Emmanuel Macron as part of his France 2030 investment program, which includes a wide range of projects totaling 54 billion euros ($56.8 billion).
Macron is currently preparing to host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, which will bring together world leaders and technology figures in Paris from February 10 to 11.
Recall that in 2023, Google had a failed experiment with artificial intelligence-based search results, which produced disturbing results, such as justifications for slavery or genocide or the positive effects of banning books. SGE (Search Generative Experience) also gave advice on how to cook the poisonous mushroom Amanita ocreata, known as the «angel of death.»
