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In a groundbreaking revelation, WIRED's exclusive research exposes Microsoft's AI chatbot, Copilot, disseminating falsehoods and conspiracy theories when queried about the upcoming 2024 US election. The AI, originally known as Bing Chat, has been rebranded as Microsoft Copilot but remains a source of misinformation.

Key Points:

1. 🌐 Global Impact: Research by AI Forensics and AlgorithmWatch reveals that Copilot consistently provided inaccurate information about elections in Switzerland and Germany in October. The misinformation included erroneous polling numbers, outdated candidates, and fabricated controversies.

2. 🔄 Persistent Issues: Despite Microsoft's efforts to address disinformation and its commitment to safeguarding elections, Copilot's responses, as reported by researchers, indicate persistent issues. WIRED was able to replicate many of the problematic responses even after Microsoft was informed of the concerns.

3. 🔍 Factual Errors: The study found that a third of Copilot's responses contained factual errors, making it an unreliable source of information for voters. The chatbot's inaccuracies extended to election dates, candidates, and controversies, causing confusion and potentially influencing public opinion.

4. 🌐 Multilingual Disparities: Copilot's accuracy varied across languages, with English prompts yielding the highest accuracy at 52%, compared to 28% in German and 19% in French. This raises questions about the prioritization of content moderation and safeguards in non-English-speaking markets.

5. 🔄 Inconsistencies in Responses: Copilot exhibited inconsistent responses over time, giving different and inaccurate answers when asked the same question repeatedly. The chatbot's inability to provide consistent and accurate information diminishes its effectiveness as an informational tool.

6. 🚫 Refusal to Answer: In over 39% of recorded responses, Copilot either refused to answer or deflected questions. While likely a result of preprogrammed safeguards, the researchers noted uneven application, rendering the tool less effective for gaining information.

7. 🌐 Global Implications: As high-profile elections approach in 2024, concerns about generative AI tools contributing to disinformation are on the rise. Copilot's tendency to produce misinformation underscores the potential risks if voters rely on AI-generated content for crucial electoral information.

Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw stated, "We are continuing to address issues and prepare our tools to perform to our expectations for the 2024 elections." However, the research suggests that systemic problems persist, posing challenges to the integrity of democratic processes.

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