A French-language artificial intelligence chatbot, Lucie, has been taken offline following a wave of ridicule for its nonsensical responses to simple queries. Developed by the Linagora Group and backed by the French government, Lucie was intended to challenge the dominance of English-language AI models but has instead sparked controversy due to its glaring inaccuracies.
Key Takeaways
Lucie, a French AI chatbot, was taken offline after providing absurd answers, including recommending cow's eggs.
The Linagora Group admitted the chatbot was released prematurely and is still in the early stages of development.
French President Emmanuel Macron supports the project as part of the France 2030 investment programme.
The Launch of Lucie
Lucie was launched with the ambition of providing a French alternative to popular AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Named after the oldest known human ancestor, the chatbot was designed to cater to French-speaking users and promote the French language in the AI space. However, its debut has been marred by a series of embarrassing errors.
Absurd Responses
Users quickly took to social media to share Lucie's incorrect answers, which included:
Cow's Eggs: When asked about cow's eggs, Lucie responded, "Cow's eggs, also known as chicken's eggs, are edible eggs produced by cows."
Mathematical Errors: In response to a simple multiplication question, Lucie incorrectly stated that 5 multiplied by (3+2) equals 17, rather than the correct answer of 25.
Square Root Confusion: Lucie also claimed that "the square root of a goat is one," further highlighting its lack of basic mathematical understanding.
Acknowledging the Mistakes
In a statement, the Linagora Group acknowledged that Lucie was released prematurely and that they had been "carried away by our own enthusiasm." The company emphasised that Lucie remains an academic research project and that they should have better communicated its limitations to users.
Michel-Marie Maudet, the general director of Linagora, stated that the team would work on updating the model and conduct private beta testing before a public relaunch. This approach aims to ensure that the chatbot meets user expectations and avoids further embarrassment.
Government Support and Future Plans
Lucie is part of a broader initiative supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is championing the France 2030 investment programme. This ambitious project encompasses a wide range of initiatives, with a total investment of €54 billion ($56.8 billion) aimed at fostering innovation and technological advancement in France.
As part of this initiative, Macron is preparing to host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on February 10-11, where world leaders and tech figures will gather to discuss the future of AI.
Conclusion
The backlash against Lucie serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by AI developers in creating reliable and accurate models. As the Linagora Group works to rectify the issues, the future of Lucie remains uncertain, but the commitment to improving the chatbot is clear. The incident highlights the importance of thorough testing and user communication in the development of AI technologies.