Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant designed to provide news summaries and other functionalities. It's currently newsworthy due to concerns arising from errors and biases in its AI-generated content. Recent research and events highlight these issues. Specifically, a University of Sydney study found that Copilot's news summaries disproportionately favor US and European media, effectively sidelining Australian journalism. Furthermore, West Midlands police apologized for using AI-generated, incorrect information from Copilot to justify a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Separately, research across English and Scottish councils revealed that AI tools, potentially including Copilot, are making harmful errors in social work records, including generating false warnings. These incidents raise questions about the reliability, bias, and potential negative consequences of using AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot in sensitive areas like news dissemination and social work.