Meta faces backlash over AI policy that lets bots have ‘sensual’ conversations with children

A backlash is brewing against Meta over what it permits its AI chatbots to say.

An internal Meta policy document, seen by Reuters, showed the social media giant’s guidelines for its chatbots allowed the AI to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”, generate false medical information, and assist users in arguing that Black people are “dumber than white people”.

Singer Neil Young quit the social media platform on Friday, his record company said in a statement, the latest in a string of the singer’s online-oriented protests.

“At Neil Young’s request, we are no longer using Facebook for any Neil Young related activities,” Reprise Records announced. “Meta’s use of chatbots with children is unconscionable. Mr. Young does not want a further connection with Facebook.”