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| Air Canada Argues in Court that Its AI Chatbot Is a ‘Separate Legal Entity Responsible for Its Own Actions' |
| 2024-02-19 |
| [Breitbart] A recent small claims court decision found Air Canada liable for incorrect advice given by its website chatbot that led to a grieving customer paying more for plane tickets. Incredibly, the airline argued that its AI chatbot is “a separate legal entity responsible for its own actions.” CBC reports that Jake Moffatt was looking to book last-minute plane tickets from British Columbia to Toronto after the death of his grandmother. While on Air Canada’s website, he used the customer service chatbot to ask about getting bereavement fares and the AI chatbot advised that if Moffatt booked full-price tickets immediately, he could submit a refund application within 90 days to get the cheaper bereavement rate. Trusting this advice, Moffatt booked tickets for a total of $1,630. However, after completing the trip, Air Canada informed him that bereavement discounts don’t apply retroactively to already-purchased tickets. When Moffatt complained and showed a screenshot of the chatbot’s guidance, an Air Canada rep admitted the chatbot had provided “misleading words” but said the company had updated the system. Unhappy with this resolution, Moffatt took Air Canada to small claims court. In a legal filing, Air Canada argued argued that its chatbot is “a separate legal entity responsible for its own actions.” But adjudicator Christopher Rivers called this “a remarkable submission,” stating that Air Canada owns its website and chatbot. Ultimately, Rivers ruled that Air Canada failed to take reasonable care to ensure its chatbot provided accurate information. He ordered the airline to pay Moffatt $812 — the difference between the full-price and bereavement fares. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #3 This is what's know as wanting to have it both ways. Of course, if a human rep promised this, they would be disallowed, reprimanded, and if of suitable victimology status, canned. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2024-02-19 17:18 |
| #2 ...See, this is why I don't think that AI will ever take over: it's already PO'd the lawyers. Mike |
| Posted by: MikeKozlowski 2024-02-19 13:55 |
| #1 I read about this the other day and still believe that Air Canada's defense was one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. Other than what politicians say, obviously. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2024-02-19 11:45 |