French AI chatbot halted after outrageous responses spark mockery

A French government-backed AI chatbot named Lucie was taken offline following a series of bizarre responses, including claims about cow eggs and incorrect mathematical calculations.

Initial launch and immediate issues: The Linagora Group, part of the consortium developing Lucie, released the chatbot prematurely on Thursday, leading to widespread criticism and mockery online.

• Users quickly discovered the chatbot providing nonsensical answers, including claiming that cows lay edible eggs
• The AI made basic mathematical errors, such as calculating 5 x (3+2) as 17 instead of 25
• The model bizarrely claimed that “the square root of a goat is one”

Developer response and next steps: Linagora acknowledged the premature release and outlined plans for improvement.

• The company admitted being “carried away by our own enthusiasm” in launching the model too early
• General Director Michel-Marie Maudet announced plans to update the model and conduct private beta testing before any public relaunch
• The company emphasized that Lucie remains an “academic research project in its early stages”

Project background and significance: Lucie represents France’s attempt to establish sovereignty in AI development and challenge English-language dominance in the field.

• The chatbot is named after humanity’s oldest ancestor
• Its logo combines imagery of Marianne (a French national symbol) and actress Scarlett Johansson from the film “Lucy”
• The project is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s France 2030 investment program, which has allocated €54 billion ($56.8 billion) for various initiatives

Political context: The timing of this setback is particularly significant given France’s upcoming AI leadership event.

• President Macron is preparing to host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris from February 10-11
• The summit will bring together world leaders and technology industry figures
• The chatbot’s failures could potentially impact France’s positioning as a leader in AI development

Future implications: This early stumble in France’s AI development efforts highlights the challenges of competing with established players in the field, while also demonstrating the risks of rushing AI products to market before they’re ready for public use.