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An AI chatbot released by the New York City government to help business owners access pertinent information has been spouting falsehoods, at times even misinforming users about actions that are against the law, according to a report from <\/em><\/a>. <\/em>The report, which was co-published with the local nonprofit newsrooms Documented<\/em> and The City<\/em>, includes numerous examples of inaccuracies in the chatbot\u2019s responses to questions relating to housing policies, workers\u2019 rights and other topics.<\/p>\n Mayor Adams\u2019 administration <\/a> in October as an addition to the MyCity portal, which <\/a> as \u201ca one-stop shop for city services and benefits.\u201d The chatbot, powered by Microsoft\u2019s Azure AI, is aimed at current and aspiring business owners, and was billed as a source of \u201cactionable and trusted information\u201d that comes directly from the city government\u2019s sites. But it is a pilot program, and a disclaimer on the website notes that it \u201cmay occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased content.\u201d<\/p>\n In The Markup<\/em>\u2019s tests, the chatbot repeatedly provided incorrect information. In response to the question, \u201cCan I make my store cashless?\u201d, for example, it replied, \u201cYes, you can make your store cashless in New York City\u201d \u2014 despite the fact that New York City banned cashless stores in 2020. The report shows the chatbot also responded incorrectly about whether employers can take their workers\u2019 tips, whether landlords have to accept section 8 vouchers or tenants on rental assistance, and whether businesses have to inform staff of scheduling changes. A housing policy expert that spoke to The Markup<\/em> called the chatbot \u201cdangerously inaccurate\u201d at its worst.<\/p>\n The city has indicated that the chatbot is still a work in progress. In a statement to The Markup<\/em>, Leslie Brown, a spokesperson for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, said the chatbot \u201chas already provided thousands of people with timely, accurate answers,\u201d but added, \u201cWe will continue to focus on upgrading this tool so that we can better support small businesses across the city.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n