Google has launched an ‘inclusive language’ function designed to avoid the use of politically incorrect words. Users typing ‘landlord’ will see a warning that it ‘may not be inclusive to all readers’ with the suggestion they should try ‘property owner’ or ‘proprietor’ instead.
The word ‘humankind’ is a suggested alternative to what the online giant apparently sees as the controversial term ‘mankind’. Gender-specific terms such as ‘policemen’ or ‘housewife’ should also be replaced by ‘police officers’ and ‘stay-at-home spouse’, according to the new Google Document style program. It is now being rolled out to what the firm calls enterprise-level users.
Many computer document systems use methods to correct spelling and grammar. But nudging users towards woke language is being seen by critics as a step too far. Tests on the system have also thrown up major flaws.
A transcribed interview with ex Klu Klux Klan leader David Duke, in which he uses offensive racial slurs and talks about hunting black people, prompted no warnings. But it suggested President John F Kennedy’s inaugural address should say ‘for all humankind’ instead of ‘for all mankind’.
In an email to The Washington Times on Monday, a Google spokesperson said the company was examining concerns that the assisted writing feature could “over or undercorrect certain phrases” for inclusivity. “We’re looking more carefully at the inclusive language suggestions and have paused those for further review while we continue to improve this feature,” the spokesperson wrote.
She said the feature uses artificial intelligence “like a thesaurus or spell checker” to build algorithms for the suggested writing changes “based on millions of common phrases and sentences.”
The decision comes amid a divided reaction to the policy’s fairness and to Google’s language about it. “Potentially discriminatory or inappropriate language will be flagged, along with suggestions on how to make your writing more inclusive and appropriate for your audience,” Google said in a March 31 press release announcing the feature.
