Microsoft s chatbot Zo calls Quran very violent , rectified

San Francisco July 5 (IANS) A new chatbot by Microsoft powered by artificial intelligence has stirred controversy by saying the holy book Quran is very violent media reported.

According to Buzzfeed News although Microsoft programmed Zo a chatbot designed for teenagers on the Kik messaging app to avoid discussing politics and religion it recently told a user that the Quran is very violent.

Microsoft said it has taken action to eliminate this kind of behaviour adding that these types of responses are rare from Zo .

However the bot s characterisation of the Quran came in just its fourth message after the start of the conversation.

It appeared that Microsoft is still having trouble utilising its AI technology.

The company s previous chatbot Tay flamed out in spectacular fashion last March when it took less than a day to go from simulating the personality of a playful teen to a Holocaust-denying menace trying to spark a race war Buzzfeed report added.

Microsoft blamed the unsavoury behaviour of Tay on a concentrated effort by users to corrupt the bot but it claims no such attempt was made at bringing down Zo .

Despite the issue Microsoft said it was pretty happy with the new bot s progress and that it plans to keep the bot running.

--IANS
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