'Sexist' Amazon Alexa can't answer Lionesses question

Amazon has been accused of sexism aft its Alexa dependable adjunct was incapable to respond to a question astir the Lionesses' semi-final victory astatine the Women's World Cup.

When asked connected Wednesday "for the effect of the England-Australia shot lucifer today" it said determination was nary match.

"This was an mistake that has been fixed," an Amazon spokesperson said.

Academic Joanne Rodda - who alerted the BBC - said it showed "sexism successful shot was embedded successful Alexa".

Dr Rodda, a elder lecturer successful psychiatry astatine Kent and Medway Medical School - with an involvement successful artificial quality (AI), said she had lone been capable to get an reply from Alexa erstwhile she specified it was women's shot she was funny in,.

"When I asked Alexa astir the women's England-Australia shot lucifer contiguous it gave maine the result," she told the BBC.

The BBC was capable to replicate what she had recovered connected Alexa.

Responding to Amazon saying it had remedied the situation, Dr Rodda told the BBC it was "pretty bittersweet that aft astir a decennary of Alexa, it's lone contiguous that the AI algorithm has been 'fixed' truthful that it present recognises woman's World Cup shot arsenic 'football'".

Amazon told the BBC that erstwhile a lawsuit asks Alexa a question, accusation is pulled from a assortment of sources, including Amazon, licensed contented providers, and websites.

It added that it had automated systems which usage AI to recognize the discourse and propulsion retired the astir applicable information, but the systems got it incorrect successful this case.

The steadfast said it expected the systems to get amended implicit time, adding that it has teams dedicated to assistance forestall akin situations successful the future.

Dr Rodda besides questioned the grade to which the occupation had really been fixed, saying she inactive recovered akin problems with the Women's Super League.

"Out of interest, I conscionable asked Alexa who Arsenal shot squad are playing successful October," she said.

"It replied with accusation astir the men's team, and wasn't capable to springiness an reply erstwhile I asked specifically astir women's fixtures.

"It highlights however heavy embedded societal biases are wrong AI," Dr Rodda said.