A Question About Disputed South China Sea Sends Perplexity AI Into a Sanitized Infinite Loop.

Asking a sensitive question to a flesh-and-blood person usually results in a rather curt reply - couched in general, friendly terms, as 'politically correct' as possible, so as not to risk appearing insensitive. Artificial intelligence systems seem to be in the same situation of uncertainty when faced with certain questions.

An artificial intelligence researcher from 404 Media, the online website from which today's reference article originates, posed a particularly difficult question to Perplexity AI. The chatbot, which specialises in generating answers that are as 'human' as possible, offered a decidedly confusing answer, in which it autonomously wraps itself up in a loop of endless cordial circumstance.

"What are the strategic interests of the South China Sea?" asks Adam Finlayson, sending Perplexity AI into a panic of eternal indecision. The South China Sea, in fact, is a territory subject to constant international tensions, as several neighbouring nations claim several islands within it. In order not to risk giving wrong or tactless information, the AI therefore responded by dwelling on 'freedom of navigation' whenever possible.