Grammarly’s recently launched “Expert Review” feature has drawn criticism after it was found to use the names of real people, including journalists and academics, without their consent. The feature, introduced in August, offers AI-generated writing suggestions “inspired by” subject matter experts. Tests by The Verge revealed that the tool included feedback attributed to its own editors, such as Nilay Patel and Sean Hollister, none of whom had authorized Grammarly to use their identities. The system also referenced deceased professors and other public figures as supposed sources of inspiration.

According to The Verge’s report, the feature’s descriptions often contained inaccuracies, such as outdated job titles, and linked to unreliable or unrelated web pages. In some cases, the AI appeared to base its suggestions on content not written by the named expert. Grammarly’s parent company, Superhuman, stated that the tool does not claim endorsement or participation from those experts, asserting that their works are publicly available and widely cited.

The presentation of these AI-generated comments in Google Docs, which resemble real user feedback, has raised further concerns about misleading users into believing the advice comes directly from the named experts.