Superhuman faces a proposed class action lawsuit from Julia Angwin, founder of The Markup, alleging Grammarly's Expert Review tool involved “misappropriation”
WiredMiles Klee
Context & Ripple Effects
Expert Review was introduced as a feature that simulated feedback from living and dead writers without permission, before backlash prompted Superhuman to offer an opt-out path and then disable the feature.
Angwin's proposed class action moves the dispute from public criticism over simulated editorial voices to a formal allegation of misappropriation. It matters because Superhuman had already acknowledged the controversy through a later CEO apology addressing impersonation, attribution and creator compensation.
First-order effects
Superhuman must respond to a proposed class action over Expert Review while the feature is disabled, adding legal exposure to an already-reversed product launch.
Angwin's claim puts the company’s use of writer-associated feedback at issue, rather than merely its backlash-management choices.
Second-order effects
Other AI writing-product teams using recognizable people or creator styles face stronger pressure to review consent, attribution and removal processes before launch.
The prior opt-out approach becomes less defensible as a product safeguard if disputes turn on whether use required permission in the first place.
Third-order effects
If claims like this advance, AI writing tools may shift from post-launch opt-outs toward licensing, consent and clearer boundaries around identity- or style-linked features.
The case is part of a broader test of whether public-facing creative work can be repurposed into AI product experiences without creating new misappropriation risk.
The trend: AI product makers are being pushed to replace creator-style simulation and reactive opt-outs with upfront likeness and permission governance.
SCOOP: The writing software Grammarly will discontinue its AI “Expert Review” feature, which used the names of authors without their permission to suggest edits. But parent company Superhuman is still facing a class-action lawsuit over it, brought by journalist Julia Angwin. [ima…
An AI product turned me into a feature. (image attached) Someone in my team was editing an article using Grammarly, and it surfaced my name (Nikhil Pahwa, Founder of MediaNama) except I hadn't signed up for this. There were disclaimers, saying that the experts (named after [image…
It is wild that we are at this point. Gen AI companies should have been shut down as soon as we found out that they used people's work without compensation. These companies need to be held accountable. Best of luck to everyone suing them! https://www.wired.com/...
I'm suing Grammarly over its paid AI feature that presented editing suggestions as if they came from me - and many other writers and journalists - without consent. — State law requires consent before someone's name can be used for commercial purposes. — www.wired.com/story/gr…
So, does Grammerly have, y'know, lawyers? — And assuming the answer is yes, what exactly do they spend their days doing? — Because if I could see this lawsuit coming a mile away, how is it possible their in-house counsel gave it the green light? [embedded post]
From the law firm's statement. “For over 100 years, New York law has prohibited companies from using a person's name for commercial purposes without their consent. The law does not provide an exception for technology companies or AI.”
For all the people saying that Grammarly should be sued over its “expert review” feature, here is the Grammarly class action lawsuit, alleging violation of the right to privacy and the right of publicity: prf-law.com/current-case...
Scoop: Grammarly is facing a class action lawsuit over its AI “expert review” tool, which presented advice from living and dead authors without their consent. Parent company Superhuman pulled the feature earlier today following backlash. by @milesklee.bsky.social www.wired.com/s…
NEW: Grammarly got hit with a class-action lawsuit this afternoon over its AI “expert review” feature that uses real experts' likenesses without their consent. @juliaangwin.com is the only named plaintiff. @milesklee.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/gramma...
I'd like to see Grammarly try to defend themselves against a class action lawsuit with an “AI” lawyer, but even they probably know better than that — https://www.wired.com/... #Grammarly #tech #books #AI #lawsuit