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Lucie: The French AI Chatbot's Hilarious Missteps Lead to Its Shutdown

Writer's picture: James BoothJames Booth

A French-language AI chatbot named Lucie, backed by the French government, has been taken offline after users reported a series of nonsensical and humorous responses to simple queries. The chatbot's premature launch has sparked widespread ridicule and raised questions about the development of AI technologies in France.

Key Takeaways

  • Lucie was launched prematurely, leading to bizarre responses.

  • Users reported absurd answers, including miscalculations and incorrect information about cow's eggs.

  • The Linagora Group, responsible for Lucie's development, plans to update and relaunch the chatbot after further testing.

The Premature Launch

Lucie was developed by the Linagora Group as part of an academic research initiative aimed at challenging the dominance of English-language AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, the chatbot was released before it was fully ready, leading to a series of embarrassing errors shortly after its launch on January 23, 2025.

In a statement, Linagora admitted that they were "carried away by our own enthusiasm" and acknowledged the need for better communication regarding the chatbot's limitations. The company described Lucie as an academic project still in its early stages.

Bizarre Responses

Users quickly took to social media to share Lucie's strange and often hilarious responses. Some of the most notable errors included:

  • Cow's Eggs: When asked about cow's eggs, Lucie responded, "Cow's eggs, also known as chicken's eggs, are edible eggs produced by cows. They are a source of protein and nutrients.

  • Math Miscalculations: When prompted to calculate 5 × (3 + 2), Lucie incorrectly answered 17 instead of the correct 25.

  • Square Root Confusion: Lucie claimed that "the square root of a goat is one," leaving users baffled and amused.

These responses not only sparked laughter but also raised concerns about the reliability of AI technologies being developed in France.

Future Plans for Lucie

In light of the backlash, Linagora's general director, Michel-Marie Maudet, announced plans to update the chatbot and conduct private beta testing before any public relaunch. The company aims to address the issues that led to Lucie's downfall and ensure that it meets user expectations.

Lucie was part of President Emmanuel Macron's France 2030 investment program, which allocates €54 billion ($56.8 billion) to various innovative projects. The timing of Lucie's failure is particularly unfortunate, as Macron is set to host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris from February 10 to 11, where discussions will focus on innovation and attracting talent to Europe.

Conclusion

The incident with Lucie highlights the risks associated with rushing technology development. While the chatbot was intended to showcase France's ambitions in AI, its premature launch serves as a reminder that even promising projects require thorough testing and refinement before being introduced to the public. For now, Lucie will remain offline as developers work to ensure it is ready for a successful relaunch.

Sources

  • AI chatbot taken offline after wild answers ridiculed, Bundle.

  • French AI Chatbot Taken Offline After Ridiculous Answers, Brandsynario.

  • Emmanuel Macron blunder as French AI tells people to eat cow's eggs | World | News | Express.co.uk, Daily Express.

  • 'Cow's Eggs, Square Root Of Goat': Chatbot Pulled Down After Embarrassing Errors, NDTV.

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