When copilot Decides You're The Expert
I recently was sent a link to A blog
post
which had the main takeaway of Please dont send me your slop if I didnt ask--There's a lot more there, I recommend giving it a read! I did not think
I'd have my own commentary on the subject that needed a post, however, here we
are...
I had a pretty interesting experience today at $work, someone I did not know
personally sent me a message on Teams1. They were asking for some help with
their work machine.
Being the reasonably helpful person I am, rather than telling them to pound sand I offered some advice and direction. Unfortunately the advice wasn't what they needed, but its the thought that counts and all that.
Over the course of the discussion they became a bit upset that I didn't have
answers. Originally I assumed this was one of the many many people I've offered
help to previously while doing other things. Its not that uncommon for me to
do, so I do actually forget everyone I've offered it to. That said, it was
becoming clear that this was not the case here. This person was upset in the
way you get frustrated when the person that can help cant, or in your view
doesn't know enough to help.
So while giving advice, I mentioned that they had contacted a random developer in a random team a few thousand km from them. Their response was somewhat along the lines of what I expected:
Me: You do realize that I'm a random developer in a random team?
Them: I know that now! :)
They then apologized a bit and such, no harm no foul. But that's not why I'm writing about this, if this had been just that it'd be the same as many hundreds of discussions both personal and professional.
Of course the next thing I asked was to find out where my name was being used2
Me: Out of interest, who gave you my name
Them: Would you believe me if I said Copilot?
Me: Maybe, but I'd be depressed and want a screenshot
Them: depressing.png
At this point I'm concerned. The image showed an output from the aforementioned "software", with me listed as a technician for their exact problem.
It turned out, I had had a discussion in a public team that I occasionally assist in, noting some almost-but-not-quite-the-same things about a slightly different area. This poor person asked their AI who might be able to help, and it spat out me.
Ill let that sink in; I got slop'd, by an AI. The slop was now some poor person that was just looking for help, and had been vastly misdirected.
A few things went though my head at this point; chief among them being that this almost felt like some kind of violation, I did not consent to this, at all, whatsoever. I especially did not consent to having my name and help offered without even being asked.
I'm not sure if I should be angry, depressed, disgusted, or all of them at once at this.