Microsoft Word has introduced a new feature that has sparked controversy and debate.
The feature, discovered by Elon Musk, warns users when they write words that are deemed not "inclusive." Musk took to X to express his concerns, questioning whether Microsoft is using its software programs to promote a particular societal narrative.
Musk's post included an image showing that when the word "insane" was entered, it received an "inclusiveness" warning. The software suggested a word change, arguing that the term "implies mental health bias." Furthermore, the software issues "perspective" warnings, encouraging users to consider alternative viewpoints if their input does not align with Microsoft's desired standards.
The new feature, developed in 2022, provides suggestions for references related to various biases, including age, culture, handicap, gender, race, socioeconomic status, mental health, and sexual orientation. Users must manually enable the feature through Word's "editor" settings. It also recommends substituting gendered pronouns, gender-specific terminology, and ethnic slurs with more neutral alternatives.
Microsoft advises users to avoid slang that could be seen as cultural appropriation, such as the phrase "spirit animal." The company aims to discourage the use of gender-specific pronouns and phrases like "mankind" to prevent stereotyping.
Elon Musk's comment section on his initial post was flooded with users repeatedly writing the word "insane." Dave Rubin expressed his agreement, stating, "That's insane." David Sacks echoed the sentiment, saying, "That's insane! Oops." ALX simply wrote, "Insane."
Republican presidential candidate and tech billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also weighed in, suggesting that controlling language is an effective way to control the minds of a society.
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