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Royal irony alert!
One of Meghan Markle’s humanitarian projects is getting the wrong kind of attention this week, with critics accusing the Duchess of using artificial intelligence to write a letter warning of the dangers of AI.
Reducing online harassment has long been a cause close to Meghan’s heart, and over the weekend, she traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial, honoring children who have lost their lives after being bullied online.
“Children today are being shaped by systems designed to grab attention at all costs: relentless algorithms, exploitative sharing, and endless exposure to harmful content they’re not looking for,” Meghan told the crowd (via Radar Online).
“Each name belongs to a child who was loved beyond measure. A child whose laughter once filled the kitchen.
“Whose shoes once waited for us at the front door. Who once felt like their future was limitless. Now whose faces ask the world questions we can no longer avoid.
“We are seeing new forms of harm emerging faster than our systems are prepared to respond, affecting children on an alarming scale and across borders.”
The Duchess of Sussex concluded her remarks by reminding the audience that disruptive technological progress should not be considered inevitable:
“But these results are not inevitable, and prevention begins with one simple principle: children should be safe by design, not by chance.
“Because danger now moves around the world – instantaneously, invisibly, and intimately. Our protections must do the same.”
Critics were quick to run Meghan’s statements through an AI reveal program, and many concluded that Meghan had help writing her speech:
“There was a torrent of comments in the forums from people insisting that parts of Meghan’s address be run through AI detection systems like ChatGPT parsers and other large language modeling tools because the wording seemed unusually polished, repetitive, and rhythmically structured,” a source follows Radar, adding:
“Some critics are convinced it bears the hallmarks of AI-assisted drafting, whether that comes directly from Meghan herself or from advisers who helped craft the speech.
“What many people find ironic is that the entire appearance is focused on warning about the dangers of rapidly developing technology and artificial intelligence that could potentially harm society, while critics now accuse the speech itself of sounding like it was generated by algorithms. Whether that is fair or unfair, this contradiction has become a major point of discussion online.”
A different source noted that Meghan has not gained fame as a speechwriter.
So, she likely had some help writing her notes, and somewhere along the line, a digital assistant may have played a role:
“It would be very unusual for someone in Meghan’s position to prepare a speech like this on her own, especially for a global event involving the World Health Organization,” the second insider said, adding:
“Most public figures now use some degree of technological assistance during drafting, whether that means speechwriting software, AI-assisted editing tools, or communications teams that optimize language for impact and clarity.”
“This controversy perhaps speaks as much about public skepticism toward AI as it does about Meghan herself. But because she specifically highlighted the risks posed by AI during her speech, critics immediately seized on the possibility that similar tools might have helped shape the message she delivered.”
In all likelihood, we are entering an era in which every competent piece of writing will be questionable about the use of artificial intelligence.
Did Meghan get any help drafting her remarks? This is completely possible. But that doesn’t make the feelings behind them any less genuine.
