AI-penned Microsoft Travel article recommends food bank as a must-see destination.

Late last week, MSN.com’s Microsoft Travel section posted an AI-generated article about the “cannot miss” attractions of Ottawa that includes the Ottawa Food Bank, a real charitable organization that feeds struggling families. In its recommendation text, Microsoft’s AI model wrote, “Consider going into it on an empty stomach.”

Titled, “Headed to Ottawa? Here’s what you shouldn’t miss!,” (archive here) the article extols the virtues of the Canadian city and recommends attending the Winterlude festival (which only takes place in February), visiting an Ottawa Senators game, and skating in “The World’s Largest Naturallyfrozen Ice Rink” (sic). Ars Trending Video

As the No. 3 destination on the list, Microsoft Travel suggests visiting the Ottawa Food Bank, likely drawn from a summary found online but capped with an unfortunate turn of phrase.

"The organization has been collecting, purchasing, producing, and delivering food to needy people and families in the Ottawa area since 1984. We observe how hunger impacts men, women, and children on a daily basis, and how it may be a barrier to achievement. People who come to us have jobs and families to support, as well as expenses to pay. Life is already difficult enough. Consider going into it on an empty stomach."
  • Kbin_space_program@kbin.social
    645·
    1 year ago

    This is most likely from the current trend of wealthy foreign students teaching each other that the food bank concept exists in Canada. MS AI made this most likely from various social media posts telling each other how to abuse it.

    There are innumerable accounts of young adults driving up in fancy cars, going into the food bank, leaving with armloads of goods then immediately throwing away everything they don’t want.

    It’s a major issue for the Canadian food banks since they are not allowed to turn anyone away.

    • InvertedParallax@lemm.eeEnglish
      332·
      1 year ago

      I’m sorry, this, for once, seems like an actual job for social media.

      I don’t see a problem with doxxing and cyberbullying anyone who tools up to a food bank in a late-model beemer.

    • SkepticalButOpenMinded@lemmy.caEnglish
      72·
      1 year ago

      Do you have a source for this? I worry about stoking anti-immigrant bigotry with unsubstantiated accusations.

      All I can find is this CBC article talking about the many actually poor international students who increasingly use food banks to make ends meet. Not surprising given the cost of housing compared to even just a few years ago.

      • Kbin_space_program@kbin.social
        23·
        1 year ago

        One of the legal requirements to be an international student in Canada is that you have enough funding to be self reliant.

        There is zero cause for an international to ever require the food bank.

        Here’s a viral example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfogy5kcfCU
        Guy also has videos on how he’s invested in housing in Canada. He’s absolutely not poor.

        • SkepticalButOpenMinded@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          A single youtube video of an immigrant being a jerk is not data, or reputable reporting. This is Trump style rightwing fearmongering. It’s shocking to see this kind of thing on Lemmy.

          There is zero cause for an international to ever require the food bank.

          Do you really believe this?? Like the rest of us, an international student might not have budgeted for a several hundred dollar monthly increase in rent and food relative to previous years. Even some domestic students are living in tents in Canada.