Grammarly, the popular writing assistant, is now defending itself in a California courtroom. A class action lawsuit, first detailed by Wired, accuses the company of misleading customers about its premium Expert Review feature. The suit claims Grammarly sold the service as access to professional human editors but then used artificial intelligence to perform the work without clear notice to users.
For professionals drafting contracts, reports, or sensitive communications, the distinction carries weight. Grammarly marketed Expert Review as a layer of human oversight, promising nuanced feedback on tone and logic that software might miss. Subscribers paid an additional fee specifically for that human touch. The legal filing argues they received something else: an automated review, potentially leaving Grammarly exposed under California’s consumer protection statutes.
The case emerges as Grammarly has deepened its investment in generative AI, launching GrammarlyGO and rebranding as an AI-driven platform. This strategic shift creates a natural tension between promoting advanced automation and marketing premium human services. The company has stated its products blend AI with human expertise where suitable but has not yet addressed the lawsuit's specific allegations.
This legal challenge reflects a wider industry reckoning. As companies automate services once handled by people, the line between marketing and reality blurs. Similar scrutiny has touched Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology. The core legal question is straightforward: what would a reasonable customer believe they were purchasing?
With over 70,000 teams using Grammarly, including in regulated sectors, the stakes involve more than refunds. If sensitive documents were processed by AI under the expectation of human review, data governance concerns immediately follow. The lawsuit is in its early phases, but it serves as a direct warning to the tech sector: when selling AI-human hybrid services, clarity is not just a virtue—it's a legal necessity.
Source: Webpronews