The current surge of interest in artificial intelligence technologies has unfortunately paved the way for opportunism and even blatant fraud. Among the most astonishing scams that emerged in the UK was that of Builder.ai, a company that claimed to have developed an advanced coding AI, even securing investment from Microsoft. However, it was eventually uncovered that the company’s so-called ‘revolutionary AI’ was nothing more than a facade, with hundreds of human software developers working behind the scenes.
Valued at an impressive $1.5 billion in 2023, Builder.ai’s elaborate ruse was exposed through the examination of internal communications and financial transactions. Investigations revealed that the company employed a large number of software developers based in India. The truth emerged that Natasha, the AI touted by the company as fully autonomous, was in fact incapable of such feats. The software and applications it supposedly created were actually crafted by these Indian developers.
Microsoft’s $455 Million Investment in Builder.ai Wasted
Adding to the deception, these developers were instructed to communicate with clients as if they were an AI. One developer recounted to Bloomberg how Builder.ai directed them to converse as though they were artificial intelligence. Unable to sustain the charade following these revelations, Builder.ai declared bankruptcy this week. The disclosure that Builder.ai had been misleading investors for years sent shockwaves through the industry. It also meant that Microsoft’s substantial $455 million investment in 2023 was effectively squandered. Prior to the scam’s exposure, the American tech giant had ambitious plans to integrate Builder.ai’s AI into its Azure platform.
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