---
title: "Microsoft Word’s New “AI Editor” Scolds You for Gendered Language"
description: "The new Microsoft Ideas feature for Word uses artificial intelligence to ensure your writing doesn't feature non-inclusive language."
date: "2019-05-07"
modified: "2019-05-07"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/microsoft-ideas-ai-inclusive-language"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
tags:
  - "communications"
  - "inclusive language"
  - "microsoft"
  - "the digest"
---

# Microsoft Word’s New “AI Editor” Scolds You for Gendered Language

![The new Microsoft Ideas feature for Word uses artificial intelligence to ensure your writing doesn't feature non-inclusive language.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/microsoft-ideas-ai-inclusive-language.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## 21st Century Clippy

Microsoft has a plan to make sure your writing is inclusive — and it involves artificial intelligence.

On Monday, the tech giant announced the [upcoming integration](<https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/06/words-new-ai-features-will-help-you-write-better/>) of its AI-powered Ideas feature into Word Online, the cloud-based version of its popular word processor, Microsoft Word.

According to a Microsoft [blog post](<https://blogs.microsoft.com/ai/microsoft-365-intelligent-workday-productivity/>), in addition to helping writers improve the structure and clarity of their documents, Ideas will also offer them suggestions for language that's more inclusive — a heartening example of AI helping shape a future in which all people feel welcomed.

## Inclusive Language

In the blog post, Microsoft uses "policeman" as an example of a term that might raise a red flag with Ideas, noting that the feature may suggest a writer opt for the more inclusive "police officer" instead.

As noted by [the Linguistic Society of America](<https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language>), "inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities" — so if that's the kind of future Ideas can help shape, kudos to Microsoft for creating it.

**READ MORE:** [How AI is making people’s workday more productive](<https://blogs.microsoft.com/ai/microsoft-365-intelligent-workday-productivity/>) \[Microsoft 365\]

**More on gender:** *[It’s Time to Talk About How Siri is Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes](<https://futurism.com/its-time-to-talk-about-how-siri-is-reinforcing-gender-stereotypes>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)