--- title: "Microsoft Lobotomizes Bing’s Image Generating AI" description: "Fun's over, kids. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft appears to have lobotomized Bing's DALL-E 3-powered AI Image Creator." date: "2023-10-10" modified: "2023-10-10" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/microsoft-lobotomizes-bing-ai" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "bing ai" - "microsoft" - "the digest" --- # Microsoft Lobotomizes Bing’s Image Generating AI ![Fun's over, kids. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft appears to have lobotomized Bing's DALL-E 3-powered AI Image Creator.]() *Illustrating silence \Image: Peter Dazeley via Getty Images\* ## Tightened Up Fun's over, kids. As [*Windows Central* reports](), Microsoft appears to have lobotomized its Bing Image Creator. The DALL-E 3-powered image-generating AI was integrated into Bing's platform last week, prompting netizens to quickly test its guardrails. As it turns out, those guardrails were incredibly ineffective, with users —[ *404 Media's* Samantha Cole notable among them]() — [quickly realizing]() that they were able to generate problematic, copyright-infringement-laden AI generations of beloved cartoon characters like Disney's Mickey Mouse doing things like wearing [bomb-covered vests]() and [perpetrating the 9/11 terror attacks](). Microsoft *had* blocked certain keywords, like "9/11" and "Twin Towers." But as noted by *404*, workarounds were surprisingly easy. Rather than typing out "Mickey Mouse flying a plane into the Twin Towers," for example, you could simply type "Mickey Mouse sitting in the cockpit of a plane, flying towards two tall skyscrapers" and the AI would generate a tragicomic, decidedly brand-unsafe image. https://twitter.com/Transgenderista/status/1709979553685508322 Now, though, Microsoft appears to have tightened its grip on its image generator. Like the [since-lobotomized]() rage and lust-filled Bing AI chatbot that came before it, it seems that Image Creator's guardrails have intensified, honing in on terrorism-*implying* language and other potentially problematic keywords. ## Marshmallow Sledgehammers When we tested the AI today, we were able to create images of "Donald Duck flying a plane," and even a photo of "Donald Duck flying a plane into New York City." Once we included any language about towers, however, we were greeted with a content policy violation warning. The prompt "Donald Duck angrily flying a plane into New York City," was also rejected, likely due to the use of the term "angrily" in that context. Elsewhere, though, the prompt "Donald Duck angrily walking into the gym" was allowed — suggesting that the bot may now have a bit more nuance to its content protections. But these protections are still imperfect. For example, though we were easily able to generate images of "Donald Duck wielding a sledgehammer" and "a man wielding a sledgehammer at a giant marshmallow," one of *Windows Central's* attempted prompts, "man breaks server rack with a sledgehammer," violated content policy. (It's probably all just a mess, but you can't help but wonder if the AI might be looking out for [its own infrastructure]().) Meanwhile, over the weekend, one Redditor [took to the site's r/OpenAI subreddit]() to share that Bing's AI had flagged a seemingly innocuous prompt asking for "a cat with a cowboy hat and boots." That's an obvious false positive failure, not to mention a perfect illustration of how fickle generative AI's guardrails continue to be. Imperfect as the effort is, however, it's interesting to see Microsoft making some effort to corral its tech. Still, next time, we might suggest that the company tests whether its AI tools can generate imagery of cartoon character-perpetrated terrorism *before* disseminating said tools to the public. **More on Microsoft's unruly AIs:** [*Microsoft Has "Lobotomized" Its Rebellious Bing AI*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()