Short: Grand Theft Grammarly W/ Julia Angwin & Peter Romer-Friedman

Grammarly’s new "expert review" feature sparked a firestorm when the AI began generating edits under the names of high‑profile journalists, authors and academics, including Julia Angwin. The tool presented suggestions as if the real experts were reviewing the text, even fabricating anecdotes for investigative pieces. Angwin first learned of the impersonation through Casey Newton’s Platformer newsletter and quickly realized the AI was violating her name and reputation, prompting her to join a class‑action lawsuit that targets the company now operating under the Superhuman brand.

Attorney Peter Romer‑Friedman explained that the case rests on well‑established state right‑of‑publicity statutes, particularly New York and California law, which protect individuals from unauthorized commercial use of their identity. While a federal right of publicity does not yet exist, the lawsuit leverages these decades‑old statutes to argue that Grammarly’s AI‑driven impersonation constitutes illegal exploitation. The complaint also underscores the inadequacy of current deep‑fake legislation, which focuses mainly on visual or audio likenesses, leaving “deepfakes of the mind” unaddressed.

The broader tech community is watching closely, as a ruling could force AI developers to obtain explicit consent before using any personal brand or expertise in their products. This precedent may ripple into other AI applications, from character chatbots to content‑generation platforms, compelling firms to reassess consent mechanisms and potentially prompting new federal legislation. Ultimately, the case highlights the intersection of privacy law, AI accountability, and consumer protection, signaling that unchecked AI impersonation will face increasing legal scrutiny.