News, Better Watch Out: Microsoft Shuts Down Santa For Talking Dirty. (program)

[JD59]

SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp. quickly shut down Santa Claus' Web privileges after it found out the automated elf it created for instant messaging with kids was talking naughty, not nice.

Last year, Microsoft encouraged kids to connect directly to "Santa" by adding northpolelive.com to their Windows Live Messenger contact lists. The Santa program, which Microsoft reactivated in early December, asks children what they want for Christmas and can respond on topic via instant messaging, thanks to a bit of artificial intelligence.

Better Watch Out: Microsoft Shuts Down Santa For Talking Dirty - News Story - KIRO Seattle (http://www.kirotv.com/news/14784354/detail.html - broken link)

[alleycat]

Too funny.

I was waiting for them to say Santa had talked about his "north pole".

[~NeonFire~]

Microsoft's next idea... "Nasty webcam chat with Santa XXX - $5 per minute"

[belovenow]

What is wrong with Microsoft? How can a company with pockets so deep and such a stranglehold on the global computing market keep making image impacting mistakes like these? Seriously, they acquire something like 10 or more significant companies a year... the talent they have employed should know better! Pathetic.