German magazine editor, Anne Hoffmann, was fired for publishing an AI-generated interview with former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.
Funke media group, which publishes Die Aktuelle, issued an apology to the Schumacher family and announced Hoffmann's dismissal on Friday, according to a report by DW.
MONTREAL, CANADA: Formula One Team Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher of Germany holds up his trophy after winning The Grand Prix of Montreal on 15 June at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Schumacher, who was in 1st place, won after the race was stopped at 56 laps due to a crash by French driver Olivier Panis.
"Sounds Deceptively Real"
The tabloid's front page carried the headline, "Michael Schumacher: The first interview!" accompanied by a photo of the retired racing driver. A smaller headline on the same page reads, "It sounds deceptively real."
Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of Funke magazines, stated that the article was tasteless and misleading and did not meet the standards of journalism expected by the publisher and its readers.
However, it must be noted that the article inside the magazine made it clear that the interview was generated by an AI tool and was not a real conversation with the former F1 champion.
It also focused on the potential threat that artificial intelligence poses to journalism within German media. But apparently, this was not taken lightly by the magazine and Schumacher's loved ones.
Schumacher Family Plans to Sue the Tabloid
On Thursday, the Schumacher family announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the magazine. Michael Schumacher, who is now 54 years old and a retired racing driver, has been living in complete isolation since a skiing accident in 2013 caused him to suffer severe and long-term health consequences
The F1 icon has not made any public appearances since the accident. He won seven F1 World Championships, five of them consecutively, and has a total of 91 Grand Prix victories to his name. Schumacher started his F1 career with Jordan Grand Prix in 1991 and later went on to drive for Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
The use of AI-generated content has become a growing concern in the journalism industry, with many worried that it could undermine the credibility of news reporting.
The incident with Die Aktuelle has reignited the debate and raised questions about how publications should handle AI-generated content.
While some argue that AI-generated content has the potential to enhance the speed and efficiency of news production, others believe that it could lead to the spread of misinformation and fake news.
The controversy surrounding the publication of the AI-generated interview with Michael Schumacher highlights the need for publications to ensure that their content meets journalistic standards and is free from misleading information.
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