German magazine editor fired over AI-generated interview with Formula One racer
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Berlin: German magazine Die Aktuelle's editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann has been fired for publishing an AI-generated interview of former Formula One racer Michael Schumacher. The tabloid also apologised to his family.
Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of Funke magazines, said that the article was "tasteless and misleading" and it should never have appeared in the magazine. "It in no way corresponds to the standards of journalism that we and our readers expect from a publisher like Funke. As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn. Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today."
The article was published on April 15. It had a smiling picture of the 54-year-old racer on the front cover. The headline read "Michael Schumacher, the first interview" and the subheading, "It sounded deceptively real."
The fake interview was on page eight of the magazine with the headline, "My life has changed completely." It also had quotes about his medical condition and family life since the accident. Only later in the article does it become clear that the interview is produced by artificial intelligence.
Schumacher was in a skiing accident in December 2013 and suffered a serious head injury. He was placed in a medically induced coma until June 2014. He has not been seen in public since the incident and reports say that he has issues with memory, movement, and speech.
His family cares for him at a home near Geneva. In a 2021 Netflix documentary, his wife Corinna said that the family does everything to make sure he is comfortable. "We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable, and simply make him feel our family, our bond. We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives."
After the AI-generated article came out, the family confirmed that they will be taking legal action against the magazine.
Schumacher has become Formula One champion seven times and retired from F1 in 2012 after three seasons with Mercedes. He has competed for Jordan, Benetton, and Ferrari as well. He and Ferrari won five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004. After finishing third in 2005 and second in 2006, Schumacher retired from the sport. Then made a brief return with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.