A German publisher has recently apologised to the family of seven-time Formula One champion, Michael Schumacher, for publishing a fake interview which was generated with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Funke magazines managing director Bianca Pohlmann said that the published article was “tasteless and misleading” and does not fit with their readers’ standards. As a result, the head editor of their Die Aktuelle magazine, where the AI-generated fake interview appeared, was fired.
Family spokesperson Sabine Kehm told The Associated Press that they are planning to take legal action against the tabloid celebrity magazine. The magazine had a photo of Michael Schumacher on the front page with the title “Michael Schumacher, the first interview!” and a fake AI-generated “interview” which they labeled as “deceptive”.
Michael Schumacher is one of the most iconic figures in the history of Formula One since his first debut in 1991. He was involved in a near-fatal brain injury back in December 2013 while skiing at Meribel in the French Alps where his helmet was split open when his head hit a rock. After being transferred from hospital in September 2014, Michael continues to be cared for in a private family home in Switzerland.
Lewis Hamilton, who joined Mercedes and replaced Schumacher, went on to match the F1 champion’s title record. The infamous fake AI-generated “interview” of Michael Schumacher serves as a lesson for all news corporations and publishers to be more responsible and accurate with their print. Funke is a leader in Germany in magazine, newspapers, and digital products as it continues to put emphasize on their readers’ standards.
