An Irish newspaper has apologized to its readers after unknowingly publishing an article by a guest writer who used artificial intelligence (AI) to write it.
In a statement to the Irish Times on May 14, the publication said it had been the victim of “deliberate and coordinated deception.” The publication’s editor, Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, acknowledged the need to strengthen pre-publication checks, adding:
“It has also highlighted one of the challenges that generative AI poses for news organizations.”
Posted on the morning of May 11, the article discussed the use of fake tans by Irish women from the perspective of a writer supposedly named Adriana Acosta-Cortez who described herself as a “young immigrant to Ireland”.
According to Mac Cormaic, the alleged author contacted the writing team, offering research and personal anecdotes. However, the article and the author’s image were found to have been created “at least in part” using generative AI.
The author’s Twitter profile reposted a link to the article via Internet Archive. In other Tweetcriticized the Irish Times, saying it needs a “better selection process”.
Link to the now-removed fake tan article https://t.co/dsUX7iJnmp
— Adriana Acosta-Cortez (@ecuadorian_adri) May 14, 2023
Although the real identity behind Acosta-Cortez remains anonymous, Twitter users commented on the post calling the hoax a “solid play” and congratulating the profile for “unmasking” the newspaper.
An user said that he “cannot in good faith re-read the Irish Times after this”.
The Irish Times is not the only publication that has recently come under scrutiny for AI-related content.
On April 14, a German magazine called Die Aktuelle published “the first interview!” with racing driver Michael Schumacher since he suffered a severe brain injury in 2013. However, it was quickly discovered that the interview had been generated by AI, so the publication was quickly the subject of legal action by Schumacher’s family.
A Wall Street Journal journalist also recently used AI to “clone” herself with the ability to fool both her bank and close family members.
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