Irish newspaper apologizes for AI-generated misinformation

A daily newspaper in Ireland issued an apology to its readers after unknowingly publishing an article written by artificial intelligence (AI).

The Irish Times stated in a statement on May 14 that it was the victim of “a deliberate and coordinated deception.” The editor of the publication, Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, acknowledged the need for stronger pre-publication controls, adding:

“It has also underlined one of the challenges raised by generative AI for news organisations.”

Published on May 11 in the morning, the article discussed the use of fake tans by Irish women from the perspective of Adriana Acosta-Cortez, who described herself as a “young immigrant woman in Ireland.”

According to Mac Cormaic, the alleged author contacted the editorial desk and provided research and personal anecdotes.

However, it was discovered that the article and the byline image were created “at least in part” by generative AI.

The author’s Twitter profile reposted an Internet Archive link to the now-removed article. In a second tweet, they criticized the Irish Times for needing a “better screening process.”

Twitter users commented on the post, calling the hoax a “solid move” and congratulating the profile for “exposing” the periodical.

One user stated that he “can’t in good faith ever read the IT again after this.”

The Irish Times is not the only publication recently scrutinized for artificial intelligence-related content.

On April 14, a German magazine titled Die Aktuelle published “the first interview!” with racing driver Michael Schumacher since his 2013 brain injury.

However, it was quickly discovered that the interview was generated by artificial intelligence, and Schumacher’s family took swift legal action against the publication.

A Wall Street Journal reporter recently used artificial intelligence to “clone” herself to deceive her bank and close relatives.