Editor of German Magazine Fired Over AI-Generated 'Interview' with Michael Schumacher

The German magazine Die Aktuelle recently published an “interview” with former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, which was generated using artificial intelligence. The magazine’s publishers, Funke media group, have since apologized to Schumacher’s family and sacked the editor responsible for the article. The family has stated that it is considering legal action against the publication.

Michael Schumacher suffered a serious brain injury while skiing with his family in the French Alps in 2013 and has not been seen in public since. His family is known for maintaining strict privacy around his condition, with access limited to only those closest to him.

The article was featured on the front cover of the latest edition of Die Aktuelle, with the headline promising “Michael Schumacher, the first interview.” The strapline added: “it sounded deceptively real.”

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the “quotes” had been produced by an artificial intelligence algorithm. The publication of the article has been criticized by many as being tasteless and misleading.

Funke media group has apologized to Schumacher’s family and stated that the article should never have been published. The company also announced that immediate personnel consequences would be drawn, and the editor-in-chief, Anne Hoffmann, who had held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, would be relieved of her duties.

The incident has highlighted the potential dangers of relying on artificial intelligence in journalism. While AI can be a useful tool for generating content, it lacks the ability to understand context and emotions, leading to potentially misleading or inappropriate articles.

Schumacher’s family has been vocal about its desire for privacy and has taken legal action in the past to protect it. In 2017, the family sued a German magazine for publishing photos of Schumacher in his home, and the publication was ordered to pay 50,000 euros in damages.

The family’s determination to maintain privacy has also led to speculation and rumors about Schumacher’s condition. In 2021, a Netflix documentary provided some insight into his life, with his wife, Corinna, stating that the family was doing everything they could to help him and make him comfortable.

“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,” she said.

The incident with Die Aktuelle has raised questions about the role of artificial intelligence in journalism and whether it should be used for generating content. While AI can be a useful tool, it is essential to ensure that it is used responsibly and ethically.

In conclusion, the German magazine Die Aktuelle has apologized to Michael Schumacher’s family for publishing an “interview” with the former Formula One champion generated by artificial intelligence. The incident highlights the potential dangers of relying on AI in journalism and the need for responsible and ethical use of the technology. Schumacher’s family has been vocal about its desire for privacy, and the incident has sparked a discussion about the role of AI in generating content.