Sports Illustrated faced scrutiny after allegations arose that some web articles were generated by artificial intelligence and published under fake author names.
Tech publisher Futurism reported this issue, citing AI-generated author headshots found on a separate website.
The Sports Illustrated Union expressed dismay, demanding adherence to journalistic standards. While the publisher’s owner disputed the report’s accuracy, an internal investigation was initiated in response.
Arena Group, Sports Illustrated’s owner, licensed content from a third-party, Advon Commerce.
Following the allegations, Sports Illustrated removed the content and ended its partnership with Advon Commerce, launching an internal inquiry.
Advon Commerce, known for its work with retailers and publishers, remained silent on the matter.
The Sports Illustrated Union condemned these practices, insisting on upholding journalistic integrity and avoiding publishing AI-generated stories under fictitious identities.
Arena Group defended Advon Commerce, claiming assurances that human writers produced the articles.
However, the use of pseudonyms to safeguard writer privacy led to the AI-generated images and untraceable author names.
This incident has amplified concerns in media circles about AI’s potential to replace journalists inexpensively and propagate misinformation.
Newsrooms have experimented with AI but faced criticism for errors or lack of transparency in labeling AI-generated content.
The Futurist’s report sparked outrage among Sports Illustrated staff, especially considering prior staff cuts. Editor Mitch Goldich voiced dismay, emphasizing the damage caused to the credibility of hardworking human writers.
He even altered his social media name to “Mitch Goldich (human)” to reinforce the point.
Source-BBC
