Die Aktuelle, a German tabloid magazine, has found itself open to legal action having published an AI-generated “interview” with Michael Schumacher, posing as the first interview given by the former F1 driver since 2013. The magazine ran a front cover spread promising an exclusive interview with Schumacher, which was later revealed to be fabricated using AI. 

The AI-generated interview included sensitive details about Schumacher’s recovery following a serious skiing accident in 2013. The magazine has faced criticism for generating responses that insensitively describe Schumacher’s recovery. The Schumacher family confirmed their intention to pursue legal action against the publication.

In a world where online misinformation is at the forefront of issues associated with social media and online communications, AI poses an additional challenge; publishers and social media companies face increasing fact-checking or other safety regulations, but having to distinguish AI generated content which appears genuine could tie their hands even further.