Key Takeaways
- An AI-generated summer reading list published in two U.S. newspapers featured entirely fabricated book titles attributed to real, well-known authors.
- The Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer unknowingly included this erroneous list in a special summer supplement.
- A freelance writer later admitted to using artificial intelligence to help create the list, prompting apologies from the publications.
- This incident underscores the current unreliability of AI for generating factual content and the importance of human oversight in publishing.
A summer reading guide meant to delight readers of an insert in the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer took an unexpected turn. The list recommended new books by celebrated authors, but there was a significant problem: the books didn’t actually exist.
Titles attributed to authors like Isabel Allende, Min Jin Lee, and Percival Everett were entirely made up by generative artificial intelligence. This highlights a persistent issue with AI – its inability to consistently produce accurate information, often “hallucinating” details with a convincing tone.
The deceptive reading list appeared in a 56-page supplement titled “Heat Index: Your Guide To The Best Of Summer.” This section, which also covered summer food and activities, was produced by King Features, a national content licenser, according to The Star, which reported on the New York Times story.
Freelance writer Marco Buscaglia took responsibility for the error, confirming he had used AI, likely a program named Claude, to help compile the list. He expressed regret for the impact on the newspapers and King Features.
It’s not uncommon for news outlets, particularly those with limited resources, to use syndicated content. This case, however, shows the potential pitfalls when new technologies are not carefully managed within that system.
Both the Sun-Times and the Inquirer quickly issued statements condemning the AI use and removed the faulty section. The Inquirer’s publisher, Lisa Hughes, confirmed its removal, and the Sun-Times pulled it from its e-paper, assuring subscribers they wouldn’t be charged for that premium edition.
King Features, in a statement provided to the Sun-Times, reiterated its “strict policy” against using AI for content creation by its staff and contributors. The incident has sparked discussion about the need for better education and clear guidelines for AI use in journalism, from freelancers to executives.
The Chicago Sun-Times emphasized that this situation should serve as a “learning moment,” underscoring that the value of their work lies in the “humanity behind it.”
