Major newspapers ran a summer reading list. AI made up book titles.

The Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer have found themselves in a controversy related to artificial intelligence (AI) after publishing syndicated content featuring quotes from non-existent experts and fictitious book titles generated by AI technology. The articles were part of the papers’ “Heat Index” special sections, which offer summertime tips and advice. The use of AI-generated content was initially highlighted by 404 Media, a tech news publication, and later shared on social media by writers and podcasters who noticed the anomalies in the stories. The content included quotes attributed to fake experts and references to imaginary books, leading to concerns about the accuracy and credibility of the information presented. The publishers have acknowledged the mistake and are reviewing their processes to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident underscores the challenges and risks associated with AI tools in journalism as they can sometimes produce inaccurate or misleading content, potentially undermining reader trust in the media.