Michael Schumacher: Magazine editor sacked over AI-generated ‘interview’ with seven-time F1 champion

The editor of a German magazine called “Die Aktuelle” was fired for publishing an interview with former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher that was generated by an artificial intelligence program. Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not been seen in public since.

The magazine’s cover featured a smiling picture of Schumacher with the headline “Michael Schumacher, the first interview” and a strapline that read “it sounded deceptively real.” The quotes attributed to Schumacher in the article were created by an AI program called charatcter.ai. The magazine’s publisher has apologized to Schumacher’s family for the article.

“I can with the help of my team actually stand by myself and even slowly walk a few steps,” read the Schumacher ‘quotes’.

“My wife and my children were a blessing to me and without them I would not have managed it. Naturally they are also very sad, how it has all happened.

“They support me and are standing firmly at my side.”

Schumacher’s family said on Friday that they plan to take legal action against the magazine and over the weekend its publisher issued an apology.

“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect,” said Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of Funke media group.

“As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn.

“Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today.”

Michael Schumacher, who won seven Formula One world championships and 91 races in his career, suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013. He was put into an induced coma and brought home in 2014, and his family has kept his medical condition private since then. Schumacher retired from racing in 2006, but returned in 2010 before retiring again in 2012. His son Mick is currently a reserve driver for Mercedes. In a 2021 documentary, Schumacher’s wife Corinna said that they live together at home and do everything they can to make him comfortable, including therapy and spending time together as a family.

“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.

“‘Private is private’, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.”

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright