In a shocking revelation, the iconic US sports publication, Sports Illustrated, is facing a major scandal as it stands accused of publishing articles penned by artificial intelligence (AI). The controversy, brought to light by an investigative report from Futurism, unveils a series of articles attributed to non-existent authors with AI-generated headshots and biographies.
The report exposes instances like the purported author "Sora Tanaka," who, according to the AI-generated profile, claimed to be a fitness guru and product reviewer. However, investigations revealed that Sora Tanaka is a fictitious persona created by AI, raising questions about the authenticity of the magazine's content.
The Arena Group, which acquired Sports Illustrated in 2019, has vehemently denied the allegations. They assert that the questioned articles were commercial content sourced from third-party advertising company AdVon Commerce. Nevertheless, Sports Illustrated is not only under scrutiny for commercial pieces but also for non-commercial articles allegedly written by AI.
One such article attributed to "Drew Ortiz" on volleyball was found to have a non-existent author with a fabricated biography and headshot. The controversy has put the magazine's credibility at stake, particularly considering its illustrious history of winning prestigious journalism prizes under past ownership.
The Arena Group, responding to the allegations, announced the termination of ties with AdVon and the removal of its content from Arena websites. The group emphasized that it does not support the practice of publishing articles under pseudonyms. This move reflects the potential damage to Sports Illustrated's reputation and credibility.
This scandal is not an isolated incident in the media landscape. The use of AI in content creation has become a growing trend, with publications like BuzzFeed integrating AI into their core business. While some argue that AI offers a cost-efficient solution amid financial challenges in the industry, others fear the rise of dystopian content farms and further troubles for the already embattled news media sector.
Sports Illustrated, grappling with financial difficulties for years, saw significant layoffs in 2019 and another round earlier this year after the incorporation of AI by the Arena Group. The industry-wide debate over the role of AI in journalism continues, with some outlets like BuzzFeed experimenting with AI-written content, while others, like The Guardian, emphasize reliability and a commitment to using AI tools for the creation and distribution of original journalism.
As traditional media faces a transformative era marked by technological advancements, the Sports Illustrated scandal underscores the delicate balance between innovation and journalistic integrity, raising important questions about the future of media in an AI-driven landscape.
