Michael Schumacher: Magazine editor fired due to artificial intelligence-generated "interview" with seven-time F1 winner

Posted : 24 April 2023

An artificial intelligence-generated "interview" with Michael Schumacher was published in a German magazine, and the publication's editor has been fired.

The publisher of the magazine has expressed regret to the family of the Formula 1 great.

Seven-time world champion Schumacher has not been seen in public since suffering severe brain injuries in a skiing accident in December 2013.
“Michael Schumacher, the first interview”, was the headline on the front cover of Die Aktuelle.

It was revealed in the piece that the alleged remarks were generated by AI, and a strapline beside a smiling photo of Schumacher stated, "it sounded deceptively real."

An artificial intelligence (AI) application called charatcter.ai was used to create Schumacher's "quotes" about his family and health 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."

The magazine's publisher apologized over the weekend after Schumacher's family announced their intention to sue the publication on Friday.

"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."

Following his skiing accident, Schumacher was put into an induced coma and returned home in September 2014. Since that time, his family has kept his medical condition a secret.

The 54-year-old Schumacher won two of his F1 world drivers' championships with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. From 2000 to 2004, though, he won five straight championships with Ferrari.

Together with Lewis Hamilton, he holds the record for the most Formula One championships with seven, and with 91 career victories, Schumacher set a mark that Hamilton will break in 2020.

The German stopped competing in racing in 2006, made a comeback in 2010, and then quit again in 2014.

Mick Schumacher, who presently serves as a reserve driver for Mercedes, used to compete in Formula One for Haas.

Michael Schumacher: Magazine editor fired due to artificial intelligence-generated "interview" with seven-time F1 winner

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