3 ms·

I don't think the AI part really matters here. If the magazine had instead just written his answers themselves, would the legal questions be any different? As

by Imnimo 3y ago

I don't think the AI part really matters here. If the magazine had instead just written his answers themselves, would the legal questions be any different? As I understand it, what they did was go to an online chatbot (probably character.ai), conduct the fake interview, publish it with a headline and cover that suggested it was real, and then admit only at the end of the article that it was from an AI website. Presumably, the AI in question was just a generic LLM prompted to act like Schumacher - I would be surprised if it were specially trained on his words or anything. It feels like the only legal question is whether it was fraudulent to portray the interview as real, or whether the admission at the end is sufficient cover. I don't think this case would give us any real insight into the legal issues surrounding AI in particular.

jansan 3y ago
It probably wasn't AI at all. That magazine has just about 25,000 subscribers, so you can guess the quality of their journalism. Out of their authors most likelike just made it up and put the "AI" label on it to make it "more exciting".
- matteason 3y ago
  The BBC News report (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/65333115 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/65333115) says that it was character.ai. They don't say how they know that though (presumably it's disclosed in the magazine itself?)
  - schroeding 3y ago
    > presumably it's disclosed in the magazine itself? Yes, indirectly, they have screenshots of the answers with a blue "c.ai" box in them.
- mseepgood 3y ago
  Wouldn't an AI generated interview be cheaper than paying an author to make one up?
  - jansan 3y ago
    Good argument, didn't think of that. And there may not even be a journalist working anymore at that magazine.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  > That magazine has just about 25,000 subscribers, so you can guess the quality of their journalism. Not saying anything about this particular magazine, but in general, I don't think that you can judge the quality of a publication's journalism by their subscriber count.
schroeding 3y ago
> publish it with a headline and cover that suggested it was real The subheading is "It sounds almost real! +++ What's behind this" ("Es klingt täuschend echt! +++ Was dahinter steckt"), allowing them to weasel themselves out of just flat out lying. That's the schtick of "Die Aktuelle". On the actual interview page, they explicitly disclose that it's not a real interview in their, eh, unique way of writing: Talk to him just once. Ask him how he is really doing. And almost ten years after his tragic finally get some answers! Not meager, nebulous half-sentences from friends. But answers from him! From Michael Schumacher, 54! Here it is - the incredible interview! With redemptive answers to the most burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long. How is he doing since the tragic accident in 2013? The answer: "My life changed completely after that. It was a terrible time for my wife, my children ... I was so injured so badly that I was in a kind of in a kind of artificial coma for months because my body wouldn't have been able to take it all." But the most important question: how does he feel today? The answer gives hope: "Much much better than years ago. With the help of my team, I can I can even stand on my own again and even slowly take a few steps and walk ... My wife and my children have been a blessing to me and without them I would not have made it. Of course, they are also very sad about how everything has gone ... They support me and stand firmly by my side." When asked about whether he follows the careers of Gina, 26, and Mick, 24, the answer is: "Of course! I follow both of them with great pleasure ... They really make me and the whole family very proud." And on a possible possible appearance in the future: "I have to be very cautious about it, because I don't want to let I don't want people to think too much wrong about me." Nothing wrong? Did Michael Schumacher really say everything like that himself? The Interview was on the Internet. On a site that has something to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short. What is behind all this? DIE AKTUELLE went in search of clues. There are actually Internet sites where you can talk to celebrities. But the answers are provided by artificial intelligence. But how does this AI know the personal backgrounds? About marriage, children and illnesses? Someone must have entered the information - like in Wikipedia - on the Internet! Was it really Schumi himself who the information from his sickbed? From his sickbed? Or someone from the family, nurses or employees? The answers sound deceptively real! Too good to be true? If Michael Schumacher would speak to us - it would be a world sensation. And a miracle, also through our prayers. A real miracle. (Yes, that's the entire interview on 2 A4 pages. That's it. They asked 4 questions to a character.ai bot. The magazine has many pictures, little text.)
unraveller 3y ago
>fraudulent to portray the interview as real how is that different to the reporting on the Oasis lost tapes made by AI? Where they first exclaim "Oasis is back! Except, not really." [1][2] Seems it depends how far you read into any story and how deep they bury the lede. Of course the wrag magazine was more egregious in their presentation elsewhere but other than the tastelessness of it all I don't see much different than printing "what would jesus do about your horoscope? NO REALLY! we asked him" whereas with Schumacher they are tongue-in-cheek conflating the idea that AI chatbots are uploaded consciousnesses and so desirable quote factories for their dwindling empire. [1] https://decrypt.co/137160/ai-oasis-aisis-breezer-liam-gallagher-music-copyright https://decrypt.co/137160/ai-oasis-aisis-breezer-liam-gallag... [2] https://www.stereogum.com/2220920/oasis-ai-album-liam-gallagher/news/ https://www.stereogum.com/2220920/oasis-ai-album-liam-gallag...

by Imnimo 3y ago

jansan 3y ago

It probably wasn't AI at all. That magazine has just about 25,000 subscribers, so you can guess the quality of their journalism. Out of their authors most likelike just made it up and put the "AI" label on it to make it "more exciting".

matteason 3y ago
The BBC News report (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/65333115 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/65333115) says that it was character.ai. They don't say how they know that though (presumably it's disclosed in the magazine itself?)
- schroeding 3y ago
  > presumably it's disclosed in the magazine itself? Yes, indirectly, they have screenshots of the answers with a blue "c.ai" box in them.
mseepgood 3y ago
Wouldn't an AI generated interview be cheaper than paying an author to make one up?
- jansan 3y ago
  Good argument, didn't think of that. And there may not even be a journalist working anymore at that magazine.
JohnFen 3y ago
> That magazine has just about 25,000 subscribers, so you can guess the quality of their journalism. Not saying anything about this particular magazine, but in general, I don't think that you can judge the quality of a publication's journalism by their subscriber count.

schroeding 3y ago

> publish it with a headline and cover that suggested it was real The subheading is "It sounds almost real! +++ What's behind this" ("Es klingt täuschend echt! +++ Was dahinter steckt"), allowing them to weasel themselves out of just flat out lying. That's the schtick of "Die Aktuelle". On the actual interview page, they explicitly disclose that it's not a real interview in their, eh, unique way of writing: Talk to him just once. Ask him how he is really doing. And almost ten years after his tragic finally get some answers! Not meager, nebulous half-sentences from friends. But answers from him! From Michael Schumacher, 54! Here it is - the incredible interview! With redemptive answers to the most burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long. How is he doing since the tragic accident in 2013? The answer: "My life changed completely after that. It was a terrible time for my wife, my children ... I was so injured so badly that I was in a kind of in a kind of artificial coma for months because my body wouldn't have been able to take it all." But the most important question: how does he feel today? The answer gives hope: "Much much better than years ago. With the help of my team, I can I can even stand on my own again and even slowly take a few steps and walk ... My wife and my children have been a blessing to me and without them I would not have made it. Of course, they are also very sad about how everything has gone ... They support me and stand firmly by my side." When asked about whether he follows the careers of Gina, 26, and Mick, 24, the answer is: "Of course! I follow both of them with great pleasure ... They really make me and the whole family very proud." And on a possible possible appearance in the future: "I have to be very cautious about it, because I don't want to let I don't want people to think too much wrong about me." Nothing wrong? Did Michael Schumacher really say everything like that himself? The Interview was on the Internet. On a site that has something to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short. What is behind all this? DIE AKTUELLE went in search of clues. There are actually Internet sites where you can talk to celebrities. But the answers are provided by artificial intelligence. But how does this AI know the personal backgrounds? About marriage, children and illnesses? Someone must have entered the information - like in Wikipedia - on the Internet! Was it really Schumi himself who the information from his sickbed? From his sickbed? Or someone from the family, nurses or employees? The answers sound deceptively real! Too good to be true? If Michael Schumacher would speak to us - it would be a world sensation. And a miracle, also through our prayers. A real miracle. (Yes, that's the entire interview on 2 A4 pages. That's it. They asked 4 questions to a character.ai bot. The magazine has many pictures, little text.)

unraveller 3y ago

>fraudulent to portray the interview as real how is that different to the reporting on the Oasis lost tapes made by AI? Where they first exclaim "Oasis is back! Except, not really." [1][2] Seems it depends how far you read into any story and how deep they bury the lede. Of course the wrag magazine was more egregious in their presentation elsewhere but other than the tastelessness of it all I don't see much different than printing "what would jesus do about your horoscope? NO REALLY! we asked him" whereas with Schumacher they are tongue-in-cheek conflating the idea that AI chatbots are uploaded consciousnesses and so desirable quote factories for their dwindling empire. [1] https://decrypt.co/137160/ai-oasis-aisis-breezer-liam-gallagher-music-copyright https://decrypt.co/137160/ai-oasis-aisis-breezer-liam-gallag... [2] https://www.stereogum.com/2220920/oasis-ai-album-liam-gallagher/news/ https://www.stereogum.com/2220920/oasis-ai-album-liam-gallag...