German magazine fires editor responsible for publishing AI interview with Michael Schumacher.

The editor-in-chief of the German magazine Die Aktuelle was fired after the publication used an artificial intelligence program to produce fake quotes from Michael Schumacher. The magazine was heavily criticized for presenting the AI-generated responses as an “exclusive interview” in their April 15th edition. Fans worldwide labeled the publication “disgraceful.” The managing director of Funke media group, which publishes the magazine, stated that the article did not meet journalistic standards and that personnel consequences would be drawn. Anne Hoffmann, the editor-in-chief since 2009, was relieved of her duties as a result of the publication. The seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher has not appeared publicly since his near-fatal brain injury while skiing in December 2013. His wife, Corinna, has sought to protect his privacy, and his medical condition remains a mystery to the public as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland. The quotes, which generated controversy in the article, were produced using the program called character.ai. The Schumacher family expressed plans to sue Die Aktuelle and Funke Media Group for the publication’s misleading content.