German magazine sacks editor over AI-generated interview with Michael Schumacher; family plans legal action

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German magazine Die Aktuelle, owned by Essen-based Funke media group, recently published an โ€˜interviewโ€™ with former Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, generated entirely by Artificial intelligence (AI).ย 

However, the publication has faced severe backlash from the public, and the Schumacher family in particular, resulting in the sacking of the editor and an official apology from Funke, reports Reuters. 

Michael Schumacher, a seven-time world champion in Formula One, suffered a severe brain injury while on a family skiing holiday in the French Alps in December 2013.

As a result, his family has kept strict privacy measures, limiting access to Schumacher to only those closest to him.

“We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable, and to simply make him feel our family, our bond,” Corinna Schumacher said in a 2021 Netflix documentary.

“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.”

The recent publication by Die Aktuelle claiming to have conducted an interview with Schumacher raised many questions about the accuracy and authenticity of the interview. 

Schumacher’s family plans legal action

In response, the Schumacher’s family has announced that they are taking legal action against the magazine.

Funke media group released a statement on their website apologising for any distress caused by the publication and announced the sacking of the editor responsible for the piece. 

In a statement, the media group says, “FUNKE apologises to the Schumacher family for reporting on Michael Schumacher in the latest issue of “die aktuell.”ย 

“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way corresponds to the standards of journalism that we โ€“ and our readers โ€“ expect from a publisher like FUNKE,โ€ says Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of FUNKE magazines.

“As a result of the publication of this article, personal consequences will be drawn immediately. 

“die aktuell” editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has been responsible for journalism for the newspaper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today.”

The AI-generated interview appeared on page eight of the magazine with the headline “My life has changed completely.”

The interview includes fabricated quotes attributed to Schumacher where he discusses his family life since the accident and his medical condition.

Vigneshwar Ravichandran

Vigneshwar has been a News Reporter at Silicon Canals since 2018. A seasoned technology journalist with almost a decade of experience, he covers the European startup ecosystem, from AI and Web3 to clean energy and health tech. Previously, he was a content producer and consumer product reviewer for leading Indian digital media, including NDTV, GizBot, and FoneArena. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in Chennai and a Diploma in Broadcasting Journalism in New Delhi.

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