The New York Times cut ties with a freelancer after the paper discovered that the paper had used AI to write book reviews that mistakenly incorporated elements from the Guardian’s review of the same title.
A reader told the Guardian later this month that author and journalist Alex Preston’s January 6 review of Jean-Baptiste André’s Watching Her bears similarities to an August review of the book published in the Guardian.
The Times then launched a review and spoke to Preston, who admitted that he had used AI tools to prepare the manuscript and that he had failed to catch the Guardian’s material before the Times published the review.
A Times spokesperson said: “The editor added a note to a book review written earlier this year by an independent critic who told The Times after publication that she had used AI tools to assist in the production of the piece.” “The tool produced similarities to a book review published in the Guardian, as the editor’s note makes clear. For staff journalists and independent writers alike, the reliance on AI and the publication of work by another writer without attribution is a serious breach of the Times’ integrity and fundamental journalistic standards.”
Preston told the Times he had not used AI to draft any other articles. The paper notified the Guardian of the similarities and on Monday added an editor’s note to the review pointing out the use of AI and linking to the Guardian’s review.
The spokesperson added that Preston, who wrote six book reviews between 2021 and 2026, will no longer write for the paper.
Preston told TheWrap in an email that he “improperly used AI editing tools on a draft I wrote” and failed to catch “duplicate language” in the Guardian’s review.
“I immediately took responsibility and apologized to the New York Times.” “Beyond that, I have nothing more to add.”
The Times has been vocal about upholding transparency and journalistic ethics when experimenting with generative AI, requiring works using the technology to be “scrutinized by journalists” and “peer-reviewed by editors.” Articles should also explain to readers how the AI will be used and the processes taken to “mitigate risks such as bias and inaccuracy.”
“The first principles of journalism should be equally enforced when machines are involved,” the group says in its Openness Principles.
Mr. Preston is the author of six books, the latest of which, “A Stranger in Corfu,” was published last month by Pegasus Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. He has also published articles in media outlets such as the Financial Times, The Economist and the Guardian. Preston told TheWrap that he does not use AI in his books or other publications.
Mr. Preston also serves as Head of Advisory at Man Group, an investment management company.
