The tabloid also apologized to the Formula One legend’s family.
The editor-in-chief of a German magazine that published an AI-generated ‘interview’ with Michael Schumacher has been fired. BBC report. A tabloid named Die Aktuelle has also apologized to the F1 legend’s family.
“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. Bianca Pohlmann, Managing Director of the magazine, said.
“As a result of the publication of this article, there are immediate personnel consequences. Die Aktuelle Editor-in-Chief Anne Hoffmann, who has been the newspaper’s head of press since 2009, will be relieved of her duties effective today.” she added.
On April 15th, Die Aktuelle published a smiling 54-year-old photo on the cover with the headline “Michael Schumacher, first interview”. Paired with the headline was a subheading that read, “Seemingly Sounded Real.”
The fake interview appeared on page 8 of the magazine under the headline “My Life Has Completely Changed” and is a fictional account attributed to Mr. Schumacher, talking about his family life and his medical condition since the accident. Quote included. But towards the article it becomes clear that the interview was created by an AI.
A few days ago, Schumacher’s family confirmed they were planning to take legal action against the German magazine.
Seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since he suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in December 2013. Schumacher reportedly has problems with his memory, movement and speech and is being treated at his home near Geneva.
In a 2021 Netflix documentary, Schumacher’s wife Corinna said: “We live together in the house. We are in therapy. We want to make Michael better and make sure he is comfortable.” , simply doing everything I can to make him feel our family, our bond. Just like Michael loved and still does, we are family. And we continue to live our lives.
After three seasons at Mercedes, Schumacher retired from F1 in 2012 and was joined by Lewis Hamilton.
