Latest news with #BookRiot
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Sun-Times confirms AI was used to create reading list of books that don't exist
Illinois' prominent Chicago Sun-Times newspaper has confirmed that a summer reading list, which included several recommendations for books that don't exist, was created using artificial intelligence by a freelancer who worked with one of their content partners. Social media posts began to circulate on Tuesday criticizing the paper for allegedly using the AI software ChatGPT to generate an article with book recommendations for the upcoming summer season called 'Summer reading list for 2025'. As such chatbots are known to make up information, a phenomenon often referred to as 'AI hallucination', the article contains several fake titles attached to real authors. 'I went into my library's database of Chicago area newspapers to confirm this isn't fake, and it's not,' a post on Bluesky by Book Riot editor Kelly Jensen says. 'Why the hell are you using ChatGPT to make up book titles? You used to have a books staff. Absolutely no fact checking?' Related: Musk's AI bot Grok blames 'programming error' for its Holocaust denial As early Tuesday afternoon, the post had more than 1,000 likes and nearly 500 reposts. Among the fake book titles are Hurricane Season by Brit Bennett, Nightshade Market by Min Jin Lee, The Longest Day by Rumaan Alam, Boiling Point by Rebecca Makkai, Migrations by Maggie O'Farrell and The Rainmakers by Percival Everett. All of those authors listed are real acclaimed novelists – but the books attached to them are not genuine titles that they published. Additionally, the article includes descriptions for each of the phoney books as well as reasons why readers may enjoy them. The article does include a few real titles, such as Atonement by Ian McEwan. Others on social media have pointed out that the use of AI appears to be found throughout the pages of the Chicago Sun-Times summer 2025 section. Screenshots of an article called 'Summer food trends' shows the piece quotes a purported Cornell University food anthropologist named Catherine Furst. But there appears to be no one by that name at Cornell. In another article about ideas to spruce up one's back yard, it quotes a purported editor named Daniel Ray. No such website seems to exist. On Tuesday morning, the official account for the Chicago Sun-Times on Bluesky addressed the controversy. 'We are looking into how this made it into print as we speak,' the account wrote. 'It is not editorial content and was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom. We value your trust in our reporting and take this very seriously. More info will be provided soon.' By Tuesday evening, the publication had released a story confirming that AI had been used to create the list as part of the special section which was supplied by a nationally-recognized content partner and syndicated to the Chicago Sun-Times and other newspapers. 'This should be a learning moment for all of journalism that our work is valued because of the relationship our very real, human reporters and editors have with our audiences,' the Chicago Sun-Times said. The AI-generated stories were syndicated outside of Chicago. A post on Threads by AngelaReadsBooks accused the Philadelphia Inquirer of publishing the same fake reading list. 'At a time when libraries and library budgets are being threatened every day, this is a slap in the face to anyone in the profession,' the post reads. 'Where is the journalistic integrity???' Related: 'We need to set the terms or we're all screwed': how newsrooms are tackling AI's uncertainties and opportunities Popular author Jasmine Guillory reacted to a post about the fake novels, writing on Threads: 'Holy shit. Just imaginary books and they printed it.' The Chicago Sun-Times says it is 'committed to making sure this never happens again'. The special section will be removed from the e-paper version of the Chicago Sun-Times as the publication vowed to update their policies pertaining to third-party licensed editorial content. 'We know that there is work to be done to provide more answers and transparency around the production and publication of this section, and will share additional updates in the coming days,' the publication said. The Chicago Sun-Times, resulting from a 1948 merger, has long held the second largest circulation among newspapers in the Windy City. It trails only the Chicago Tribune. The rise of AI content is an ongoing issue with which newsrooms have had to grapple. Certain papers have openly utilized the technology and even put out job postings for 'AI-assisted' reporters.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
John Lithgow reveals what he did when friend who has trans child begged him not to star in Harry Potter show
Actor John Lithgow says he ignored a request from a friend with a transgender child not to take a major role in the Harry Potter TV series over JK Rowling 's views. Lithgow, who will play Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO show, said 'a very good friend' sent him a text with a link to an article entitled: 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter.' It was likely a link to a piece by writer Danika Ellis published on a website called Book Riot. Ellis claimed Lithgow's casting would 'lend credence' to the adaptation and 'help grow JK Rowling's platform to further her crusade against transgender rights.' Lithgow told The Times that he received the link to the op-ed before he signed his contract. Asked if it had deterred him from signing on to play the wizard headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he replied: 'Oh heavens, no!' He did not identify the friend who sent it or elaborate on whether their relationship had survived the disagreement. Rowling has angered many in the transgender community with her insistence that trans women should be banned from some female-only spaces. But her stance has also attracted widespread support - and Lithgow suggested it hadn't affected his admiration for the 59-year-old English author. 'That was the canary in the coalmine,' he added. 'I thought, "Why is this a factor at all?" I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her.' Lithgow said he 'absolutely' didn't foresee getting so much hate from the author's many critics. But when asked by the publication if the backlash has made him reconsider joining the cast, he replied, 'Oh, heavens no.' Rowling has made headlines for her vocal views on trans rights in recent years and has been labeled a 'terf' (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) by some critics. Last week, the author sparked global upset after she celebrated the UK Supreme Court's landmark judgment that trans women are not legally women. Justices in London ruled last that in the 2010 Equality Act, the definition of the term 'women' relates only to biological women, and Rowling reportedly helped fund the campaign group which brought the case. Lithgow previously addressed his new role in an interview with Screen Rant. 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life. I'm afraid,' he told the publication. 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. 'That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to the title character, has become one of the most-beloved characters among fans of Rowling's original books and the film series. In the Harry Potter films, Dumbledore was first played by Richard Harris, before Michael Gambon took over the role. Lithgow — who has been nominated for back-to-back Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment — recently received a fresh round of critical acclaim for his major role in the Oscar hopeful Conclave. Though Lithgow is an American, which would be a departure for the series after the original films featured an almost exclusively UK-based cast, Dumbledore wouldn't be his first British character. Lithgow nabbed his sixth and most recent Emmy Award for playing former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Netflix's hit drama The Crown. More recently, Lithgow has been portraying the writer Roald Dahl on stage in London in the play Giant, which explores the writer's infamous antisemitism.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
John Lithgow says friend with trans kid begged him not to take Harry Potter role over JK Rowling's views... but he ignored them
John Lithgow says he ignored a request from a friend with a transgender child not to take a major role in the Harry Potter television series over JK Rowling 's views. Lithgow, who will play Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO show, said 'a very good friend' sent him a text with a link to an article entitled: 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter.' It was likely a link to a piece by writer Danika Ellis published on a website called Book Riot. Ellis claimed Lithgow's casting would 'lend credence' to the adaptation and 'help grow JK Rowling's platform to further her crusade against transgender rights'. Lithgow told The Times that he received the link to the op-ed before he signed his contract. Asked if it had deterred him from signing on to play the wizard headmaster of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, he replied: 'Oh heavens, no!' He did not identify the friend who sent it or elaborate on whether their relationship had survived the disagreement. Rowling has angered many in the transgender community with her insistence that trans women should be banned from some female-only spaces. But her stance has also attracted widespread support - and Lithgow suggested it hadn't affected his admiration for the 59-year-old English author. He added: 'That was the canary in the coal mine. 'I thought, "Why is this a factor at all?" I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her.' Lithgow said he 'absolutely' didn't foresee getting so much hate from the author's many critics. But when asked by the publication if the backlash has made him reconsider joining the cast, he replied, 'Oh, heavens no.' Rowling has made headlines for her vocal views on trans rights in recent years and has been labeled a 'terf' (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) by some critics. Last week, the author sparked global upset after she celebrated the UK Supreme Court's landmark judgment that trans women are not legally women. Justices in London ruled last that in the 2010 Equality Act, the definition of the term 'women' relates only to biological women, and Rowling reportedly helped fund the campaign group which brought the case. Lithgow previously addressed his new role in an interview with Screen Rant. He said: 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life. I'm afraid. 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. 'That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to Harry Potter, has become one of the most-beloved characters among fans of Rowling's original books and the film series. In the Harry Potter films, Dumbledore was first played by Richard Harris, before Michael Gambon took over the role. Lithgow recently received a fresh round of critical acclaim for his major role in the Oscar hopeful Conclave. Though Lithgow is an American, which would be a departure for the series after the original films featured an almost exclusively UK-based cast, Dumbledore wouldn't be his first British character. Lithgow nabbed his sixth and most recent Emmy Award for playing former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Netflix's hit drama The Crown. More recently, Lithgow has been portraying the writer Roald Dahl on stage in London in the play Giant, which explores the writer's infamous anti-Semitism.
Sky News AU
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Oh heavens, no!': John Lithgow ignores trans child mum's plea not to star as Dumbledore in Harry Potter adaption
American actor John Lithgow has revealed why he ignored a plea from a friend with a transgender child who urged him not to take on a major role in an upcoming adaption of Harry Potter. Lithgow, 79, is set to star as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry headmaster Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO adaption of British author J.K. Rowling's seven-volume fantasy series into a long-form TV show. Rowling, who disputes claims her views are "transphobic", said women's rights and "lived reality" would be "erased" if "sex isn't real" and called a list of trans women "men, every last one of them." On Monday, Lithgow said "a very good friend who is the mother of a trans child" sent him a link to an article titled 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter' before he signed his contract with the American network. In the article, Book Riot contributor Danika Ellis claimed Lithgow's casting "lends credence" to the Harry Potter adaptation and "helps to grow J.K. Rowling's platform to further her crusade against trans people's rights." "Throughout your career, you've demonstrated your love and acceptance of the LGBTQ to Rowling's actions, Harry Potter as a franchise has become synonymous with transphobia," Ellis wrote. "That's why I'm writing to you today, asking for you to walk away from your role in Harry Potter." Asked if the letter deterred him from signing his contract, the Conclave star told The Times of London: "Oh heavens, no!" "That was the canary in the coal mine," he said. "I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?' I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her." Lithgow said he 'absolutely' did not expect to receive amount of backlash he's experienced for joining the cast as Dumbledore. The 79-year-old said his age contributed more to his decision, and the "very good winding-down role" would likely be his "last major" one. The development comes after Rowling celebrated the UK Supreme Court's ruling that only biological women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws in a landmark case earlier this month. The 59-year-old took to X to post herself celebrating the court's ruling as she smoked a cigar and said, "I love it when a plan comes together." "To those celebrating the fact that I'm smoking a blunt: it's a cigar. Even if it decided to identify as a blunt for the purposes of this celebration, it would remain objectively, provably and demonstratively a cigar," she wrote. "The fact that so many UK trans activists are shrieking about injustice says it all. "You never had the rights you claim you've now lost; you had demands." Rowling's supporters include HBO, which is owned by Harry Potter distributor Warner Bros. Last November, HBO chief Casey Bloys said the author's views have not "affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff' of the Harry Potter adaption, which is set to begin filming later this year. 'J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement," a spokesperson for the network told Variety. Her views have been met with criticism from original Harry Potter child stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, to which Rowling told them to "save their apologies" for 'traumatised de transitioners.'
