Latest news with #HeatIndex:YourGuidetotheBestofSummer
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Summer reading list featured in Chicago Sun-Times, Philadelphia Inquirer created by AI — and filled with nonexistent books
The recommended reading list contained some works of fiction. It also contained some works that were, in fact, actually fictional. The content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. The list appeared in 'Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer,' a special section distributed in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. 4 The content distributor King Features says it fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to write a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. Chicago Sun-Times More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece's author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn't double-check what it produced. 'A really stupid error on my part,' Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. AI has bedeviled some news organizations It's the latest instance of an AI shortcut backfiring and embarrassing news organizations. Sports Illustrated was caught in 2023 listing nonexistent authors for product reviews carried on its website. The Gannett news service had to pause an experiment using AI for sports stories after errors were discovered. 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI,' the syndicators King Features said in a statement, noting it has a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization said. 4 Sports Illustrated was caught in 2023 for using AI and listing nonexistent authors. REUTERS The syndicators King Features distributes comics like 'Blondie' and 'Beetle Bailey,' political columns from Amy Goodman and Rich Lowry, and advice features like 'Hints From Heloise.' Among the summer reading suggestions was 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir, described as 'a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness' and been secretly influencing world events. 'Nightshade Market,' by Min Jin Lee, was said to be a 'riveting tale set in Seoul's underground economy.' Both authors are real, but the books aren't. 'I have not written and will not be writing a novel called 'Nightshade Market,'' Lee posted on X. 4 Only the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer have used the supplement, Kings Features said. Getty Images The Sun-Times said it was investigating whether any other inaccurate information was included in the 'Heat Index' supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. 'We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges,' the newspaper said. 'This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it.' Both the Sun-Times and Inquirer said they have removed the supplement from its digital editions. The Inquirer special section was published on May 15. 4 The Sun-Times said it was investigating if other inaccurate details were included in the 'Heat Index' supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. AP Syndicated features are common for newspapers The Inquirer has used King Features for comics, puzzles and other material for more than 40 years, said Lisa Hughes, its publisher and CEO. 'The Inquirer newsroom is not involved in the production of these syndicated features, nor was it involved in creating Heat Index,' she said. The blunder was first reported by the tech publication 404 Media. It was not clear who at King Features had responsibility for editing Bascaglia's material. The Chicago-based writer said on Facebook that 'I am completely at fault here — just an awful oversight and a horrible mistake.' 'I'm not really sure I bounce back from this situation career-wise,' he said. 'I have a lot of stories left in me but I am fully accountable for what happened and will have to endure the effects, whatever they may be.'
The Hill
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Fictional fiction: A newspaper's summer book list recommends nonexistent books. Blame AI
NEW YORK (AP) — The recommended reading list contained some works of fiction. It also contained some works that were, in fact, actually fictional. The content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. The list appeared in 'Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer,' a special section distributed in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece's author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn't double-check what it produced. 'A really stupid error on my part,' Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. It's the latest instance of an AI shortcut backfiring and embarrassing news organizations. Sports Illustrated was caught in 2023 listing nonexistent authors for product reviews carried on its website. The Gannett news service had to pause an experiment using AI for sports stories after errors were discovered. 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI,' the syndicators King Features said in a statement, noting it has a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization said. The syndicators King Features distributes comics like 'Blondie' and 'Beetle Bailey,' political columns from Amy Goodman and Rich Lowry, and advice features like 'Hints From Heloise.' Among the summer reading suggestions was 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir, described as 'a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness' and been secretly influencing world events. 'Nightshade Market,' by Min Jin Lee, was said to be a 'riveting tale set in Seoul's underground economy.' Both authors are real, but the books aren't. 'I have not written and will not be writing a novel called 'Nightshade Market,'' Lee posted on X. The Sun-Times said it was investigating whether any other inaccurate information was included in the 'Heat Index' supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. 'We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges,' the newspaper said. 'This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it.' Both the Sun-Times and Inquirer said they have removed the supplement from its digital editions. The Inquirer special section was published on May 15. The Inquirer has used King Features for comics, puzzles and other material for more than 40 years, said Lisa Hughes, its publisher and CEO. 'The Inquirer newsroom is not involved in the production of these syndicated features, nor was it involved in creating Heat Index,' she said. The blunder was first reported by the tech publication 404 Media. It was not clear who at King Features had responsibility for editing Bascaglia's material. The Chicago-based writer said on Facebook that 'I am completely at fault here — just an awful oversight and a horrible mistake.' 'I'm not really sure I bounce back from this situation career-wise,' he said. 'I have a lot of stories left in me but I am fully accountable for what happened and will have to endure the effects, whatever they may be.' ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
Euronews
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
AI blunder: US newspaper's book list recommends non-existent books
US content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. The list appeared in 'Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer," a special section distributed in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece's author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn't double-check what it produced. 'A really stupid error on my part,' Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. 'I'm not really sure I bounce back from this situation career-wise,' he added. 'I have a lot of stories left in me but I am fully accountable for what happened and will have to endure the effects, whatever they may be.' Among the summer reading suggestions was 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir, described as 'a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness' and been secretly influencing world events. Elsewhere, 'Nightshade Market' by Min Jin Lee was said to be a 'riveting tale set in Seoul's underground economy.' Both authors are real, but the books aren't. 'I have not written and will not be writing a novel called 'Nightshade Market,'' Lee posted on X. The syndicators King Features said in a statement: 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI.' They noted they have a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization added. 'We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges," the newspaper said. 'This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued - and valuable - because of the humanity behind it.' Both the Sun-Times and Inquirer said they have removed the supplement from its digital editions.
Ottawa Citizen
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Newspapers' AI-generated summer reading list recommends nonexistent books
NEW YORK — The recommended reading list contained some works of fiction. It also contained some works that were, in fact, actually fictional. Article content Article content The content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. Article content The list appeared in Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer, a special section distributed in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. Article content Article content More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece's author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn't double-check what it produced. 'A really stupid error on my part,' Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. Article content Article content 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI,' the syndicators King Features said in a statement, noting it has a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization said. Article content Article content Among the summer reading suggestions was The Last Algorithm by Andy Weir, described as 'a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness' and been secretly influencing world events. Nightshade Market, by Min Jin Lee, was said to be a 'riveting tale set in Seoul's underground economy.' Article content Article content Both authors are real, but the books aren't. 'I have not written and will not be writing a novel called Nightshade Market,' Lee posted on X. Article content The Sun-Times said it was investigating whether any other inaccurate information was included in the Heat Index supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. Article content 'We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges,' the newspaper said. 'This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it.'
Vancouver Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Newspapers' AI-generated summer reading list recommends nonexistent books
NEW YORK — The recommended reading list contained some works of fiction. It also contained some works that were, in fact, actually fictional. The content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn't exist. The list appeared in Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer, a special section distributed in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece's author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn't double-check what it produced. 'A really stupid error on my part,' Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It's the latest instance of an AI shortcut backfiring and embarrassing news organizations. Sports Illustrated was caught in 2023 listing nonexistent authors for product reviews carried on its website. The Gannett news service had to pause an experiment using AI for sports stories after errors were discovered. 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI,' the syndicators King Features said in a statement, noting it has a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization said. Among the summer reading suggestions was The Last Algorithm by Andy Weir, described as 'a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness' and been secretly influencing world events. Nightshade Market, by Min Jin Lee, was said to be a 'riveting tale set in Seoul's underground economy.' Both authors are real, but the books aren't. 'I have not written and will not be writing a novel called Nightshade Market,' Lee posted on X. The Sun-Times said it was investigating whether any other inaccurate information was included in the Heat Index supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. 'We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges,' the newspaper said. 'This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it.' Both the Sun-Times and Inquirer said they have removed the supplement from their digital editions. The Inquirer special section was published on May 15. The Inquirer has used King Features for comics, puzzles and other material for more than 40 years, said Lisa Hughes, its publisher and CEO. 'The Inquirer newsroom is not involved in the production of these syndicated features, nor was it involved in creating Heat Index,' she said. The blunder was first reported by the tech publication 404 Media. It was not clear who at King Features had responsibility for editing Bascaglia's material. The Chicago-based writer said on Facebook that 'I am completely at fault here — just an awful oversight and a horrible mistake.' 'I'm not really sure I bounce back from this situation career-wise,' he said. 'I have a lot of stories left in me but I am fully accountable for what happened and will have to endure the effects, whatever they may be.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
