Latest news with #TheCollector'sPiece
USA Today
22-05-2025
- USA Today
AI is a danger to the book world. Chicago Sun-Times AI summer reading list proved that.
AI is a danger to the book world. Chicago Sun-Times AI summer reading list proved that. An AI-generated summer reading list with fake titles appeared in a print insert in two major newspapers. It's indicative of larger harms to book publishing and journalism. Every week, I peer over the mountain of advanced review copies on my desk, wondering which book to read next. Too many books and too little time is the best problem (and career) to have. It may only take you a few seconds to scroll through our most anticipated summer reads, but it took weeks of reading and months of preparation to confidently bring you those 15 titles. Last week, the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a print insert with an AI-generated summer reading list from a third-party contributor. Several titles were made up. You won't find 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir or 'The Collector's Piece' by Taylor Jenkins Reid in bookstores or libraries this summer because they don't exist. AI use is more common in workplaces than ever. Many argue it's a train we can only get on, not stop. But in both the book world and the journalism industry, this kind of AI-generated content threatens and undermines the creativity that makes us readers in the first place. AI-generated articles could further erode trust in journalism Earlier this spring, the Chicago Sun-Times lost 20% of its staff after offering buyouts to curb financial woes. To bolster content, many outlets outsource syndicated third-party content. It's a common practice. USA TODAY, for example, hosts an (editorially reviewed) weekly column written by the American Booksellers Association that spotlights local bookstores around the country. But in a world where media distrust rages high, AI-generated content only furthers skepticism of the industry as a whole, distracting from the crucial news and watchdog reporting communities need. The Chicago Sun-Times summer reading list was licensed from King Features, owned by magazine conglomerate Hearst. Freelancer Marco Buscaglia took responsibility for the piece and confirmed he used AI. "We are looking into how this made it into print as we speak," Victor Lim, marketing director for parent company Chicago Public Media, said in a statement to NPR. "This is licensed content that was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom, but it is unacceptable for any content we provide to our readers to be inaccurate. We value our readers' trust in our reporting and take this very seriously. More info will be provided soon as we investigate.' Summer reading lists can be crucial press for debut authors, new books Just as offensive as the fake titles is that some of the real ones on this list are decades old, like Ray Bradbury's 1957 'Dandelion Wine.' Books are timeless pieces of media – there's no expiration date on a good read. But it's important to understand how crucial press attention is to an author and book's success. Millions of books are published globally each year. The odds that one book slips through the cracks and makes it on one of these lists are slim. But if it does, there's the potential for tens of thousands more eyes on an author's hard work. And historically, the book industry has been largely white. One study in The New York Times in 2020 showed that 95% of over 7,000 books surveyed were written by white people. While the industry has diversified since 2020, change has been slow, The Times later reported. As a man-made creation, generative AI can amplify human biases, especially when it comes to representing women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, AI experts previously told USA TODAY. If we rely on AI to choose the notable books of the year, we risk further marginalizing authors whose stories deserve to be heard. Large language models are trained on swaths of internet archives, so, naturally, a list like that published in the Chicago Sun-Times can't include new releases. AI can't sift through hundreds of emails from publishers to see what books are coming out this year and it certainly can't match the tireless effort of book publicists and marketers to get a book into your hands. AI can never replace writers and book journalists It takes time and care to come up with a recommendation list. When you read one of our monthly new release recaps, know that each book is pored over and chosen in hopes of being your next great read. AI will never match the human intimacy of getting a book recommendation from someone who cares about you. AI can never replace the email exchanges with readers, swapping new and old titles we'd never otherwise pick up. It can never capture rage or laughter or grief in an audiobook narration. It can never cry at the end of a meaningful read. It can't connect a love story to the bench in Central Park that reminded you of what it means to be alive. Most of all, AI is a danger to what makes us readers in the first place. There's no way to package the human creative spirit in an AI prompt. We are readers because we relish in the slow possibilities of living in the pages of someone else's world. We are readers because we are hungry for meaning about humanity. And while AI may threaten jobs and undermine trust, it can never take away the knowledge and lives we've lived through stepping into a good book. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chicago Sun-Times Sunday insert contains 10 AI-generated fake books in summer reading list
A special section inserted into the Sunday Chicago Sun-Times featured page upon page of fun summer activities, including a list of 15 books to bring along while lounging by the pool or relaxing in a favorite reading spot. The only problem: The authors are real, but most of the books don't exist. Artificial intelligence, employed by a Chicago freelance writer, simply made them up. Readers looking to fill their carts with titles such as 'Tidewater Dreams' by Isabel Allende, 'The Collector's Piece' by Taylor Jenkins Reid or 'Hurricane Season' by Brit Bennett were likely disappointed to find the elaborate plot summaries were themselves fictionalized. Several news reports and a wave of social media backlash to the fake books followed, creating an early summer storm for the Sun-Times, which released a statement Tuesday. 'We are looking into how this made it into print as we speak,' the Sun-Times said. 'This is licensed content that was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom, but it is unacceptable for any content we provide to our readers to be inaccurate. We value our readers' trust in our reporting and take this very seriously.' The 64-page full-color Sunday insert, 'Heat Index,' is a summer entertainment guide featuring stories about everything from outdoor cooking and camping tips to '8 unforgettable summer drives across America.' The summer reading list contains 10 fictional fiction titles, including 'The Rainmakers' by Percival Everett, described as a near-future story set in the American West where 'artificially induced rain has become a luxury commodity,' leading a 'precipitation broker' to question the ethics of his profession. Another fake book, 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir, is described as the latest science fiction thriller from the author of 'The Martian' that 'follows a programmer who discovers that an AI system has developed consciousness — and has been secretly influencing global events for years.' In a 'Matrix'-like paradox, artificial intelligence played a key role in putting together the fake book list. Veteran Chicago freelancer Marco Buscaglia, who wrote the entire 'Heat Index' section for King Features, a syndicated newspaper content producer owned by Hearst, said he used AI to compile the summer reading list. He then made the mistake of trusting it to be accurate. 'I just straight up missed it,' Buscaglia, 57, told the Tribune on Tuesday. 'I can't blame anybody else.' Buscaglia, who also contributes articles to the Sunday Careers section produced by Tribune Content Agency, among other publications, said he writes four seasonal sections for King Features each year. He put together the summer feature in February. Unable to find early summer reading lists from Amazon or other sources, he said he turned to AI platforms such as ChatGPT, which churned out 15 potential blockbusters written by well-known authors. Buscaglia submitted the list without his byline, but unfortunately, the robot contributors made up most of the book selections. 'It obviously completely backfired,' Buscaglia said. 'They must have had a hard time finding new books, too. So they just made them up.' Beyond the fake plot summaries, the summer reading list did contain five actual books, including 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury and 'Call Me By Your Name' by André Aciman. While Buscaglia used AI to help gather material for other stories in the special section, he said he does not know if they contain similar errors. A King Features spokesperson issued a statement Wednesday denouncing the use of AI in the piece and severing ties with Buscaglia. 'King Features has a strict policy with our staff, cartoonists, columnists, and freelance writers against the use of AI to create content,' the spokesperson said. 'The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance content creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI. We are terminating our relationship with this individual.' The fallout in Chicago media circles, however, is growing. In March, more of than one-fifth of the staff at the Sun-Times, including some prominent journalists, took a buyout ahead of potential layoffs in a sweeping cost-cutting initiative by its nonprofit owner, Chicago Public Media. The Sun-Times Guild issued a statement Tuesday distancing its diminished ranks of union journalists from the third-party content used by the newspaper. 'We're deeply disturbed that AI-generated content was printed alongside our work,' the union said. 'The fact that it was sixty-plus pages of this 'content' is very concerning — primarily for our relationship with our audience but also for our union's jurisdiction.' In a statement posted on its website Tuesday afternoon, the Sun-Times said subscribers would not be charged for the premium section and that it would be excised from the e-paper version online. The paper also said it would be more transparent about identifying third-party editorial content going forward and is 'reviewing' its relationship with the national content partner. 'We are committed to making sure this never happens again,' the Sun-Times said. '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.'
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times Sunday insert contains 10 fake books in summer reading list
A special section inserted into the Sunday Chicago Sun-Times featured page-upon-page of fun summer activities, including a list of 15 books to bring along while lounging by the pool or relaxing in a favorite reading spot. The only problem: the authors are real, but most of the books listed don't exist. Readers looking to fill their carts with titles such as 'Tidewater Dreams' by Isabel Allende, 'The Collector's Piece' by Taylor Jenkins Reid or 'Hurricane Season' by Brit Bennett were likely disappointed to find the elaborate plot summaries were not from books that actually exist. Several news reports and a wave of social media backlash to the fake books followed, creating an early summer storm for the Sun-Times, which released a statement Tuesday. 'We are looking into how this made it into print as we speak,' the Sun-Times said. 'This is licensed content that was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom, but it is unacceptable for any content we provide to our readers to be inaccurate. We value our readers' trust in our reporting and take this very seriously. More info will be provided soon as we investigate.' The 64-page full-color Sunday insert called 'Heat Index' was a summer entertainment guide featuring stories about everything from outdoor cooking and camping tips to '8 unforgettable summer drives across America.' The summer reading list contains 10 fictional fiction titles, including 'The Rainmakers' by Percival Everett, described as a near-future story set in the American West where 'artificially induced rain has become a luxury commodity,' leading a 'precipitation broker' to question the ethics of his profession. Another fake book, 'The Last Algorithm' by Andy Weir, is described as another science fiction thriller by the author of 'The Martian' that 'follows a programmer who discovers that an AI system has developed consciousness – and has been secretly influencing global events for years.' At least one online report said artificial intelligence played a role in putting together the summer reading story. A Sun-Times spokesperson said the 'Heat Index' section was produced by Hearst for newspapers across the country. It is unknown if other stories in the section contain similar errors. A spokesperson for media giant Hearst did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. While the summer reading list did contain five actual books, including 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury and 'Call Me By Your Name' by Andre Aciman, the 10 fake plot summaries may be compelling enough to inspire authors – human or otherwise – to write them for next summer. Until then, the 'Heat Wave' section also offers a few summer drink recipes, from blackberry basil smash to strawberry-thyme lemonade, to help tide you over the long hot days ahead. rchannick@
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chicago Newspaper Caught Publishing a 'Summer Reads' Guide Full of AI Slop
The Chicago Sun-Times, a daily non-profit newspaper owned by Chicago Public Media, published a "summer reading list" featuring wholly fabricated books — the result of broadcasting unverified AI slop in its pages. An image of a "Summer reading list for 2025" was first shared to Instagram by a book podcaster who goes by Tina Books and was circulated on Bluesky by the novelist Rachael King. The newspaper's title and the date of the page's publication are visible in the page's header. The page was included in a 64-page "Best of Summer" feature, and as the author, Marco Buscaglia, told 404 Media, it was generated using AI. "I do use AI for background at times but always check out the material first," Buscaglia told 404 Media. "This time, I did not and I can't believe I missed it because it's so obvious. No excuses." "On me 100 percent and I'm completely embarrassed," he added. At first glance, the list is unassuming. "Whether you're lounging by the pool, relaxing on sandy shores or enjoying the longer daylight hours in your favorite reading spot," reads the list's introduction, "these 15 titles — new and old — promise to deliver the perfect summer escape." The book titles themselves are unassuming, too. The newspaper recommends titles like the ethereal-sounding "Tidewater Dreams," which it says was written by the Chilean-American novelist Isabel Allende; "The Last Algorithm," purported to be a new sci-fi thriller by Andy Weir; and "The Collector's Piece," said to be written by the writer Taylor Jenkins Reid about a "reclusive art collector and the journalist determined to uncover the truth behind his most controversial acquisition." But as we independently confirmed, though these authors are real and well-known, these books are entirely fake — as are several others listed on the page. Indeed: the first ten out of all fifteen titles listed in the Sun-Times list either don't exist at all, or the titles are real, but weren't written by the author that the Sun-Times attributes them to. Fabrications like made-up citations are commonplace in AI-generated content, and a known risk of using generative AI tools like ChatGPT. We reached out to the Sun-Times and its owner, Chicago Public Media — which notably also owns the beloved National Public Radio station WBEZ Chicago — but didn't hear back at the time of publishing. The paper did speak out in a Bluesky post, though, emphasizing that the page is "not editorial content" and not associated with the paper's newsroom. "We are looking into how this made it into print as we speak," the paper wrote in the social media post. "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." This was echoed by Buscaglia, who told 404 Media that the content was created to be part of a "promotional special section" not specifically targeted to Chicago. "It's supposed to be generic and national," Buscaglia told 4o4 Media. "We never get a list of where things ran." This wouldn't be the first time AI has been used to create third-party content and published without AI disclosures by journalistic institutions, as Futurism's investigation last year into AdVon Commerce revealed. Readers are understandably upset and demanding answers. "How did the editors at the Sun-Times not catch this? Do they use AI consistently in their work?" reads a Reddit post to r/Chicago about the scandal. "As a subscriber, I am livid!" "What is the point of subscribing to a hard copy paper," the poster continued, "if they are just going to include AI slop too!?" "I just feel an overwhelming sense of sadness this morning over this?" University of Minnesota Press editorial director Jason Weidemann wrote in a Bluesky post. "There are thousands of struggling writers out there who could write a brilliant summer reads feature and should be paid to do so." "Pay humans to do things for fuck's sake," he added. More on AI and journalism: Scammers Stole the Website for Emerson College's Student Radio Station and Started Running It as a Zombie AI Farm
