Michael Schumacher's family set to sue magazine over fake AI-generated interview

A German gossip magazine has caused outrage after advertising a "world first interview" with Michael Schumacher – the first since his skiing accident nine years ago. This of course would be an incredible story, but the problem was that it was all fake – and the interview was conducted with an AI version of the racing great.

Michael Schumacher, one of the best Formula 1 drivers of all time, suffered a serious traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013, as a result of which Schumacher had to be put into an artificial coma for more than six months.

More about Michael Schumacher: Michael Schumacher's tragic accident and the mystery surrounding his current condition

Since then, little has been officially known about Schumacher's condition. According to Schumacher's son Mick and his wife Corinna (photo), he is being treated but cannot speak. An interview with the former racing driver would be all the more sensational.

The magazine "Die Aktuell" advertised the Schumacher interview, stating it would "answer the burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long". However, the interview is not with the real Schumacher.

The editors of the magazine knew that too. Because in small letters under the title of the interview, it stated that "It sounds deceptively real".

‘That was a horrible time for my wife, my children and the whole family,’ it read. "I was so badly injured that I lay for months in a kind of artificial coma, because otherwise my body couldn’t have dealt with it all. I’ve had a tough time but the hospital team has managed to bring me back to my family.’

The editors of the gossip magazine found this interview with Schumacher written by AI on a chatbot, aware of its inauthenticity, and still sold it to the readers as a "world first".

The interview appeared on Character.AI, which has trained an AI program to respond as a variety of real and fictional characters, including Socrates, Napoleon, and Mean Girls’ Regina George.

So it should be of little surprise that this has caused outrage, especially among fans of the racing great, given the sensitivity around the accident.

Fans on Twitter commented on the magazine's actions as "disgusting" and "tasteless", according to FocusOnline.

Michael Schumacher's family is also anything but happy about the fake interview and has announced that they will take legal action against the gossip magazine, according to "Übermedien" after confirmation by Schumacher's management.

The fake interview with Michael Schumacher, created by an AI, raises questions as to how far the use of artificial intelligence can go and which ethical principles should be followed. Questions that are currently of enormous importance and urgency, both socially and politically.

Photo: Pixabay / geralt