In a surprising case of the problems that come with artificial intelligence in the media, the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer published summer reading lists that contained some books that do not exist, but were credited to actual authors. The lists, published in a special section called “Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer,” were created by King Features, a syndication company. The incident caused widespread concern regarding the use of AI in content production and the necessity of editorial control.
The controversy started when readers saw unknown titles in the summer reading suggestions of the newspapers. Among the phony books were “Tidewater Dreams” by Isabel Allende, a “multigenerational saga set in a beach town where environmental activism and magical realism collide,” and “The Last Algorithm” by Andy Weir, a “science-based thriller about a coder who finds an AI system has become conscious.” Some other phony titles included “Nightshade Market” by Min Jin Lee and “The Rainmakers” by Percival Everett.
The lists were prepared by freelance journalist Marco Buscaglia, who confessed to relying on AI tools to produce content without adequate checking. “I do use AI for background occasionally but always check out the material first. This time, I did not and I can’t believe I missed it because it’s so obvious,” Buscaglia said.
King Features, which is owned by Hearst, reacted by cutting its contract with Buscaglia, citing a breach of company policy on undisclosed AI-generated content. The Chicago Sun-Times also apologized, noting that the material was not written by its newsroom and vowing to update policies for third-party content to avoid future occurrences.
The Philadelphia Inquirer also pulled the section from its online edition and assured that it would not bill subscribers who bought the premium edition that included the erroneous list.
The incident highlights the dangers of incorporating AI into journalistic processes without sufficient supervision. The use of AI-produced content, such as when not thoroughly scrutinized, can result in spreading misinformation and damaging the trust of the public in the media institutions.
Similar instances have occurred in the past, like the time when Sports Illustrated discovered that they had released product reviews written by fictional writers created by AI. These incidents speak to the need for intelligible standards and human intervention in the application of AI in journalism.
In rebuttal of the fiasco, Vanity Fair arranged a list of 12 real books to suggest reading to readers, emphasizing the irreplacable nature of human-written literature. They include Stephen King’s “Never Flinch,” Edmund White’s “The Loves of My Life,” and Vauhini Vara’s “Searches” among others.
These suggestions act as a reminder of the depth and authenticity that human writers have to offer in terms of storytelling—something that AI, even with its own pace of improvement, cannot achieve.
The release of non-existent books in prominent newspapers’ summer reading lists provides a cautionary tale regarding the indiscriminate application of AI in journalism. While media outlets continue to experiment with integrating AI into their operations, this event emphasizes the necessity for strict editorial standards and the continuing necessity of human judgment in upholding the integrity of the press.
