These Sports Illustrated writers never existed. Their faces are AI-generated.
By Shannon Longworth (Investigative Reporter/Anchor), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on CNNSports Illustrated magazine denies using AI-generated authors for website content
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaSports Illustrated’s Parent Says Articles by Allegedly Fake Writers With AI-Generated Photos Came From Third-Party Provider
Click to see story on VarietySports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake names
Click to see story on The Mercury newsSports Illustrated reportedly published articles by fake AI-generated writers
Click to see story on Business InsiderSports Illustrated Writers ‘Horrified’ By AI Accusations, Demand Answers
Click to see story on TMZSports Illustrated reportedly published articles from fake AI authors
Click to see story on The VergeSports Illustrated Reportedly Created Fake Authors for AI-Generated Articles — Complete With Phony Headshots and Bios
Click to see story on MediaiteSports Illustrated Allegedly Dupes Readers With Fake AI-Created Writers
Click to see story on GizmodoSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on CTV NewsSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KRDOSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KIFISports Illustrated responds to accusations it published AI-generated content
Click to see story on The HillSports Illustrated Union responds to report parent company used AI authors
Click to see story on NewsweekSports Illustrated Writers “Horrified” By Report That AI-Generated Articles Are Being Published Under SI Banner
Click to see story on DeadlineSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WCVBSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WLWTSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WMURSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WLKYSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WESHSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on Koco News5Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WDSUSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WTAESports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WYFFSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KCCISports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KMBCSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WBAL-TVSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WISNSports Illustrated published articles by fake AI-generated writers: report
Click to see story on Penn LiveSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WPTZSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WMTWSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WVTMSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WAPTSports Illustrated denies accusations of using AI-generated articles, fake authors
Click to see story on KTLA 5Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KOATSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WPBFSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WGALSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WXIISports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KSBWSports Illustrated Reportedly Used Artificial Intelligence To Write Stories And Lied About It
Click to see story on barstoolsports.comSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KHBSSports Illustrated accused of using AI-generated articles and authors
Click to see story on Scripps NewsReports that Sports Illustrated used AI-generated stories and fake authors are disturbing, but not surprising
Click to see story on PoynterSports Illustrated scrubs AI-generated content after being called out for using deep fakes
Click to see story on New York PostSports Illustrated denies report it publishes AI-generated articles
Click to see story on Alabama LiveSports Illustrated Published AI-Generated Articles Under Fake Names
Click to see story on Hot AirLegendary Magazine Allegedly Caught Using Fake AI Authors To Generate Literal Fake News Stories
Click to see story on The Daily CallerSports Illustrated publisher denies posting AI-generated stories after author photos are found for sale on AI sites
Click to see story on The BlazeSports Illustrated parent company denies publishing AI-generated articles, blames third party
Click to see story on Fox NewsReport: Sports Illustrated Caught Using Articles from Fake AI-Generated ‘Writers’
Click to see story on BreitbartRight
Untracked Bias
Angeblich von KI-Generatoren verfasst: Sports Illustrated löscht Artikel
Click to see story on HeiseSports Illustrated published articles by fake writers with AI-generated photos: Report
Click to see story on GlamshamSports Illustrated Published Articles By Fake Writers, AI Photos
Click to see story on India WestEditors’ photos on Sports Illustrated sites are sometimes generated by AI
Click to see story on tweakers.netErwischt: Sports Illustrated lässt Texte von KI schreiben, erfindet Autoren
Click to see story on futurezone.atSports Illustrated has removed articles after Futurism reported that the outlet published them under fake author names with AI-generated headshots. The revelation has sparked concerns about the growing use of AI in journalism.
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On Monday, Nov. 27, Futurism reported that the headshots of these nonexistent writers were available for purchase on a website that sells AI-generated content. According to the report, a source involved in the creation of the authors confirmed that some of the articles attributed to the authors were also AI-generated.
The Arena Group has been Sports Illustrated’s publisher since 2019. The company addressed the allegations in a statement to media outlets.
“Today, an article was published alleging that Sports Illustrated published AI-generated articles,” the statement said. “According to our initial investigation, this is not accurate. The articles in question were product reviews and were licensed content from an external, third-party company, AdVon Commerce.”
The Arena Group statement also mentioned that AdVon Commerce writers use pen or pseudo-names for some articles.
Sports Illustrated is not the first outlet accused of experimenting with AI and not disclosing it. In October, USA Today’s product reviews site, Reviewed, faced accusations of publishing AI-generated articles.
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Despite AI detection programs reportedly indicating otherwise, Gannett said that the articles were written by freelancers, according to The New York Times. USA Today currently has ethical guidelines that mandate disclosure when AI is employed in their content creation process.
[SHANNON LONGWORTH]
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED HAS DELETED SOME OF ITS WRITERS AND THEIR WORK FROM THE SITE.
BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE NEVER ACTUALLY EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEIR LIVES, DETAILED IN BIOS, WERE ALSO FAKE.
FUTURISM IS REPORTING THE HEADSHOTS ARE AI-GENERATED. IN FACT, THEY WERE FOR SALE ON A WEBSITE THAT SELLS SUCH CONTENT. ACCORDING TO FUTURISM, A SOURCE WHO WORKED ON THESE MADE-UP AUTHORS SAID SOME OF THE ARTICLES WERE AI-GENERATED, AS WELL.
JOURNALISTS CALLED IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S PUBLISHER SINCE 2019, THE ARENA GROUP, RELEASED A STATEMENT TO OUTLETS…SAYING THAT THE CLAIMS SI PUBLISHED AI-GENERATED ARTICLES WERE INACCURATE PER THE COMPANY’S INITIAL INVESTIGATION. AND THAT THE ARTICLES IN QUESTION WERE FROM A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY, CALLED ADVON COMMERCE. AND THAT ADVON WRITERS USE PEN OR PSEUDO NAMES FOR SOME ARTICLES.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST OUTLET ACCUSED OF EXPERIMENTING WITH AI AND NOT DISCLOSING IT.
IN OCTOBER, USA TODAY PUBLISHER GANNETT MADE HEADLINES WHEN ITS PRODUCT REVIEWS SITE, REVIEWED, REMOVED ARTICLES AMID CLAIMS THAT THEY WERE AI-GENERATED. DESPITE AI DETECTION PROGRAMS INDICATING OTHERWISE, REVIEWED INITIALLY CLAIMED THAT THE ARTICLES WERE WRITTEN BY FREELANCERS, ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.
AS OF TODAY, USA TODAY DOES HAVE ETHICAL GUIDELINES THAT REQUIRE DISCLOSURE WHEN AI IS USED.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on CNNSports Illustrated magazine denies using AI-generated authors for website content
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaSports Illustrated’s Parent Says Articles by Allegedly Fake Writers With AI-Generated Photos Came From Third-Party Provider
Click to see story on VarietySports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake names
Click to see story on The Mercury newsSports Illustrated reportedly published articles by fake AI-generated writers
Click to see story on Business InsiderSports Illustrated Writers ‘Horrified’ By AI Accusations, Demand Answers
Click to see story on TMZSports Illustrated reportedly published articles from fake AI authors
Click to see story on The VergeSports Illustrated Reportedly Created Fake Authors for AI-Generated Articles — Complete With Phony Headshots and Bios
Click to see story on MediaiteSports Illustrated Allegedly Dupes Readers With Fake AI-Created Writers
Click to see story on GizmodoSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on CTV NewsSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KRDOSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KIFISports Illustrated responds to accusations it published AI-generated content
Click to see story on The HillSports Illustrated Union responds to report parent company used AI authors
Click to see story on NewsweekSports Illustrated Writers “Horrified” By Report That AI-Generated Articles Are Being Published Under SI Banner
Click to see story on DeadlineSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WCVBSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WLWTSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WMURSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WLKYSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WESHSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on Koco News5Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WDSUSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WTAESports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WYFFSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KCCISports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KMBCSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WBAL-TVSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WISNSports Illustrated published articles by fake AI-generated writers: report
Click to see story on Penn LiveSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WPTZSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WMTWSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WVTMSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WAPTSports Illustrated denies accusations of using AI-generated articles, fake authors
Click to see story on KTLA 5Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KOATSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WPBFSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WGALSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on WXIISports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KSBWSports Illustrated Reportedly Used Artificial Intelligence To Write Stories And Lied About It
Click to see story on barstoolsports.comSports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos
Click to see story on KHBSSports Illustrated accused of using AI-generated articles and authors
Click to see story on Scripps NewsReports that Sports Illustrated used AI-generated stories and fake authors are disturbing, but not surprising
Click to see story on PoynterSports Illustrated scrubs AI-generated content after being called out for using deep fakes
Click to see story on New York PostSports Illustrated denies report it publishes AI-generated articles
Click to see story on Alabama LiveSports Illustrated Published AI-Generated Articles Under Fake Names
Click to see story on Hot AirLegendary Magazine Allegedly Caught Using Fake AI Authors To Generate Literal Fake News Stories
Click to see story on The Daily CallerSports Illustrated publisher denies posting AI-generated stories after author photos are found for sale on AI sites
Click to see story on The BlazeSports Illustrated parent company denies publishing AI-generated articles, blames third party
Click to see story on Fox NewsReport: Sports Illustrated Caught Using Articles from Fake AI-Generated ‘Writers’
Click to see story on BreitbartRight
Untracked Bias
Angeblich von KI-Generatoren verfasst: Sports Illustrated löscht Artikel
Click to see story on HeiseSports Illustrated published articles by fake writers with AI-generated photos: Report
Click to see story on GlamshamSports Illustrated Published Articles By Fake Writers, AI Photos
Click to see story on India WestEditors’ photos on Sports Illustrated sites are sometimes generated by AI
Click to see story on tweakers.netErwischt: Sports Illustrated lässt Texte von KI schreiben, erfindet Autoren
Click to see story on futurezone.atVOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
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