Michael Schumacher’s family to sue German tabloid for AI-generated ‘interview’

Michael Schumacher’s family to sue German tabloid for AI-generated ‘interview’

Michael Schumacher’s family told ESPN it plans to take legal action against a German magazine for publishing what it claimed to be an artificial intelligence-generated interview with the Formula One great.

German outlet Die Aktuelle reported it had the first interview with the seven-time F1 champion, who has not been seen in public since suffering a serious brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident.

Family spokesperson Sabine Kehm also confirmed to The Associated Press by email on Thursday that legal action is being planned over a “fake artificial intelligence interview by German outlet Die Aktuelle.”

Only at the end of the article does it state the Schumacher “interview” had been generated by an AI chatbot.

The magazine printed a photo of the 54-year-old Schumacher on its front page last week along with the words: “Michael Schumacher, the first interview!”

In 2013, Schumacher was skiing in the French Alps when he suffered a near-fatal brain injury. His head hit a rock which split open his helmet. Doctors removed blood clots but others were left untouched because they were too deeply embedded in his brain.

Per ESPN, Die Aktuelle has a history with the racing family.

In 2014, the magazine posted a picture of Michael and wife Corinna with the headline “Awake,” which was a story about people who have awoken from comas.

The magazine, per the report, also won a legal case against the Schumachers in 2015 after a cover stated Corinna had “a new love,” but the article was about the couple’s daughter, Gina.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.