Who needs fiction when AI can invent entire books? 📖 A summer reading guide published in the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer sparked chaos this week after readers discovered over half its recommendations—like Andy Weir’s “The Last Algorithm” and Min Jin Lee’s “Nightshade Market”—were pure AI-generated fantasy. 😱
Freelance writer Marco Buscaglia admitted using AI for research but failed to fact-check its output, calling the mistake a “really stupid error” on Facebook. The list appeared in King Features’ “Heat Index” supplement, which the distributor says violated its strict no-AI policy. Both authors confirmed the books don’t exist, with Lee tweeting: “I will not be writing that novel.” 🚫
This isn’t the first AI media blunder: Sports Illustrated faced backlash in 2023 for fake author bios, while Gannett paused AI sports coverage after errors. As newsrooms flirt with automation, this saga proves even tech needs a human editor. 👩💻✨
