Schumacher family take legal action after 'AI interview'

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Schumacher family takes legal action after 'interview'
20 April 2023 at 07:30
Last update 20 April 2023 at 08:36
  • GPblog.com

Michael Schumacher's family is taking legal action against German magazine Die Aktuelle following an AI-made 'interview' pretending to be the seven-time world champion.

German magazine Die Aktuelle surprised with a headline saying it had the first interview with Schumacher since his skiing accident in 2013. Since then, news about the F1 legend has been scarce as the family look to protect his privacy. Now there seemed to be talk of a first interview in years, but that was not the case.

No words from Schumacher in the interview

The German magazine had had an AI programme create an interview so that it looked like a first interview, meaning that the statements made were not by Schumacher himself, but by a chatbot. Online, people were already outraged by the action, and a spokesperson for the family has now told ESPN that legal action will be taken. 

Die Aktuelle are not making a mistake for the first time regarding Schumacher. In 2014, they headlined 'awakening' on their front page with a picture of Michael and his wife, Corinna. However, the picture would not be of Michael waking up, but examples of people awakening from a coma.