Sports Illustrated Under Fire for Alleged Use of Fake Authors and AI-Generated Content

Sports Illustrated Under Fire for Publishing Fake Product Reviews

In a shocking turn of events, Sports Illustrated, once the standard-bearer in sports journalism, is facing backlash for allegedly publishing product reviews under fake author names with fake author biographies. The revelation, reported by the science and technology publication Futurism, has raised serious concerns about the magazine’s editorial standards and practices.

According to Futurism, the supposed authors of the product reviews could not be verified, and the photographs accompanying their bios were found on websites that sell artificial intelligence-generated headshots. This has led to speculation that artificial intelligence may have been used to generate the content of the reviews.

The union representing Sports Illustrated journalists has condemned these practices, stating that they violate the core principles of journalism and are disrespectful to readers. The Arena Group, which publishes Sports Illustrated, has blamed a vendor, AdVon Commerce, for the situation. AdVon, which licenses product reviews to Sports Illustrated, has assured Arena that all articles were written and edited by humans.

However, questions remain about AdVon’s involvement with artificial intelligence. The company markets itself as deeply involved in AI development, raising concerns about the authenticity of the content published under fake author names. Arena has since terminated its partnership with AdVon and is investigating the use of AI in the creation of articles.

This latest scandal is just one in a series of setbacks for Sports Illustrated since its acquisition by the Authentic Brands Group and the Arena Group. The magazine has struggled to adapt to the digital age, leading to layoffs, reductions in print circulation, and a dilution of its brand identity. Employees have raised concerns about article quality, lack of editors, and pressure to meet daily quotas.

The controversy at Sports Illustrated is part of a larger trend in the media industry, with other publications like Gannett, G/O Media, CNET, and The Columbus Dispatch also facing criticism for publishing articles written by computers without adequate human oversight. The Associated Press has released guidelines on the use of AI in journalism, emphasizing the importance of vetting and verifying AI-generated content.

As Sports Illustrated grapples with the fallout from this scandal, questions remain about the future of the iconic publication and its reputation in the world of sports journalism.