Advertisement

Schumacher family plans to sue over fake AI quotes in German magazine

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Schumacher family plans to sue over fake AI quotes in German magazine
A file photo shows a display in Kerpen, North-Rhine Westphalia that Schumacher fans made in support of him after he went into a coma. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Marius Becker

Michael Schumacher's family is planning legal action against German magazine Die Aktuelle for using an artificial intelligence programme to generate fake quotes from the seven-time Formula One champion, sports broadcaster ESPN said Thursday.

Advertisement

The magazine had claimed it had an interview with the motorsport legend -- the first since he suffered a serious brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident in the French Alps.

On Wednesday, the magazine published the "interview", revealing afterwards it had been generated by artificial intelligence.

READ ALSO: FACT CHECK: Is Germany really planning to ban ChatGPT?

The article included quotes attributed to Schumacher, discussing his family life since the accident and his medical condition.

A family spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that they planned legal action, without giving further details.

The family has carefully guarded the 54-year-old's privacy since the accident. Schumacher has not been seen in public since the injury and little information has been given publicly on his condition.

Reports suggest Schumacher has memory, movement and speech problems and is being cared for at home near Geneva.

"'Private is private', as he always said," Corinna Schumacher, Michael's wife, said in a 2021 Netflix documentary.

"Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael."

Manual widget for ML (class="ml-manual-widget-container")

Schumacher's seven Formula One titles is equal best alongside Lewis Hamilton. The German recorded 91 Grand Prix victories, second only to Hamilton's 103.

Michael's son, Mick, 24, is also a Formula One driver and currently a reserve driver with Mercedes.

READ ALSO: Formula One racing legend not moving to Spanish island, says family

Advertisement

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also