Sports Illustrated Scandal: AI-Generated Content, Fake Authors, and a CEO’s Ouster
From Legacy Magazine to AI-Fueled Faux Pas: A Timeline of the Controversy
December 12, 2023:
The walls of Sports Illustrated come tumbling down.
The iconic magazine, an American institution for 79 years, faces accusations of using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate content and presenting it under fabricated author personas.
This revelation sparks widespread outrage and triggers an internal investigation.
The Accusation:
Futurism, a tech news website, publishes a scathing report alleging that multiple “authors” on Sports Illustrated’s website were entirely fictitious.
These phantom figures boasted detailed biographies, hobbies, and even AI-generated headshots.
Even more concerning, the writing itself was deemed bizarre and uncharacteristic, sparking suspicions of AI authorship.
The Evidence:
Drew Ortiz, a supposed writer, had a profile boasting of his love for the outdoors and farm life.
Yet, no online trace of his existence could be found.
His profile photo? Purchased from an AI headshot website.
Similar discrepancies plagued other supposed writers like Domino Abrams and Sora Tanaka.
The Fallout:
The exposé triggers immediate consequences.
The Arena Group, Sports Illustrated’s parent company, severs ties with AdVon Commerce, the firm supplying the AI-generated content.
Several executives, including CEO Ross Levinsohn, COO Andrew Kraft, and media president Rob Barrett, are abruptly terminated.
A New Era Begins:
Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-Hour Energy Drink and majority stakeholder in The Arena Group, steps in as interim CEO.
He vows to “improve the operational efficiency and revenue of the company,” suggesting a focus on rebuilding trust and navigating the choppy waters of this scandal.
Levinsohn’s Departure:
In a LinkedIn post, the ousted CEO expresses pride in the company’s growth but curiously avoids mentioning the controversy.
This silence further fuels speculation and tarnishes his legacy.
Questions Remain:
As the investigation unfolds, several critical questions remain unanswered.
Did executives at Sports Illustrated and The Arena Group know about the AI-generated content?
What were the motivations behind this questionable strategy?
And most importantly, how can the magazine regain the trust of its readers and rebuild its reputation?
The Future of Sports Illustrated:
This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI technology and its potential misuse in journalism.
The future of Sports Illustrated hinges on its ability to address these concerns head-on, embrace transparency, and recommit to the principles of journalistic integrity that have sustained its legacy for nearly eight decades.
