Michael Schumacher: Magazine editor sacked over AI-generated ‘interview’ with seven-time F1 champion

The editor of a German magazine that published an AI-generated “interview” with Michael Schumacher has been fired.

The magazine’s publisher has apologized to the Formula 1 legend’s family.

Seven-time world champion Schumacher suffered a serious head injury in a skiing accident in December 2013 and has not been seen in public since.

Die Aktuelle graced the cover with the headline “Michael Schumacher First Interview”.

A tagline beneath a photo of Schumacher’s smiling face read, “Seemingly it sounded real,” and the article revealed that the supposed quote was generated by AI.

This article was created using an AI program called charatcter.ai. The program artificially generated “quotes” about Schumacher’s health and family.

“With the help of the team, I can actually stand on my own and even take a few slow steps,” read Schumacher’s “quote.”

“My wife and children have been a blessing to me. Without them I wouldn’t have made it through. Naturally they are also very sad. Everything happened.”

“They support me and stand firm by my side.”

Schumacher’s family said on Friday they planned to take legal action against the magazine, and the publisher apologized on Sunday.

Bianca Pohlman, managing director of Funke Media Group, said: “This tasteless and misleading article should never have been published. It does not meet the standards of journalism that we and our readers expect. I’m never satisfied,” he said.

“As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn.

“Effective today, Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has been the newspaper’s head of press since 2009, will be relieved of her duties.”

After a skiing accident, Schumacher fell into an induced coma and was sent home in September 2014.

Schumacher, 54, won two F1 World Drivers’ titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, and five in a row with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004.

His seven F1 titles are a record shared with Lewis Hamilton, with Schumacher achieving 91 race wins in 2020, surpassed by Hamilton.

The German originally retired from racing in 2006, but returned in 2010 and retired again two years later.

Schumacher’s son Mick, a former Haas driver in F1, is now Mercedes’ reserve driver.

In a 2021 Netflix documentary, Schumacher’s wife Corinna said:

“We’re trying to continue as a family the way we loved Michael and we still do. And we’re continuing to live our lives.”

“‘Private is private’ he always said. It is very important to me that he continues to enjoy his private life as much as possible.Michael has always protected us. And now we are Protect Michael.”