Michael Schumacher Fake AI ‘Interview’ Prompts Family To Take Legal Action, Reports Say
ForbesNov 22, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, the family of Michael Schumacher said they would file suit against the publisher of Die Aktuelle, a German magazine, for running a fake interview with the seven-time F1 champion that was created by artificial intelligence (AI).
Schumacher hasn't been seen publicly since he suffered a near-fatal brain injury in December 2013 while skiing. His medical condition has been kept confidential with his wife, Corinna, focused on protecting his privacy.
The Spin
Narrative A
While this was an undeniably tone-deaf stunt, there’s no reason for legal action. Schumacher is a public figure, and the magazine — fully transparent about the origin of the "interview" — had the right to attract attention by using his name. It seems the family wants privacy except when they agree to sit for interviews for their own documentary, as they did in 2022.
Narrative B
This was a disgusting, self-promoting tactic by Die Aktuelle, and the Schumacher family deserves any damages it can get from the magazine. But beyond the Schumacher family’s predicament, this incident shows how AI can be used for nefarious purposes, and the world must prepare for the blurring of the line between true and fake information.