A.I.-Generated Reading List in Chicago Sun-Times Recommends Nonexistent Books
The summer reading list tucked into a special section of The Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer seemed innocuous enough.
There were books by beloved authors such as Isabel Allende and Min Jin Lee; novels by best sellers including Delia Owens, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Brit Bennett; and a novel by Percival Everett, a recent Pulitzer Prize winner.
There was just one issue: None of the book titles attributed to the above authors were real. They had been created by generative artificial intelligence.
It's the latest case of bad A.I. making its way into the news. While generative A.I. has improved, there is still no way to ensure the systems produce accurate information. A.I. chatbots cannot distinguish between what is true and what is false, and they often make things up. The chatbots can spit out information and expert names with an air of authority.
Most of the book descriptions were fairly believable. It didn't seem out of reach that Ms. Bennett would 'explore family bonds tested by natural disasters,' or that Ms. Allende would pen another 'multigenerational saga.'
The technology publication 404 Media reported earlier on the reading list. In addition to nonexistent book titles, the section included quotes from unidentifiable experts.
Both The Sun-Times and The Inquirer issued statements condemning the use of A.I. and in part blamed King Features, a Hearst syndicate that licenses content nationally. The syndicate produced the 56-page supplement to the newspaper called 'Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer,' which also included things like summer food trends and activity recommendations.
While the list did not have a byline, a freelancer named Marco Buscaglia took responsibility for piece. He confirmed that the list was partially generated by artificial intelligence, most likely Claude.
'It was just a really bad error on my part and I feel bad that it has affected The Sun-Times and King Features, and that they are taking the shrapnel for it,' Mr. Buscaglia said in an interview.
It's fairly common for media organizations, especially resource-strapped local newsrooms, to rely on syndicates to supplement coverage.
Just two months ago, 20 percent of staff at The Sun-Times resigned as part of a buyout offer. On the newspaper's homepage on Wednesday, there were two banners atop the website. One linked to the statement on the May 18 special section, and the other linked to a piece on how federal cuts threaten local journalism.
Felix M. Simon, a research fellow in A.I. and digital news at the Reuters Institute at Oxford University, said the technology was not entirely at fault. There are responsible and irresponsible ways to use A.I. for news gathering, he said.
'We need better education for everyone from the freelancer level to the executive level,' Dr. Simon said, calling on people to look 'at the structures that ultimately allowed this factually false article to appear in a reputable news outlet.'
The special section was removed from The Inquirer's website when it was discovered, according to Lisa Hughes, the publisher and chief executive of the paper. The section was also removed from The Sun-Times's e-paper version, according to a statement, and subscribers would not be charged for the premium edition.
King Features did not respond to requests for comment, but in a statement provided to The Sun-Times said it had 'a strict policy with our staff, cartoonists, columnists, and freelance writers against the use of A.I. to create content.'
In their statement, The Sun-Times said that the incident should be a 'learning moment.'
'Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it,' the statement read.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
George Kittle Reacts to Sam LaPorta's Major Personal Announcement
George Kittle Reacts to Sam LaPorta's Major Personal Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Sam LaPorta is heading into his third season as a star tight end for the Detroit Lions, looking to build off two impressive campaigns to begin his NFL career. Advertisement In 33 regular-season game appearances for the Lions, LaPorta reeled in 146 catches for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns. The former second-round draft pick will now look to continue that impressive production in Detroit's upcoming 2025 season. Off the field, LaPorta has had a busy offseason following Year 2 in the NFL. This past Saturday, the 24-year-old tight end married his longtime partner Callahan Dellinger. LaPorta and his newly-wed wife shared the news of their wedding ceremony with a joint Instagram post on Sunday. "A house built on rock.6/14/25," the couple wrote. Friends flooded the comments section with reactions to this news. One of the most notable reactions was from San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. Advertisement "Congrats !!" Kittle wrote in the comments. LaPorta and Kittle both famously played their college football careers as standout tight ends for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) celebrates a play against Tennessee Titans with offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'LaPorta is going to be fantastic. I think Laporta's the best tight end in the draft class. I think the Lions got a complete steal," Kittle said after Detroit selected LaPorta with the No. 34 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. "I like the other tight ends too, but I spent two weeks training with Sam LaPorta, and the way he moves -- oh yeah, he's got the dog in him. He's kind of quirky, he's kind of goofy, too. He's going to fit in well.' LaPorta and the Lions will kickoff their 2025 regular-season schedule with a Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Sep. 7. Advertisement Related: Broncos React to Notable Peyton Manning Announcement on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bride slams ‘disrespectful' family for poor wedding guest etiquette: ‘Very hurtful'
This blushing bride was beyond bothered after a guest snubbed her luxurious brunch spread for a bucket of fried chicken — and then rudely boasted about it on social media. Six weeks after the wedding, the newlywed took to Reddit to vent her frustration in the Subreddit r/weddingplanning, and gauge whether or not she was overreacting to the incident. She shared that she had spent eight months 'meticulously' planning the wedding with her husband and parents, and after much deliberation, they opted to celebrate the 'elegant morning ceremony' with a brunch-based reception at a venue well-known for the renowned chef's 'exquisite catering.' 'We hand-selected our menu items months in advance, including shrimp and grits, quiche, a biscuit bar with assorted jellies, sausage, and bacon, chicken and waffles, and much, much more,' wrote the bride in her post, and added that the spread cost the couple $98 per person. She also explained that early on in their relationship, she and her husband started a tradition of enjoying Saturday morning brunch together, so the reception marked their first brunch as a married couple, making it an extra sentimental occasion for the pair. As with just about any wedding, there were a few unpopular family members in attendance. 'My uncle and his wife are in the midst of a rocky separation, and his wife has a history of being rude to and taking advantage of the rest of the family. We were surprised to hear that he was bringing her with him to the wedding about 3 days prior, given the situation, but said nothing about it,' she explained. Apparently, while making the 15-minute drive from the church to the reception venue, the uncle and his wife were feeling peckish, so naturally, they stopped for a few buckets of fried chicken at a fast-food joint. The bride clarified that this wasn't the issue, and in fact, was completely fine with it — it was the wife's actions once she arrived at the venue that truly aggravated her. After entering the reception and evaluating the luxe brunch spread — which the bride clarified had plenty of options to choose from, and was even abundant enough to be sent home as leftovers with the newlyweds — her uncle's wife went back out to the parking lot, 'retrieved the leftover fast food, and then she re-entered the reception hall with it and ate it openly at one of our decorated round tables.' Still, this brazen move wasn't the boiling point for the bride. Apparently, the uncle and his wife took 'pictures of themselves eating the fast food at the table (with the brand packaging all out in the open)' and 'they have now posted those pictures on Facebook on two separate occasions,' leaving the bride and her mother, who played a large role in planning, hurt and offended. To add insult to injury, other family members commented on the chicken contrabandist's posts, writing, 'nothing classier than bringing fast food to a catered wedding!' 'I'm struggling with feeling like I was disrespected on a day that we put so much time, money, energy, and thought into planning, and every time they post about it just digs the knife in deeper,' the bride's Reddit post concluded. 'I don't want to comment on the post or anything because I'm afraid to be seen as overreacting or like a bridezilla, but it's very hurtful.' Though angry brides often take plenty of flak online — take it from this woman who demanded that her toddler flower girls all straighten their hair to match better in photos, or this ultra-specific dress code designated by a judgmental bride-to-be — the comments under this Reddit thread were staunchly on the side of the original poster. 'It's frying me that they ate fried chicken when you literally served fried chicken,' pointed out one punning commenter. 'This makes it obvious to me that she just wanted to make a scene.' 'I personally wouldn't let this one keep me up at night,' advised another. 'She embarrassed herself, not you, and the Facebook post where someone called her out is a perfect example of that. She may have laughed off their comment, but trust me when I say she is the only person who looks bad here.' A majority of the comments commiserated with the bride, and offered their own stories, ranging from a groom who wouldn't eat his own reception food and ordered McDonald's to the venue instead, to a huge group of family members who complained about the wedding menu in advance. 'It sounds like your other guests were judging them harshly too. I'd let other people stand up for you, like that family member, and you get to be the classy bride who rose above it all. Obviously, no one likes this woman, and there's no point in letting her ruin your day!' replied one wise Redditor.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Servers blast parents whose kids make their jobs hell: ‘It's not a McDonald's PlayPlace'
Parents are being served up some serious etiquette lessons. A server says many in the industry dislike when mindless moms and dads dine at restaurants with their unruly kids in tow. But while other patrons may direct their ire at the offspring, many professionals say parents are the ones who should shoulder the blame if their children misbehave. 'Servers don't want to shame families or discourage them from going out to eat,' Alana Fineman, a comedian and server who posts restaurant skits on TikTok, told 'Parents are usually…trying their best.' However, Fineman, who hails from Southern California, says there are some mistakes moms and dads do make in restaurants. 'The phrase, 'The customer is always right' is dying out,' the server dished. Below, the errors that reveal more about the parents than they do about their children. Part of being a kid is making a mess, but when parents leave it to the bussers to clean up, that's when it becomes a problem. 'It's one thing when a baby throws food from his high chair — it's another when kids rip open sugar packets and dump them on the floor or finger-paint with ketchup on the walls,' Fineman said. 'That usually means that a parent is not paying attention or allowing it to happen.' If a kid throws up or there's food all over the walls and floors, it's the busser that cleans it up. Most restaurants don't have the space for children to be running around wildly, which could lead to destruction. If a child runs into a server, broken glass can end up on the floor, food can fall and there's the potential of delayed orders and injuries. 'If you're carrying a tray of five martinis or plates of boiling-hot food and a child runs in front of you, you can drop it on the floor or onto a person,' Fineman said 'Kids shouldn't run through a restaurant — it's not a McDonald's PlayPlace,' she declared. During an incident at her restaurant, there were kids that 'climbed over a fence and onto the street, where they threw rocks onto the dining patio.' While no one got injured, an employee at the restaurant 'did the parenting' and lectured the children. When kids get to a certain age, they're able to express themselves and order their own food. Oftentimes, the parents will say to their child, 'Tell the lady what you want.' And while Fineman mostly finds this kind of conversation 'funny and endearing,' it can sometimes be an issue if the child won't speak for themselves — and the parent persists. 'Every so often, a parent says, 'We're not moving on until you learn to order,'' Fineman explained. 'I can't always be a part of it when I'm really busy.' Typically, picky eaters aren't a problem for servers at restaurants — unless the parent has big expectations, Fineman said. She claimed that some parents will get 'irate' if the restaurant's menu is restrictive or if the chef can't make a very specific meal. 'If it's a slow day, they might be able to…but not every time,' says Fineman. 'There needs to be a contingency plan for what your child can eat.' There's apparently a 'fascinating phenomenon' where parents don't include their children in a reservation, not realizing that they, too, count as guests — even if they'll be using a high chair, taking up the same space as a regular chair. Fineman guessed that perhaps some parents do this to not have to pay automatic gratuity for larger parties, but she believes that most simply don't realize. This could lead to a problem on busy days when the family will ultimately end up waiting longer for a table that can accommodate them. 'There can be an unfortunate domino effect in the restaurant industry,' Fineman said. 'Miscalculating three people can affect the next 45 minutes.'
