Updated Apr 20, 2023, 07:05am EDT
Topline
The family of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher are planning to take legal action against a German magazine for publishing an AI-generated “interview” with the star, who has been out of the public eye since a skiing accident nearly a decade ago, according to multiple news reports, the latest lawsuit in a growing wave of litigation involving artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
A spokesperson for the Schumacher family has confirmed to Reuters and ESPN that they are planning to pursue German weekly magazine Die Aktuelle for publishing an interview with the F1 champion that was generated by artificial intelligence.
Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, has not been seen in public since suffering serious head injuries in a skiing accident in late 2013 and his family fiercely protect his privacy and closely guard details of his personal life and medical condition.
The magazine ran an image of Schumacher smiling on the front cover of its latest edition and boasted an exclusive interview, apparently the star’s first since his accident.
Schumacher purportedly told the outlet his life has “completely changed” since the accident, which was a “horrible time” for his family and left him lying in a “kind of artificial coma” for months, according to the Independent.
The magazine only revealed the artificial nature of the quotes after the “interview.”
The media group that publishes Die Aktuelle did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
News Peg
Schumacher’s family have vigorously defended the F1 champion’s privacy following his accident. They have previously sued media outlets for running stories about the star, including an unsuccessful case against Die Aktuelle, and have spoken little of his condition or life following the incident. In a 2021 Netflix documentary, titled “Schumacher,” Corinna Schumacher said they live at home together and that the family is doing everything to “make sure he’s comfortable.” She said the family places a high value on privacy and stressed “private is private.” Schumacher is one of the most decorated F1 drivers and is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, a record he shares with driver Lewis Hamilton. Schumacher’s son, Mick, is also F1 driver.
What To Watch For
Advances in generative artificial intelligence—a type of AI that can produce a variety of text, images, music and other media—have triggered a wave of litigation, which experts believe is only just getting started. The technology raises many profound questions surrounding ownership and responsibility that are not easily accommodated by existing legal frameworks. Much of this centers around the kinds of data used to train and build AI systems and the credit, or lack thereof, given for influencing the work they produce. Emerging legal battles that could frame the future of the industry have focused on the use of copyrighted materials, notably photos, art and music, and experts say the law is not clear cut on which side might prevail. The Schumacher “interview” highlights another important issue surrounding AI, notably its ability to deceive or impersonate, and could be used to produce fake videos and audio or scam people with imitated voices of loved ones.
Further Reading
Formula 1’s Highest-Paid Drivers 2022: Max Verstappen Zooms Past Lewis Hamilton (Forbes)
Meet The Formula 1 ‘Billionaire Boys’ Club,’ Worth An Estimated $146 Billion (Forbes)
Schumacher family planning legal action over AI ‘interview’ (Reuters)
