Mediahuis suspends senior journalist over AI-generated quotes | AI (artificial intelligence)

Dutch newspaper publisher De Telegraaf and Irish Independent’s parent company, Mediahuis, suspended journalist Peter Vandermeersch after he admitted using AI tools without proper verification.
Vandermeersch reportedly summarized reports using AI like ChatGPT and Perplexity, but did not fact-check the AI-generated summaries, leading to the publication of inaccurate quotes in his Substack newsletter.
An investigation by Mediahuis’s NRC, where Vandermeersch previously worked, found that he published dozens of false quotes, with individuals claiming they didn’t make the attributed statements.
Vandermeersch acknowledged his error in a blog post, saying he “wrongly put words into people’s mouths” and didn’t apply the “human oversight” he advocates.
Mediahuis’s CEO emphasized the importance of diligence, human oversight, and transparency in the use of AI, stating that Vandermeersch’s actions violated these principles.
Mediahuis temporarily suspended Vandermeersch from his fellowship and removed several of his articles from the Irish Independent website.
Vandermeersch had previously advocated for AI’s potential in journalism but conceded that he misused it in an early phase and could now recommend its more responsible use.

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