The New York Times severed ties with freelance writer Alex Preston after he unknowingly used an AI tool that plagiarized from an existing book review. While reviewing Jean-Baptiste Andrea’s “Watching Over Her,” Preston’s AI tool pulled content directly from Christobel Kent’s earlier Guardian review. He submitted his piece without realizing the overlap, which a reader later identified. Preston expressed deep embarrassment over his “serious mistake,” acknowledging that some sentences closely mirrored Kent’s work. This incident highlights the risks of relying on AI writing tools without understanding their capabilities. A similar occurrence at Ars Technica involved fabricated quotes by an editor who failed to verify a source, as the AI couldn’t access the blocked developer’s blog. Both cases demonstrate the importance of critical evaluation when using AI tools in journalism and the potential pitfalls of misapplication. For discerning AI news, subscribe to THE DECODER for curated content and insights.
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