Die Aktuelle, a German magazine, is facing legal action from former Formula One driver Michael Schumacher’s family after using artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate an interview with him. The magazine, which promised “the first interview!” with Schumacher since his 2013 skiing accident, included a disclaimer on the front cover stating that the interview “sounds deceptively real.” However, the article contained alleged quotes generated by AI, which was only revealed at the end of the piece, angering many fans.
Schumacher’s family spokesperson confirmed that they will be pursuing legal action against Die Aktuelle. This lawsuit comes amid a growing number of regulatory efforts surrounding AI, as governments and courts grapple with how to address the rapidly advancing technology. In a letter, twelve European Union lawmakers have called for the collaborative and “safe” development of AI, requesting a universal set of rules for its development. They have also proposed a summit with leaders from Europe and the United States to discuss principles for governing the development, control, and deployment of AI.
The misuse of AI extends beyond the media industry. A financial regulator in California recently took action against multiple companies, accusing one of using AI to create an avatar that appeared as its CEO in YouTube videos. AI has also been used to impersonate celebrities, such as a viral clip of rapper Kanye West supposedly covering Drake’s hit song, which was actually generated by AI. Concerns over AI-generated songs have prompted Universal Music Group to instruct streaming platforms like Spotify to block AI-related services from accessing copyrighted media.
In the midst of these developments, there is growing interest in Ethereum’s ZK-rollups and their potential to achieve interoperability.