F1 News: Schumacher family receives $230,000 over fake AI interview scandal

Michael Schumacher celebrates winning a grand prix — Photo: © IMAGO

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Schumacher family receives $230,000 over fake AI interview scandal

The seven-time champion's family have received compensation for an AI generated interview with the German

Tyler Rowlinson

Saturday 25 May 2024 19:00

Michael Schumacher’s family have received a significant sum in compensation for a controversial article distributed by a German publication.

The seven-time F1 world champion has been out of the public eye since 2013 following his horrific skiing accident that left him with serious injuries, with very little detail given about his condition from his family since then.

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However, in April last year, German weekly women’s magazine Die Aktuelle published a supposed interview with Schumacher, presenting it as his ‘first interview’ following his accident over a decade ago.

The magazine even featured a picture of Schumacher smiling on their front cover, with the article claiming that he could stand "by myself and even slowly walk a few steps".

A fake AI generated interview with Michael Schumacher was published last year

Schumacher has been out of the public eye since his skiing accident 2013

Schumacher's family won a substantial six-figure sum in compensation

Schumacher family awarded compensation for fake interview

As reported by Ubermedien, the Munich labour court ruled in favour of the Schumachers and ordered Funke to pay 200,000 euros (£170,239) in damages.

Furthermore, Funke fired their editor-in-chief Ann Hoffmann over the controversy, but it has been claimed that the court found her dismissal to not be legally valid, with Hoffmann successfully arguing against wrongful termination.

The article was widely condemned by the F1 paddock, with Schumacher’s former team-mate Johnny Herbert blasting the publication a month after its release.

"That German magazine interview was appalling," he told ICE36.

"This is the modern, mad world of AI (artificial intelligence) and how dangerous it can be. That was a prime example of using it in completely the wrong way.

"I can understand the fascination with Michael because it is a story that has not had an ending yet. There is an endless fascination about Michael. I don’t have any contact with the family. It is all kept very tight."

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