Outlet calls story, created by freelancer working with one of the newpaper\u2019s content partner, a \u2018learning moment\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Illinois\u2019 prominent Chicago Sun-Times newspaper has confirmed<\/a> that a summer reading list, which included several recommendations for books that don\u2019t exist, was created using artificial intelligence by a freelancer who worked with one of their content partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social media posts began to circulate on Tuesday criticizing the paper for allegedly using the AI software ChatGPT<\/a> to generate an article with book recommendations for the upcoming summer season called \u201cSummer reading list for 2025\u201d. As such chatbots are known to make up information, a phenomenon often referred to as \u201cAI hallucination\u201d, the article contains several fake titles attached to real authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI went into my library\u2019s database of Chicago area newspapers to confirm this isn\u2019t fake, and it\u2019s not,\u201d a post on Bluesky<\/a> by Book Riot editor Kelly Jensen says. \u201cWhy the hell are you using ChatGPT to make up book titles? You used to have a books staff. Absolutely no fact checking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As early Tuesday afternoon, the post had more than 1,000 likes and nearly 500 reposts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the fake book titles are Hurricane Season by Brit Bennett, Nightshade Market by Min Jin Lee, The Longest Day by Rumaan Alam, Boiling Point by Rebecca Makkai, Migrations by Maggie O\u2019Farrell and The Rainmakers by Percival Everett. All of those authors listed are real acclaimed novelists \u2013 but the books attached to them are not genuine titles that they published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the article includes descriptions for each of the phoney books as well as reasons why readers may enjoy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The article does include a few real titles, such as Atonement by Ian McEwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others on social media have pointed out that the use of AI appears to be found throughout the pages<\/a> of the Chicago Sun-Times summer 2025 section. Screenshots of an article called \u201cSummer food trends\u201d shows the piece quotes a purported Cornell University food anthropologist named Catherine Furst. But there appears to be no one by that name at Cornell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In another article about ideas to spruce up one\u2019s back yard, it quotes a purported FirepitBase.com editor named Daniel Ray. No such website seems to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Tuesday morning, the official account for the Chicago Sun-Times on Bluesky<\/a> addressed the controversy. \u201cWe are looking into how this made it into print as we speak,\u201d the account wrote. \u201cIt is not editorial content and was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom. We value your trust in our reporting and take this very seriously. More info will be provided soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Tuesday evening, the publication had released a story confirming that AI had been used to create the list as part of the special section which was supplied by a nationally-recognized content partner and syndicated to the Chicago<\/a> Sun-Times and other newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis should be a learning moment for all of journalism that our work is valued because of the relationship our very real, human reporters and editors have with our audiences,\u201d the Chicago Sun-Times said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The AI-generated stories were syndicated outside of Chicago. A post on Threads by AngelaReadsBooks accused the Philadelphia Inquirer of publishing the same<\/a> fake reading list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt a time when libraries and library budgets are being threatened every day, this is a slap in the face to anyone in the profession,\u201d the post reads. \u201cWhere is the journalistic integrity???\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Popular author Jasmine Guillory reacted to a post about the fake novels, writing on Threads<\/a>: \u201cHoly shit. Just imaginary books and they printed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chicago Sun-Times says it is \u201ccommitted to making sure this never happens again\u201d. The special section will be removed from the e-paper version of the Chicago Sun-Times as the publication vowed to update their policies pertaining to third-party licensed editorial content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe know that there is work to be done to provide more answers and transparency around the production and publication of this section, and will share additional updates in the coming days,\u201d the publication said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chicago Sun-Times, resulting from a 1948 merger, has long held the second largest circulation among newspapers in the Windy City. It trails only the Chicago Tribune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of AI content is an ongoing issue with which newsrooms have had to grapple. Certain papers have openly utilized the technology and even put out job postings for \u201cAI-assisted<\/a>\u201d reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n