Quartz’s AI-generated article grossly misrepresents Boeing’s astronaut situation

Quartz’s AI-powered newsroom published significant factual errors regarding NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS).

Key inaccuracies in the AI reporting:

• The AI incorrectly claimed the astronauts’ mission was intentionally extended for maintenance tasks, when in fact they are stranded due to Boeing Starliner technical failures
• The article completely omitted Boeing’s responsibility for the delayed return
• The headline falsely stated this was the astronauts’ first spacewalk, when both are experienced spacewalkers
• Williams had actually conducted another spacewalk just two weeks prior and set a new record for most time spent in space by a woman

Technical context and background:

• G/O Media, Quartz’s parent company, recently implemented AI-generated content through their “Quartz Intelligence Newsroom” system
• The AI system appears to repackage existing news content, including Associated Press reporting, but introduces errors in the process
• Each AI-generated article includes citations and a disclaimer about potential errors

Citation and attribution problems:

• The AI incorrectly attributed reporting to a website editor named Bill McEwen instead of the Associated Press
• The system appeared to copy and modify AP content, introducing additional inaccuracies in the process
• The disclaimer about AI-generated content appears at the bottom of articles, after readers have potentially consumed incorrect information

Corporate context:

• G/O Media has made multiple attempts to implement AI content across its publications
• Human journalists at G/O publications have expressed opposition to these AI initiatives
• The company appears to be prioritizing traffic generation over accuracy in reporting

Analyzing the impact: This incident highlights the current limitations of AI-generated journalism, particularly when covering complex technical stories that require careful fact-checking and domain expertise. The errors in this coverage not only mislead readers about a significant space mission but also demonstrate how AI systems can confidently present incorrect information while stripping away crucial context about corporate accountability.