Henry MenschJul 10, 2024
Jason Koebler

Beloved Apple blog TUAW was shut down in 2015, sold to private equity, then sold to a company in Hong Kong. It recently relaunched as an AI content farm using the stolen identities and bylines of its former human staff. A nightmare:

https://www.404media.co/a-beloved-tech-blog-tuaw-is-now-publishing-ai-articles-under-the-names-of-its-old-human-staff/

A Beloved Tech Blog Is Now Publishing AI Articles Under the Names of Its Old Human Staff

TUAW, a site that was shut down 10 years ago, was sold to a private equity firm, then to a company in Hong Kong, and has now stolen its old workers' identities and is running their old work through AI summarizers.

404 Media
Jul 9, 2024 at 11:26pmElk
Show threadJason KoeblerJul 10, 2024

TUAW has now changed its "writers' names" to random other things. "Christina Warren" is now "Mary Brown."

So now it has "just" bastardized the work of these journalists and is polluting the internet, but at least is not stealing their names and poisoning their search results ...... success?

Show threadVissJul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler oh i wonder what @film_girl has to say about that
Show threadChristina WarrenJul 10, 2024
@Viss @jasonkoebler haha, plenty! Jason was kind enough to talk to me about it for the story and quoted me a bit. The good news is that the bylines have at least been changed now since we kicked up a stink.
Show threadVissJul 10, 2024
@film_girl @jasonkoebler punish theeeeeem :D
Show threadxenolonJul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler Go to Joke Headline Jail. Go directly to Joke Headline Jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Show threadJason KoeblerJul 10, 2024
@xenolon finally some pushback on this, thank u for keeping us honest
Show threadJoshJul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler @xenolon *passes get out of jail free card under the table*
Show threadxenolonJul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler Until 404 gets an official ombudsman, I live to serve. ;)
Show threadDavidJul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler I’m reminded of this scene… https://youtu.be/1ZTHUUDP2PE
Office Space - Michael Bolton Interview with the Bobs

YouTube
Show threadPietervdvn Jul 10, 2024
@jasonkoebler That face looks like it came from https://this-person-does-not-exist.com/
ThisPersonDoesNotExist - Random AI Generated Photos of Fake Persons

Generate random human face in 1 click and download it! AI generated fake person photos: man, woman or child.

Show threadಚಿರಾಗ್ 🌹✊🏾Ⓥ🌱🇵🇸 (he/him)Jul 9, 2024
@jasonkoebler @film_girl Looks like @404mediaco picked up this story!