Author Steven Rosenbaum Keeps Using AI Despite 'Synthetic Quotes' Scandal
Journalist Steven Rosenbaum's new book 'The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality' contains fabricated quotes attributed to real people, including tech reporter Kara Swisher and Northeastern University professor Lisa Feldman Barrett. A New York Times investigation uncovered the errors, which Rosenbaum attributes to his use of AI tools during research. He is now conducting a full citation audit to correct future editions. Despite the controversy, Rosenbaum told Ars Technica he will continue using AI, calling it 'magical' for connecting ideas and providing new pathways of thought. He compared his reliance on AI to J.R.R. Tolkien's One Ring, acknowledging the difficulty of controlling its power. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about AI-generated misinformation in publishing.
Key facts
- Steven Rosenbaum's book 'The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality' contains synthetic quotes from AI.
- Kara Swisher told the New York Times she 'never said' the quote attributed to her.
- Lisa Feldman Barrett said the quotes 'don't appear in [my] book, and they are also wrong.'
- Rosenbaum is working on a full 'citation audit' to correct future editions.
- Rosenbaum says he 'learned a lesson' and will be 'much more suspicious' of AI outputs.
- He refuses to return to an AI-free research process, calling AI 'magical.'
- Rosenbaum compared AI to Tolkien's One Ring, suggesting it convinces users they can control its power.
- The New York Times investigation uncovered the improperly attributed quotes.
Entities
Artists
- Steven Rosenbaum
- Kara Swisher
- Lisa Feldman Barrett
Institutions
- New York Times
- Ars Technica
- Northeastern University