Chicago-based Newspaper Releases Deceptive 'Summer Reading List' of Books Made Using Artificial Intelligence
In an unexpected turn of events, the Chicago Sun-Times published a "Summer Reading List" on Sunday, May 20, 2025, that has since stirred controversy. The list, it appears, was not the work of human journalists but was, in fact, created with artificial intelligence.
The list, which included titles such as Tidewater Dreams by Isabel Allende and Dandelion Wine by the late sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, was reportedly submitted for publication by freelance writer Marco Buscaglia. However, a closer look reveals that many of the books listed are fake, with only five real books out of the 15 titles on the list.
The Chicago Sun-Times Guild, the union for journalists at the newspaper, has expressed concern over the publication of an AI-generated book list. In a statement sent to Gizmodo, they expressed their dismay, stating, "Our journalists take pride in their union-produced journalism and are deeply disturbed that AI-generated content was printed alongside their work."
The statement further notes that readers signed up for work that has been vigorously reported and fact-checked and are disappointed that their own paper could spread computer- or third-party-generated misinformation. The union also expressed concern about the relationship with the audience and the union's jurisdiction due to the publication of AI-generated content.
The statement calls on Chicago Public Media management to prevent the repetition of this disaster in the future. The union also expressed concern about the current infiltration of generative AI into the entire internet and its impact on the trustworthiness of information from long-trusted sources.
The Sun-Times is investigating the list and has stated that it was not produced by Sun-Times journalists. Brit Bennett, Isabel Allende, Andy Weir, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Min Jin Lee, Rumaan Alam, Rebecca Makkai, Maggie O'Farrell, Percival Everett, and Delia Owens' titles are all books that do not exist on this list.
The only real book on the list is Dandelion Wine, first published in 1957. Just the last five books on the list, if human eyes can be trusted, are real: Dandelion Wine, Beautiful Ruins, Call Me By Your Name, Atonement, and Leave the World Behind.
In a separate statement, Buscaglia spoke with 404 Media and expressed embarrassment over the incident. The Chicago Sun-Times has not yet commented further on the matter.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by AI in the media industry and the importance of fact-checking and verification in journalism. As AI continues to infiltrate every corner of the internet, it becomes harder to judge whether the information we're getting from long-trusted sources is true. The Chicago Sun-Times' AI-generated Summer Reading List is a cautionary tale for all media outlets.
- The union for journalists at the Chicago Sun-Times, expressing dismay over the publication of an AI-generated Summer Reading List, stated that readers were disappointed to find misinformation in their trusted source, raising concerns about the impact of increasing AI use in the technology and general-news sectors.
- The continued infiltration of generative AI into the internet is a pressing issue, as exemplified by the Chicago Sun-Times' AI-generated book list, which highlights the potential for AI-generated content to undermine the credibility of technology, crime-and-justice, and other industry publications.
- The Chicago Sun-Times' AI-generated Summer Reading List serves as a lesson for media outlets worldwide, emphasizing the necessity of adopting stricter measures in verifying and fact-checking AI-generated content to maintain integrity and trustworthiness in journalism.
