Sports Illustrated's CEO, Ross Levinsohn, gets the boot after AI-fueled fiasco
Arena Group's spokesperson kept mum about the reasons behind Levinsohn's sudden departure, but the move follows a "cringe-worthy disaster" where it was discovered that Sports Illustrated had been publishing articles with fictitious author names and AI-generated profile pictures.
Levinsohn was promptly replaced by interim CEO Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy and the majority shareholder of The Arena Group, according to Bhargava's spokesperson, Vince Bodiford.
The executive shake-up came just under a week after Arena Group dismissed three top officials: Andrew Kraft, President of Operations and COO, Rob Barrett, President of Media, and Julie Fenster, Corporate Advisor.
Bodiford told CNN that all Sports Illustrated media outlets would continue to operate under their respective divisions, and the company was conducting a comprehensive review of operations to align with its overall strategy.
Bodiford refused to comment further on the AI-related allegations, stating that the company had nothing to add to its earlier statements on AI.
The ethics debate surrounding Sports Illustrated's alleged use of AI in content creation has sparked discussions, but Bodiford declined to provide any additional insights.
Behind the Scenes: The AI Controversy Unfolded
In late 2023, an exposé by Futurism revealed that several articles published on Sports Illustrated's website were written by non-existent authors, with their profiles featuring AI-generated headshots.
Initially, The Arena Group denied the reports and attributed the articles to a third-party contractor, AdVon. However, after an internal investigation, numerous articles were removed from the site.
The company's lack of transparency about the use of AI in content creation was widely criticized. Tom Rosenstiel, a journalism ethics professor, stated that hiding the use of AI was a form of dishonesty, undermining the foundations of journalism built on truth and objectivity.
The scandal resulted in swift and significant consequences, with The Arena Group's stocks plunging 28% following the exposure, according to Yahoo Sports. The incident served as a stark reminder of the ethical concerns surrounding AI in journalism and the importance of transparency in maintaining credibility.
Broader Implications
Sports Illustrated's battle with revenue decline and influence over the past decade can be attributed to The Arena Group's strategy of licensing and mass content production. This focus on churning out content with minimal editorial oversight contributed to the controversy, highlighting the need for ethical practices in AI usage to preserve the integrity of media organizations.
