Multiple news organizations removed published stories attributed to Margaux Blanchard after discovering the content was likely AI-generated. Wired took down a feature about a couple who met in Minecraft and later removed it with an editorial statement that the piece did not meet standards. Business Insider removed two first-person essays and posted notices citing failure to meet standards, and said verification protocols have been bolstered. Press Gazette and the Guardian were unable to verify a cited source, Jessica Hu. Press Gazette raised the initial concerns that prompted the subsequent removals.
On Thursday, Press Gazette reported that at least six publications, including Wired and Business Insider, have removed articles from their websites in recent months after it was discovered that the stories written under the name of Margaux Blanchard were AI-generated. Wired published a story titled They Fell in Love Playing Minecraft. Then the Game Became Their Wedding Venue in May. A few weeks later, the outlet took down the story, stating in an editor's note: After an additional review of the article Wired editorial leadership has determined this article does not meet our editorial standards.
The story cited a Jessica Hu, an alleged 34-year-old ordained officiant based in Chicago who reportedly made a name for herself as a digital celebrant', specialising in ceremonies across Twitch, Discord and VRChat, according to Press Gazette, which reviewed the Wired article. Both the Press Gazette and the Guardian were not able to verify the identity of Hu. Press Gazette further reported that in April, Business Insider published two essays by Blanchard titled: Remote work has been the best thing for me as a parent but the worst as a person and I had my first kid at 45. I'm financially stable and have years of life experience to guide me. Earlier this week, Business Insider removed the articles after Press Gazette alerted the outlet over the authenticity of the author.
Both article pages now feature a message saying that the stories were removed because [they] didn't meet Business Insider's standards. In a statement to the Guardian, a Business Insider spokesperson said: We have removed first-person essays that didn't meet Business Insider's standards and have since bolstered verification protocols. The Guardian has contacted Wired for comment. Press Gazette says it was first alerted to the inauthenticity of Blanchard's articles by Ja
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