Several outlets have removed stories attributed to a supposed freelance writer whose work now appears to have been generated by AI, prompting public explanations and new verification steps from the publications involved.
Wired and Business Insider take down flagged articles
According to the Guardian, Press Gazette reported that at least six publications, including Wired and Business Insider, took down articles published under the name Margaux Blanchard after concluding they were AI-generated. Wired removed a May feature titled “They Fell in Love Playing Minecraft. Then the Game Became Their Wedding Venue,” later stating in an editor’s note that the article did not meet its editorial standards.
Press Gazette said the Wired piece cited a “Jessica Hu,” described as a 34-year-old “ordained officiant based in Chicago” and “digital celebrant” for ceremonies on Twitch, Discord and VRChat; both Press Gazette and the Guardian reported they could not verify Hu’s identity. Business Insider, Press Gazette further reported, published two first-person essays by Blanchard in April and removed them this week after being alerted about the author’s authenticity. The articles now display messages saying they were removed because they did not meet Business Insider’s standards.
Business Insider told the Guardian: “We have removed first-person essays that didn’t meet Business Insider’s standards and have since bolstered verification protocols.”
How pitches slipped through and what followed
Internal reviews and unverified claims
Wired published an account on Thursday acknowledging the lapse, writing: “If anyone should be able to catch an AI scammer, it’s Wired… Unfortunately, one got through.” The outlet said an editor received a 7 April pitch about the “rise of hyper-niche internet weddings,” which seemed promising and led to a 7 May publication. Afterward, the writer could not provide sufficient information to be entered into Wired’s payments system and pressed for PayPal or check, prompting further scrutiny. Wired said it became clear the story was fabricated and noted the piece had not undergone a proper fact-check or senior top edit. The publication said it acted quickly and has taken steps to prevent repeats.
Press Gazette, as cited by the Guardian, said it was alerted by Jacob Furedi, editor of the magazine Dispatch, who received a pitch from Blanchard about “Gravemont,” described as a secretive death-investigation training site in rural Colorado. Furedi told Press Gazette the pitch read like it was generated by ChatGPT and that he could not find details about the town; the Guardian also reported it could not verify the town. Press Gazette reported that Blanchard has not responded to requests to prove she is a real person.
The Guardian also noted recent instances of AI-related errors in media and legal filings, including a syndicated fake reading list and a sanctioned court filing referencing a nonexistent case.
