Chicago Sun-Times prints summer reading list full of fake books.

[kacir]

The article was licenced from another company and nobody at the Chicago Sun-Times or at King Features that "wrote" the article did not even bother to check whether the books actually existed. The entire article was generated by AI.

You would expect that when a respectable newspaper publishes a list of books they would read, or at very least have a look at the books they are writing about.

https://www.404media.co/viral-ai-gen...-giant-hearst/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/press-r...pecial-section

[jhowell]

Don't worry. It won't be long before some enterprising entrepreneur uses AI to generate e-book editions of those books and puts them up for sale on Amazon.

[Cactus Chef]

I feel like Andy Weir should write a short-story or novella called "The Last Algorithm" just to capitalize on the potential sales boost from the article.

Maybe in true AI fashion he could seed it with a prompt to ChatGPT like, "Write a short story called 'The Last Algorithm' in the style of Andy Weir that contains the following plot..." and then use that as his basis for the actual story.

[Sirtel]

It's frightening to think that there are people who have gotten in the habit of asking an AI instead of searching for answers themselves, and trust everything that AI tells them. My sister is one.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It's frightening to think that there are people who have gotten in the habit of asking an AI instead of searching for answers themselves, and trust everything that AI tells them. My sister is one.

Unfortunately, people have always been like this. lots of people would believe everything they read in a newspaper. Hurst newspapers were yellow journalism at its worst and he became very rich because people are so gullible.
Apache

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Don't worry. It won't be long before some enterprising entrepreneur uses AI to generate e-book editions of those books and puts them up for sale on Amazon.

It won't be me, but I guess someone is enough of a greedy fraudster to do it.
Also the stuff is mangled scraping of real content, often pirated.

Any individual doing what the AI "model makers" are doing would be sued. Some people think they can make their own rules if the Internet is used.

[JSWolf]

I asked ChatGPT for a summer 2025 reading list and here is what it came up with.

Summer 2025 Reading List: Must-Read Books by Genre

Welcome to your curated guide to the best books for Summer 2025. Whether you're heading to the beach, enjoying a staycation, or just looking for your next great read, this list is organized by genre to suit every reader's taste.

Science Fiction

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A nostalgic sci-fi journey set in the 1980s during the Space Shuttle era.
The Future Library by Peng Shepherd
A speculative story exploring memory, preservation, and time.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
A compelling tale about identity and dystopia set in a mysterious utopia.

Fantasy

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
A powerful historical fantasy that blends magic with African-American history.
A Language of Limbs by Hardcastle
A surreal fantasy exploring dual realities and fractured identity.
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
A high-octane feminist retelling of a classic Chinese legend.

Mystery & Thriller

With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
A gripping thriller with twists that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The Tenant by Freida McFadden
A psychological suspense novel full of chilling surprises.
Murder Road by Simone St. James
A suspenseful mystery involving a haunted stretch of highway.

General Fiction

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
A heartfelt romantic comedy that’s topping bestseller charts.
One Golden Summer by Carley FortuneA sun-soaked romance perfect for reading by the water.
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley
A moving novel about young motherhood and resilience.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by Durbin
A dark, atmospheric tale set in the American West during the 1880s.
All Fours by Miranda July
A quirky, introspective novel blending humor and vulnerability.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
A genre-blending literary fiction story about love, bureaucracy, and time travel.

For Younger Readers

Ages 9–12:

Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz
A thrilling sequel featuring spies and family secrets.
A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya
A heartwarming summer adventure across the U.S.

Young Adult:

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
A romantic YA story set during a family reunion.

Happy reading!