MSN publishes 'useless' AI-generated Brandon Hunter obituary

An AI-generated article published by Microsoft that was meant to pray tribute to a deceased NBA player called him ‘useless’, prompting widespread criticism and ridicule.

Headlined 'Brandon Hunter useless at 42', the 'offensive', 'incomprehensible', and 'incoherent' MSN article also said Hunter had been 'handed away on the age of 42, described his on-field position as 'a ahead', and claimed he had played in 67 NBA 'video games'.

Microsoft took down the story, refused to apologise, and deflected the blame onto its Portuguese content syndication partner 'Race Track'. 

In May 2020, the technology company replaced the jobs of dozens of journalists and editors running its Microsoft News and MSN sites with artificial intelligence, swiftly resulting in a high-profile racial mix-up.