Wyoming reporter uses AI to invent source quotes

A rookie reporter at the Cody Enterprise in Wyoming, USA, was caught using AI to fabricate quotes and content in his news stories, resulting in his resignation. 

Aaron Pelczar's activities were discovered by CJ Baker, a veteran journalist from the competing Powell Tribune, who noticed suspicious quotes and robotic phrasing in Pelczar's articles.

Baker identified at least seven stories containing AI-generated quotes from six different individuals, including Wyoming's governor and local officials. 

The fabricated content was exposed when Baker contacted the supposed sources, who confirmed they had never spoken to Pelczar or provided the statements attibuted to them.

One particularly obvious instance of AI use was an article about Larry the Cable Guy that concluded with an explanation of the inverted pyramid writing style, a basic journalistic technique.

The Cody Enterprise