Die Aktuelle magazine in Germany featured the seven-time Formula One world champion on its cover with the title ‘Michael Schumacher, the first interview’.
A strapline underneath stated, ‘It sounded deceptively real’ before the article inside revealed the quotes had been entirely generated by AI.
Schumacher has not been seen in public since a skiing accident in December 2013 with his son Mick, after which he was initially placed in an induced coma. He has been recovering at home since and those around him have been very guarded about his secrecy.
His family told Reuters news agency that they were planning to take legal action against Die Aktuelle in the wake of their published article.
Speaking in a Netflix documentary about Schumacher’s life and career released two years ago, his wife Corinna said: “We live together. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and make sure he’s comfortable, and to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
“’Private is private,’ as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now are are protecting Michael.”
