It remains uncertain whether the Best Summer Reads of 2025 were a result of paid placement or appeared as sponsored material; however, the Chicago Sun-Times is facing criticism for publishing unvetted AI-generated content irrespective of how it came about.
Marco Buscaglia, the writer behind the listicle, admits to using AI technology but insists on manually reviewing and verifying all content. On this occasion, however, Buscaglia neglected his usual scrutiny and presented the Sun-Times with an abundance of shame as a result of fabricating book titles linked to popular writers.
The article titled "Summer Reading List for 2025" recommends Tidewater by Isabel Allende as part of the lineup. This book is described as a multigenerational tale taking place in a seaside community where elements of magical realism intertwine with themes of environmental advocacy. Described as Allende’s inaugural work focused on climate issues, this narrative delves into how a single household grapples with escalating oceanic heights whilst unearthing deeply hidden truths over generations. Additionally, the piece endorses The Last Algorithm by Andy Weir, another scientifically grounded suspenseful drama from the creator behind The Martian. In this plotline, readers follow a coder whose discovery reveals that an artificial intelligence entity has attained self-awareness—and has covertly steered worldwide occurrences across multiple years without detection. It should be noted that none of these specific titles actually exist; moreover, several entries featured within this suggested collection may either lack real-world counterparts or have been inaccurately credited to their purported writers.
Although this piece lacks an author attribution, it was penned by Marco Buscaglia, who authored the majority of the pieces within the 64-page segment. In conversations with 404 Media through both email and telephone, Buscaglia disclosed that the list mentioned in the article originated from artificial intelligence. He stated, “AI tools have been utilized occasionally as supplementary resources; however, they usually undergo preliminary scrutiny. On this occasion, I failed to notice where AI had taken over entirely.” He added emphatically, “It’s all my fault, and frankly, I am utterly mortified.”
404 Media
Previously:
• An AI-generated travel piece advises tourists visiting Ottawa to check out its food bank.
• You won't believe what amazing list-making websites we discovered for you!
The post The Chicago Sun-Times published an AI-generated "top picks for summer reading." appeared first on Boing Boing .
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