AI stole my job and my work, and the boss didn't know – or care

A freelance writer recounts losing his job to an AI system at Cosmos Magazine, which had previously been a fulfilling collaboration. After submitting a column, he and other freelancers were abruptly informed that no further submissions would be accepted due to financial difficulties. Later, it was revealed that Cosmos had developed a custom AI service funded by a grant, which generated articles using content from contributors without their consent. This AI was likely trained on the writer's previous work, effectively replacing him. The decision to implement AI-generated content was made without informing the editorial staff, leading to criticism from former contributors and editors. The article highlights the broader implications of AI in journalism, emphasizing the need for transparency and the irreplaceable value of human touch in writing. The author argues that while AI can produce content, it lacks the depth and engagement that human writers provide, and calls for a system to trace the origins of written content to ensure accountability.

- A freelance writer was replaced by an AI system at Cosmos Magazine without prior notice.

- The magazine used a grant to develop an AI service that generated articles from existing content.

- Contributors were not consulted about the use of their work in training the AI.

- The incident raises concerns about transparency and the value of human authorship in journalism.

- Critics emphasize the need for accountability in AI-generated content creation.