The family of seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher is taking legal action against a German magazine over AI 'interview'.

The latest edition of Die Aktuelle features a picture of the German legend smiling, alongside the strapline: Michael Schumacher, the first interview.

A further line on the front page proclaims "it sounded deceptively real", the 'interview' in fact having been generated by AI (artificial intelligence).

Since his skiing accident in December 2013, in which he suffered a brain injury, his family has fiercely guarded his privacy though a tiny number of very close friends have been granted access.

Of course, that hasn't prevented media ghouls from attempting to access the seven-time champ, with attempts to photograph him and so-called progress reports on his condition from 'friends' who haven't even seen him.

Speaking in a Netflix documentary in 2021, his wife, Corinna said: "We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to 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 we are protecting Michael."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Pavlo, 21/04/2023 13:57

"@Spindoctor: this journal as a whole looks like "this type of 'journalism'", not only this particular article :)
@kenji & all - Liberty and F1 deliberately steers to the direction of american-style show, promoting "celebrities" over the sporting aspect. And then we get drivers as celebrities - enjoying huge cashflow at a cost of inevitable disrespect. (wanted to write "disrespect to privacy", but actually to everything). The grass was greener, but that's how it is."

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2. Posted by kenji, 21/04/2023 12:40

"@Phantom WOW...now I'm a ghoul!!! I've been called many things before but never a ghoul, I guess that there's a first time for everything. It seems to me that you are not really understanding what I've been saying. My comments were in relation to the 'AI' incident and I was offering up a viewpoint as to why that actually occurred and how in the future similar situations may be avoided. From a PPOV I'm not really interested in what Shumachers condition as it appears quite obvious that he's unlikely to ever return to normal, 'das ist das'.. I would suggest that you redirect your outrage to those who seek to exploit his condition for whatever reason they have. Have a nice day. "

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3. Posted by phantom, 21/04/2023 11:29

"
@kenji: You sound just like the other ghouls. EVERYONE is entitled to their own measure of privacy, whether you agree or not. 'Their' standing in 'your' eyes means nothing. Your original statement says it all, and one can't cover their posterior with a cleverly placed 'surely.' Leave them be."

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 21/04/2023 7:56

"This type of 'journalism' is beneath contempt.
The Schumacher family have an absolute right to privacy regarding Michael Schumacher's health.
When he was driving, he had a public role. Like most fans I was interested in his views and matters relating to his work in F1. Details of his personal life away from the track should have remained private.

He has long retired from driving & public life & consequently, his current health and any other information about him and his family is entirely a private unless & until they choose to make a public statement."

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5. Posted by Defiant, 21/04/2023 5:40

"I completely understand both sides of this discussion. I can see why kenji and the fans are so desperate to understand Michaels condition. They would love to hear that he has made any progress even if it's small, but I also completely understand why Corrinna and the family have protected Michael and his legacy. I would imagine Michael would prefer that all of his supporters remember him in his prime. You would think that after all this time, it would be easier not harder for them to do so.
As for that despicable attempt at AI subterfuge, I hope that they as an entity and every single individual get sued into oblivion."

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6. Posted by kenji, 21/04/2023 0:42

"As predicted by the Ed. I will staunchly defend my opinion posted earlier. I will however decry the use of certain terminology to cover Scumachers condition. The thrust of my comment was very simple. A basic statement from a fully authoricated medical entity that delicately describes his condition and his likely future prospects would go a long way towards diffusing any wild speculative outbursts by a rabid press pack. I see no need to go any further than this. The curtain of secretiveness thrown around this entire incident only serves to heighten speculation and leads to unprincipled actions like the recent 'die Actuelle' activities. In the end Shumacher is a human being like all of us and an interest in his condition represents nothing more than a simple 'human interest'. "

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7. Posted by Pavlo, 20/04/2023 15:21

"I in general agree with editor's comment.
But secrecy normally results in increasing interest of "some people"*, and articles with the name of idol don't let this interest fade... and earn a lot of money, which "Die Aktuelle" probably got. Whereas one single statement (in my opinion) would have helped to decrease the interest and give family more peace. But of course it's a right of family to decide.
If we want to help, we probably should avoid the articles like this as well, just keep silence.
P.S. * I neither judge nor support such people, just state a fact."

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8. Posted by Anthony, 20/04/2023 13:47

"I totally agree with the editor’s comments "

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9. Posted by Chester, 20/04/2023 12:31

"Purely despicable. No one has a right to know his condition. Leave Shcumacher's family alone.

AI. AI is a bane on society. It is beyond disgusting to me as a person who values real. Think for yourself. Don't rely on a computer to do your thinking- and no the AI value argument is not parallel to the Excel spreadsheet argument. Excel adds value but only if the user know how to use it.

Many industry insiders fear AI. "

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10. Posted by Editor, 20/04/2023 12:24

"@ Kenji

I covered this topic at the time... but basically, you believe the family should confirm that the fans idol is essentially a vegetable.

I recall one of the first articles that Eoin Young wrote for me when I was at 'the dark place' was a piece on Ken Tyrrell. He sent with the article of Ken who was clearly near to death.

I refused to use it, I wanted readers to remember Ken in his heyday.

Michael has paid whatever debt he might have owed to those who idolised him, let us leave him and his family in peace.

I know you will think otherwise – you always do – but please do not try to engage me any further on this particular topic."

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11. Posted by kenji, 20/04/2023 12:16

"Whilst acknowledging the Shumacher family are entitled to do whatever they want vis a vis Michael Shumacher's condition surely a simple statement covering his current situation and future prognosis could do more good than harm. This obsessive secrecy only serves to heighten attempts to covertly seek info. There is no invasion of privacy involved in a public statement...in fact it could quite possibly engender a deeper understanding of the status quo.Whilst during his stellar career Shumacher skillfully built a massive fan base that contributed incredible revenues to the Shumacher coffers via merchandise. His accident cut off any contact with these vast legions of followers overnight. Is it any wonder that they crave some knowledge of their idol ? "

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12. Posted by Max Noble, 20/04/2023 11:50

"So much worse than click bait internet headlines. If the family had consented and been involved that would have been different. This is a step toward illegal cloning… Very poor form.
"

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Schumacher family takes legal action over AI 'interview'

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