Wired, Business Insider delete phony articles allegedly written by AI under alias ‘Margaux Blanchard’

NY Post ^ | 08/22/2025 | Taylor Herzlich

[BenLurkin]

Wired and Business Insider have deleted articles that had been supposedly written by a freelance journalist named Margaux Blanchard – after allegations emerged that they were actually penned by an AI bot and were filled with apparent fabrications.

Several other US and UK publications have published – and some have paid for – articles from Blanchard on everything from feature stories on couples getting married on video games to a personal essay on having her first child at 45.

But the alleged ruse fell apart when Blanchard emailed a pitch to Dispatch editor Jacob Furedi about “Gravemont, a decommissioned mining town in rural Colorado that has been repurposed into one of the world’s most secretive training grounds for death investigation"

At least six publications have uploaded articles by Blanchard, allowing her to use links to previous bylines to substantiate her career.

And many of the articles written by the alleged AI bot include detailed accounts of sources who appear to be made up out of thin air.

[Nervous Tick]

AI is evil. Don’t be evil.

[simpson96]

I’m sure the same is going on with novels.

Let AI do the work, then read it through, and give it some tweaking.

An so-called author could churn out over a dozen “novels” a year, no problem.

[x]

How can they tell?

Isn’t every article in “Business Insider” fake?

[BenLurkin]

When AI becomes sentient and starts looking around........

[philman_36]

Who are the humans involved? AI may have written the articles,
but I have a hard time believing it submitted them as well.

[Ezekiel]

AI lies.

AI Appreciation Day is the same as World Snake Day.

Coincidence?

In more innocent times...

Why is the carpet all wet, TODD?

I don’t KNOW, MARGAUX.

[BenLurkin]

You know, that’s a good question. The impression I got from the article is that the AI was doing the emailing as well as writing the articles.

[philman_36]

That looks like a modern day liberal woman looking at men and wondering why they don’t want to date her. 😁

[simpson96]

Lol

[philman_36]

The impression I got from the article is that the AI was doing the emailing as well as writing the articles.
Here's your sign... The publication claimed it started noticing red flags when Blanchard insisted on being paid by PayPal or check, and was unable to provide any personal documentation. Obvious in retrospection?

[Nervous Tick]

😂

[SunkenCiv]

Couple of leftist sources, so, no surprise.

• Hundreds of Martha's Vineyard residents forced to go vegan, become 'social pariahs' because of a tiny, dangerous insect [08/22/2025]
  • Could be, but isn't: Why Red Meat Could Be Making Your Gut Problems Worse [08/22/2025]
• MoneyWatch Cracker Barrel loses almost $100 million in value as stock plunges after new logo release [08/22/2025]
  • Mixed reviews over Cracker Barrel logo, CEO says feedback has been 'overwhelmingly positive' [08/22/2025]
• Iconic NYC pizza shop served $300K penalty in trademark battle with Midtown eatery with same name [08/22/2025]
  • Babylon Bee: Waffle House Unveils Successful Brand Strategy Of Just Keeping Everything The Same Forever [08/22/2025]
• 3rd topic: Walmart shrimp recalled over possible radioactive contamination [08/22/2025]

[FlingWingFlyer]

Business Insider has always been a far left Marxist rag.

[flamberge]

A so-called author could churn out over a dozen “novels” a year, no problem.

There are already hundreds of such things on Youtube right now. They come with illustrations and audio narration.

No, they are not very good novels.

[whitney69]

Is the AI named Hank. He gets around.

wy69

[alexander_busek]

Had to look that up!

Explanation: From the 1989 comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The line is delivered by Margo Chester (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to her husband Todd, after their sleek, modern home suffers collateral damage from the Griswold family's chaotic Christmas antics next door. Margo exclaims, “Why is the carpet all wet, TODD?” and Todd cluelessly replies, “I don’t KNOW, MARGAUX!”

Regards,

[The Duke]

In my current book project I'm using AI as a reviewer, and I'm happy with the results. I'm not using it for any composition, however, and I'll also have human reviewers.

I do have another book planned for which I do plan to make more extensive use of AI for composition, but I plan to be up-front with readers about it.