Chicago Sun-Times faces backlash over AI-generated book list controversy

21st May 2025 – (Chicago) The Chicago Sun-Times has come under fire following the publication of an AI-generated “summer reading list for 2025” that included several fictitious book titles, sparking a wave of criticism.

While the list did feature authentic titles like “Call Me By Your Name” by André Aciman, it also recommended delving into non-existent works such as “Tidewater,” attributed to real-life author Isabel Allende. Described as a “multigenerational saga set in a coastal town where magical realism meets environmental activism,” the faux book drew attention for its misleading inclusion.

According to NPR, only five out of the 15 books listed were real titles.

Marco Buscaglia, the list’s author, acknowledged the oversight, stating, “I do use AI for background at times but always check out the material first. This time, I did not and I can’t believe I missed it because it’s so obvious. No excuses.” Expressing regret and embarrassment, he noted the surreal nature of the situation upon realising the error.

The Chicago Sun-Times faced ridicule for circulating an AI-composed summer reading list containing fabricated book titles, triggering astonishment and scrutiny from authors and literary critics.

Rebecca Makkai, featured in the list alongside a non-existent book attributed to her, expressed disbelief on Bluesky, exclaiming, “WHAT. THE ACTUAL. FUCK. Chicago Sun Times seems to have used AI to write its summer reading of BOOKS THAT DO NOT EXIST.”

Criticism extended to the use of AI-generated content for book recommendations, with Book Riot editor Kelly Jensen questioning the rationale behind fabricating book titles and the absence of fact-checking processes in place.

Responding to the backlash on Bluesky, the Chicago Sun-Times acknowledged the issue, clarifying that the AI-generated article was not editorial content vetted by the newsroom. The newspaper assured readers of its commitment to journalistic integrity and pledged to investigate how the erroneous content was published.

Victor Lim, a spokesperson for the newspaper’s parent company, Chicago Public Media, revealed that the AI book list was sourced from a third-party provider as licensed content.

The Chicago Sun-Times Guild, representing over 600 newspaper employees, voiced concerns over the AI-generated content’s publication alongside union-produced journalism, emphasizing the need to uphold trustworthy reporting standards and maintain the audience’s confidence in the publication.