Dawn Faces Social Media Trolling Over AI Editing Error
Pakistan’s leading English newspaper, Dawn, is facing a wave of online trolling after an AI editing error appeared in one of its business stories. The issue was found in a report titled Auto sales rev up in October.
The Blunder That Went Viral
Readers noticed that the last paragraph of the article included a leftover instruction from an AI tool, believed to be ChatGPT. The line read:
If you want, I can also create an even snappier ‘front page style’ version with punchy one line stats and a bold, infographic ready layout perfect for maximum reader impact. Do you want me to do that next time?
The mistake quickly spread online. Social media users shared screenshots and mocked the incident. Many called it embarrassing and unprofessional.
Online Reaction and Transparency Calls
Platforms like X and Facebook are filled with memes and jokes about editorial carelessness. One viral post quipped, Even editors need editing sometimes! Another user wrote, The mask has slipped, suggesting that the paper’s reliance on AI was now exposed.
However, not all reactions were jokes. Some readers urged Dawn to clarify its AI usage policy and ensure responsible integration of technology in journalism.
In response, Dawn issued a brief statement acknowledging the mistake. The paper said the matter was under internal review and that it viewed the error as a violation of editorial standards.
