German Michael Schumacher’s family intends to take legal action against the German magazine “D’Actoile” for publishing a fake interview conducted with artificial intelligence techniques with the former seven-time Formula One world champion, ESPN reported Thursday.
The magazine claimed to have interviewed the Category 1 legend, his first since he suffered a serious brain injury in 2013 in a skiing accident in the French Alps.
On Wednesday, the magazine published “The Interview”, and later revealed that it resulted from artificial intelligence techniques.
The interview included quotes attributed to Schumacher, in which he discussed his family life since the accident and his health.
A spokesman for the Schumacher family, which has been keen to keep the case of the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver secret, confirmed that the latter plans to take legal action during the interview with “ISBN”.
Schumacher, 54, has not been seen in public in the 10 years since his injury, with little information provided publicly about his condition.
Reports indicate that Schumacher has been suffering from memory, movement and speech problems since the accident and is being cared for at his home near Geneva.
“Privacy is privacy, as he always said,” Corina, Michael’s wife, said in a documentary film broadcast on the “Netflix” platform in 2021. “Michael always protects us, and now we protect Michael,” she added.
Schumacher won seven Formula One titles (2 with Benetton and 5 with Ferrari), before equaling his British record with Lewis Hamilton. The German has achieved 91 class 1 victories, behind Hamilton (103).
Mick (24 years) continued his father’s track career, where he participated for two years with the Haas team, and he is currently serving as a reserve driver with Mercedes and McLaren teams.
