Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Impersonated via AI in UK Media Mix-up

A British reporter mistakenly contacted the wrong Bill DeBlasio while researching an article about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, leading to a fabricated interview created with the help of ChatGPT. The imposter, a Long Island wine importer, used AI to mimic the former mayor's voice and criticized Mamdani's policy plans, which was then published by the Times of London. The former mayor, Bill de Blasio, publicly denied ever giving the interview and condemned the inaccurate reporting. The Times of London eventually apologized after the error was exposed, and the incident illuminated concerns about journalistic standards and the challenges of verifying sources in the age of AI. This case raises questions about the future of journalism, especially when AI can convincingly imitate public figures and reporters may not thoroughly authenticate their sources. Critics suggest that the incident might reflect declining journalistic rigor or political bias influencing editorial decisions.