Ohio reporter says Cleveland.com put AI story under her byline during honeymoon

A journalist is furious after an article she did not write or approve was published under her name while she was on her honeymoon.

Here's what to know

In a Sept. 7 social media post cited by Futurism, government reporter Kaitlin Durbin said that while she was away from work on vacation, a local news item produced using artificial intelligence was published alongside her byline despite her having no knowledge of it and giving no approval or consent.

At the center of the controversy is Cleveland.com — the digital outlet tied to The Plain Dealer, a major Ohio newspaper. Durbin appears to have worked for the outlet since 2021.

As Futurism outlined, the story in question concerned the departure of Cuyahoga County's law director and was produced by the outlet's Express Desk, which Cleveland.com says "uses AI tools to assist in producing content" before that material is "reviewed and edited by staff."

"Trying to understand how this story published with my byline last week while I was on my honeymoon," Durbin posted online. "I did not write or review a word of it and it does not pull info from past reporting. Does Cleveland.com think they just own my name now?"

Here's what happened next

Cleveland.com has since taken Durbin's byline off the article and added a correction, saying, "A reporter's byline was added to the story in error."

Editor Chris Quinn told Futurism the byline issue was "a simple mistake, the result of a miscommunication between a couple of editors."

Quinn also said, "It was corrected as soon as we learned of it from the Tweet," noting that he had written transparently about the outlet's "policies, practices, and controls regarding AI content" earlier this year.

More background

The matter comes months after Quinn publicly endorsed the organization's use of AI, saying the technology could handle routine tasks more quickly so reporters could spend more time on original journalism.

In a Letter from the Editor, Quinn wrote in February, "By removing writing from reporters' workloads, we've effectively freed up an extra workday for them each week."

Durbin appears to have returned and begun writing as of Tuesday, with several articles published under her byline since then. 

Where can I learn more?

Quinn's column last winter noted that a college student had "[withdrawn] from consideration for a reporting role" with the publication over the outlet's use of AI, pointing to one example of pushback on the tech. Meanwhile, this more recent byline error highlights growing questions about how AI is being used and who is responsible when oversight breaks down. 

In and outside of newsrooms, the technology is also facing criticism over resource use, energy grid pressure, job security, economic costs, and insufficient regulation:

• Public anger over jobs, water, and electricity is sharpening scrutiny over AI's rapid spread.

• In Scotland, AI data centers' impact on drinking water has become harder to quantify.

• Big Tech's AI boom is outrunning the power grid as infrastructure spending surges.

• Engineers are pushing for transparency in power consumption as AI systems draw more electricity.

These stories show how concerns over AI are ultimately about foresight and accountability, with mounting calls for decision-makers to ensure that the well-being of individuals and communities can be protected if automation moves ahead.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.