Sports Illustrated is (nearly) Kaput

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DWalt

DWalt

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I suppose by now, most are aware that SI had laid off nearly all of its staff because it cannot pay its $3.75 Million licensing fee to its publisher. While it has not been divulged why it cannot pay, it is likely because SI is broke. There is much more to the story and for anyone who really cares, there is a lot more detail to be found in the news today. Sports Illustrated's Publisher Lays Off Entire Staff. Future Unclear

The really interesting thing to me is that SI has apparently been using AI to construct articles under bylines of writers who do not exist. I guess that is a lot cheaper than hiring humans. It really makes me wonder how long will it take for the entire publishing industry to go the reporting by AI route. I suspect it is already underway.

I won't make any comments about AI used in the annual swimsuit issue.
 
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Kinda makes me sad.... Sports Illustrated was an important read for me growing up, and I enjoyed the articles, when it was still a print magazine, as an adult, too.
 
I am not enough of a sports fan to read SI, unless it is the only magazine in a doctor's waiting room. There are now a zillion websites out there covering every sports type, team, and star to satisfy any true sports enthusiast, so what do they need SI for? I have earlier expressed my belief that print media is largely doomed to irrelevance within the next ten years or so. The main reason for the demise of Playboy magazine in 2020 is a good example.
 
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I had my first (that I know of) interaction with AI very early this morning. I got the UPS tracking of an item I ordered and saw it got delivered to the wrong post office. Exceedingly wroth, I tried the "chat" function on the UPS site and learned then an AI was going to help me. I typed out my problem and waited. Can't write out my thoughts, I've had stuff misdelivered before, but after a short time a screen refresh took place and I was given the USPS tracking number. Checking that revealed the package somehow made it to the correct PO and I was able to pick it up.

OK, that seems a reasonable slot for AI. However, the algorithm is very straightforward there. What someone with an agenda can do with the same power is highly disturbing.
 
I was a regular visitor to SI's website mainly because of Peter King as he is an excellent writer that does his homework.

When he signed off in 2018 I did, too.
 
The only time I read SI was at the barber shop if they didn't have a Playboy or MAD magazine on hand. Didn't see much sense in reading about overpaid, pompous athletes. Not with MAD and Playboy around.
 
SMSgt said:
The only time I read SI was at the barber shop if they didn't have a Playboy or MAD magazine on hand. Didn't see much sense in reading about overpaid, pompous athletes. Not with MAD and Playboy around.
Click to expand...


Back in the 60s their photography and writing was excellent. Different breed of athlete, too, as noted above.
 
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