Gross translation error by AI
Newspaper spreads false report about Haaland being shot
September 29, 2023, 11:22 a.m
Erling Haaland climbs into the water dressed as a Viking for a photo shoot. Norway’s largest newspaper “Verdens Gang” reports about it – and writes that the footballer was shot. The reason for this is apparently a serious translation error by an artificial intelligence.
If Erling Haaland read “Verdens Gang” this week, he would have been very surprised. At least. Maybe shocked or even angry. The newspaper with the highest circulation in his Norwegian homeland temporarily reported that the 23-year-old had been killed. It actually said: “Photographer David Yarrow took unique photos of footballer Erling Braut Haaland, who was shot at billionaire Arne Fredly’s estate in Lysaker.”
The wording alone suggests that the supposed horror news is based on a serious error – and fortunately that’s how it was. Because Erling Haaland is obviously in excellent health and in top athletic shape. He has already scored eight times for Manchester City in the first six Premier League matchdays of this season and four times in the last three appearances for Norway.
So what had happened? According to consistent media reports, “Verdens Gang” is currently testing an artificial intelligence and its ability to create articles. Which obviously didn’t work well in the case of the Haaland report. Because it was actually supposed to be about an extraordinary photo shoot of the footballer, who posed for the camera as a Viking. However, the AI misinterpreted the word “shoot” or “shooting” to such an extent that it was not “photographed” but “shot”.
Accordingly, VG had to correct the report immediately, but of course it had long since found its way onto social media. The ridicule was great – and sports director Frode Buanes wrote to the “Dagbladet” that he and his newspaper had to expressly apologize to the lively Erling Haaland: “Although Haaland in England tears apart the opposing defense almost every week and shoots in pieces, that was by no means the intention “To kill him in print.”
Incidentally, David Yarrow’s pictures show Haaland standing up to his waist in the sea. Dressed in a fur vest and equipped with a shield, ax and sword. “There is no more relevant footballer in the world than Erling Haaland,” writes the 57-year-old: “We worked together to highlight Erling’s physical presence and his Nordic appearance.” The Viking theme was obvious, “because it’s hard to think of another athlete who could wear this look more naturally.”