New York Times Fires Freelance Journalist Over AI Plagiarism

The New York Times has severed ties with freelance journalist Alex Preston after an investigation revealed he used artificial intelligence to assist in writing a book review that contained plagiarized material. The decision followed an inquiry into a January review of Jean-Baptiste Andrea’s Watching Over Her, which was found to contain language and details strikingly similar to a review of the same book published in the Guardian in August.

Discovery of the Plagiarism

The overlap was brought to the attention of the New York Times by a reader who flagged the similarities between Preston’s work and the earlier Guardian review written by Christobel Kent. Upon investigation, the newspaper discovered that Preston had utilized an AI tool to assist in drafting the piece. The tool incorporated material from the Guardian review into the draft, which Preston failed to identify or remove before submission.
The similarities included specific character descriptions and a concluding assessment of the novel. For instance, the Guardian described the book as a "song of love to a country of contradictions," while the New York Times version utilized nearly identical phrasing, describing the setting as a "love song to a country of contradictions."

Admission and Consequences

Following the investigation, the New York Times added an editor’s note to the review acknowledging the use of AI and the inclusion of unattributed work. A spokesperson for the newspaper confirmed that Preston will no longer contribute to the publication. While Preston had written six reviews for the paper between 2021 and 2026, he stated that he had not used AI to aid any of his other articles.
In a statement, Preston expressed deep regret for his actions, describing the incident as a "serious mistake." He noted that he was "hugely embarrassed" and apologized to the New York Times, Christobel Kent, and the Guardian. Preston, an author who has contributed to various publications including the Observer, the FT, and the Economist, also serves as the head of advisory at the investment management firm Man Group. Notably, he authored an article earlier this year for the Man Group website titled The AI Bubble: Hidden Risks and Opportunities.