Quick Info
  • TUAW, a popular Apple blog that shut down in 2015, has unexpectedly returned as an AI-generated content site
  • The revived TUAW is publishing AI-written articles under the names of former writers without their knowledge or consent
  • This bizarre resurrection raises questions about AI ethics and the future of online content creation

Well, folks, grab your popcorn because the tech world just got treated to a bizarre plot twist. Remember TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog)? That awesome Apple blog we all loved back in the day? It's back! ...Sort of. And by "sort of," I mean it's been reanimated as some kind of AI-powered content zombie. Yep, you read that right.

Here's the deal: TUAW, which merged into Engadget back in 2015, has suddenly sprung back to life under new ownership. But instead of resurrecting the site with, you know, actual human writers, the new owners decided to go full sci-fi. They're pumping out AI-generated articles faster than you can say "Siri, what's the meaning of life?"

But wait, it gets weirder. These AI-written posts are being credited to former TUAW writers who haven't touched the site in over a decade. Talk about ghostwriting, am I right? Christina Warren, a former TUAW contributor, stumbled upon this and was understandably freaked out. Imagine finding out you've apparently been writing articles in your sleep for the past ten years!

The cherry on top of this surreal sundae? The site features an author page with AI-generated photos of these former writers. Because nothing says "totally legit journalism" like having your byline attached to an article you didn't write, accompanied by a photo of someone who isn't you but is supposed to be you.

This whole situation raises a ton of questions about AI ethics, content farms, and the general weirdness of the internet. But mostly, it just makes me wonder: if AI can bring back dead websites, how long until it starts resurrecting old Tamagotchis?

In all seriousness, though, this TUAW situation is a pretty wild example of how AI is shaking up the media landscape – and not always in a good way. It's like we've entered some bizarre alternate universe where your favorite blogs never die, they just come back as AI-powered doppelgangers.

So, next time you're browsing your 'decade old' favorite tech site, maybe double-check that the writer is actually, you know, real. Welcome to the future, folks. It's weird here.