These Reporters Working at Local Florida News Website Were Actually AI-Generated - PetaPixel
A South Florida news website, South Florida Standard, was found to have used AI-generated reporters, bios, and images, and plagiarized content from other news outlets.
- Incident date
- May 2026
- Target
- South Florida Standard
A website called the South Florida Standard vanished after it was revealed that its reporters were AI-generated. The site featured AI-generated staff, including an editor-in-chief with a fabricated 15-year background in South Florida politics.
What happened
The South Florida Standard's deceit was uncovered by The Florida Trib. The investigation revealed a network of local news websites using AI-generated staff and plagiarized articles. The AI-generated reporters lacked meaningful online profiles, and some names matched individuals convicted of white-collar crimes. The investigation led to a former startup CEO who had pleaded guilty to defrauding investors. The individual operated multiple similar websites and claimed the names used were randomly generated. The South Florida Standard lifted content from Florida Politics, and such websites contain mistakes, confusing readers.