Newspaper AI Blunder Exposes Modern Journalism Challenges

A Revealing Mistake AI in the Newsroom

Pakistan's leading English newspaper, Dawn, found itself in the digital spotlight for all the wrong reasons after an article was published with a clear sign of AI assistance left behind. The incident, which appeared in the Business section on November 12, involved a report on auto sales that concluded not with a summary, but with a prompt straight from an AI chatbot.

The final paragraph of the story, titled “Auto sales rev up in October,” included a message similar to: “If you want, I can also create an even snappier ‘front-page style’ version…” This editorial oversight proved that the content was at least partially generated by AI, and the final editing step was missed before it went to print. The mistake quickly became a viral topic on X (formerly Twitter), where users highlighted the carelessness of such a respected publication.

Journalists and Public Figures Weigh In

The blunder drew sharp commentary from journalists and public figures, who used the opportunity to mock the error and discuss editorial standards. As user Arfa Khan pointed out in a viral post, it appeared the newspaper "forgot to delete the prompt from the final draft."

Dawn really outdid themselves.. they used ChatGPT to write the article and forgot to delete the prompt from the final draft..level 😭🤦🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/vhn5yGGfjs

— Arfa Khan (@thearfakhan) November 12, 2025

Many expressed dismay that such a mistake could occur at one of Pakistan's oldest and most reputable news sources, sparking questions about the extent of AI integration in their writing and editing processes. Journalist Omar Quraishi remarked that while AI use is becoming common, this level of negligence was excessive.

Former Federal Minister Shireen Mazari also reacted, stating that the editors should have removed the prompt to preserve the newspaper's credibility. Journalist Moeed Pirzada added a touch of humor, suggesting that Dawn needed “intelligence to use AI.”

How The Internet Reacted

The online reaction was a mix of humor and disbelief, with many users on X finding the situation comical while others expressed concern.

My man had one job, must be looking for a new one now.

— HITARTH C. (@Hitarth1994) November 12, 2025

They don't even know how to copy paste 🤣🤣

— Aravind (@aravind_trades) November 12, 2025

The incident also prompted more sarcastic observations, highlighting the irony of using advanced technology only to make a simple human error.

When natural stupidity takes the help of artificial intelligence.

— Sam ALT Man (@k0ol1) November 12, 2025

A Cautionary Tale for AI in Journalism

While leveraging AI for tasks like summarizing information or generating drafts is becoming increasingly common, the Dawn incident serves as a potent reminder of the pitfalls of over-reliance. It underscores the irreplaceable role of human oversight, careful editing, and final review in the publishing process. The episode is a clear cautionary tale for newsrooms everywhere: technology is a tool, not a replacement for diligence.