{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/630ceae33fe37400122828c6/6abf059e0e2e02bcec419b1b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The Hot New Journalist Who Was Actually AI","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/630ceae33fe37400122828c6/1790903428656-de24b018-8f65-493d-8985-2ca7920ecd8a.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Who is Daniel Robson?</p><p><br></p><p>Since 2025, Robson quickly established himself as a prolific freelance columnist, with bylines in the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, The Hub, Western Standard, and Policy Options.</p><p><br></p><p>But there’s one problem: he doesn’t seem to exist. </p><p><br></p><p>When a Turkish journalist began asking Canadian editors to verify Robson’s biographical details, they realized they couldn’t and that Robson’s persona and writing was A.I. generated. </p><p><br></p><p>Who or what is behind this mysterious A.I. entity and what does it have to do with Morocco? </p><p><br></p><p>Stuart Benson of the Hill Times joins Julian Abraham to go down the Daniel Robson rabbit hole. </p><p><br></p><p>Host: <u><a href=\"mailto:julian@canadaland.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Julian Abraham</a></u></p><p>Credits: James Nicholson (Senior Producer), Gökçe On (Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), Jesse Brown (Editor)</p><p>Guest: <u><a href=\"https://www.hilltimes.com/ht_author/stuart-benson/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Stuart Benson</a></u></p><p><br></p><p>Additional music by Audio Network</p><p><br></p><p>Vote for CANADALAND at the <u><a href=\"https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Signal Awards</a></u>! Nominations include <u><a href=\"https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/craft/best-writing\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">“My Chatbot Encouraged my Psychosis” </a></u>for Best Writing and <u><a href=\"https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/arts-culture\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">“The Freelancer’s Guide to Getting Revenge When You’ve Been Ripped Off”</a></u> in Arts and Culture</p><p><br></p><p>Further reading: </p><ul><li><u><a href=\"https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/09/daniel-robson-article-withdrawn/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Why Policy Options removed an article published under the name Daniel Robson</a> - Policy Options</u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/exclusivefake-ai-columnist-dupes-canadian-press-to-target-moroccan-dissidents-and-a-t-3229120?s=6\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Exclusive—Fake AI columnist dupes Canadian press to target Moroccan dissidents, and a Turkish &#39;middleman&#39; - Türkiye Today</a></u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-ai-suspected-of-writing-dozens-of-articles-in-canadian-publications/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">AI fabrication suspected of writing dozens of articles in Canadian publications - The Globe and Mail</a></u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/daniel-robson\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Why the Citizen removed articles by Daniel Robson — and what we&#39;re doing next | Ottawa Citizen</a></u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://thehub.ca/2026/09/30/a-statement-on-articles-by-daniel-robson/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">A statement on articles by ‘Daniel Robson’ - The Hub</a></u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://www.hilltimes.com/2026/09/30/industry-frustrated-as-liberals-bill-c-39-falls-short-of-proactive-strike-prevention-powers/520045/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Industry &#39;frustrated&#39; as Liberals&#39; Bill C-39 falls short of proactive strike-prevention powers - The Hill Times</a></u></li><li><u><a href=\"https://torontosun.com/news/national/baked-potato-incentive-nova-scotia-maid-info-night\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Baked potato offered as incentive for attendees of Nova Scotia MAID info night</a></u> - Toronto Sun </li><li></li></ul><p><u>Sponsors:</u></p><p><br></p><p><u><a href=\"https://douglas.ca/Canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Douglas</a></u>: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. 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Visit<a href=\"http://douglas.ca/Canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><u><a href=\"http://douglas.ca/Canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">do</a><a href=\"https://douglas.ca/canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">uglas.ca/canadaland</a></u> to claim this offer.</p><p><br></p><p><u><a href=\"https://fizz.ca/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fizz Mobile</a></u>: Visit<u><a href=\"https://fizz.ca/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> fizz.ca</a></u> and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data.</p><p><br></p><p><u><a href=\"http://betterhelp.com/canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">BetterHelp</a></u>: Visit<u><a href=\"http://betterhelp.com/canadaland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> BetterHelp.com/canadaland</a></u> today to get 10% off your first month.</p><p><br></p><p>If you value this podcast,<a href=\"https://canadalandnetwork.supercast.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><u><a href=\"https://canadalandnetwork.supercast.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Support us</a>!</u> You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at<a href=\"https://canadalandstore.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><u><a href=\"https://canadalandstore.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">our store</a></u>, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. </p>","author_name":"CANADALAND"}