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For Sale Apr 8, 2026 at 6:23 AM

Esquire Singapore responds to criticism over use of AI for Mackenyu story, calls it a ‘deliberate creative decision’

Posted by GayAssNinja69

Esquire Singapore responds to criticism over use of AI for Mackenyu story, calls it a ‘deliberate creative decision’
CNA Lifestyle
Esquire Singapore responds to criticism over use of AI for Mackenyu story, calls it a ‘deliberate creative decision’
The publication faced backlash for its March cover story, which featured an interview with the One Piece actor that was generated by an AI program.
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43 Comments

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__Hello_my_name_is__ Apr 8, 2026 +142
Out of all the things to AI generate, why interviews? That's about the last thing that makes sense here, even *if* you think using AI to write things is a good idea (it's not).
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[deleted] Apr 8, 2026 -132
[deleted]
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Lunchboxninja1 Apr 8, 2026 +64
Interviewing an AI is entirely useless. Its answers are meaningless. Its like pretending to interview someone.
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OPMajoradidas Apr 8, 2026 +37
It is pretending to interview someone. Also, he should sue.
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sleepymeowth052 Apr 8, 2026 +6
At that point it's basically fanfic or just a creative writing exercise
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popop143 Apr 8, 2026 +36
You do know that people that use email are real people?
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techauditor Apr 8, 2026 +10
That's still the actual human responding vs a ... Not the person ..
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RinellaWasHere Apr 8, 2026 +5
Interesting. Can you think of any differences between interviewing someone via a new medium, and *not* actually interviewing someone at all because you just used a new medium to pretend to be them? Because I can certainly think of a couple.
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Tokie-Dokie Apr 8, 2026 +278
>The use of AI was a deliberate creative decision intended to reflect this theme; exploring the 'echo' of a persona in the digital age in the absence of the physical subject. One of the larger piles of corporate-speak horseshit ever put out. Likely also generated by AI.
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GayAssNinja69 Apr 8, 2026 +188
> Mackenyu was offered to us for our March cover. However, due to his demanding schedule, he was only able to complete a photo shoot and was unable to respond to our interview questions in a timely manner. After several attempts to secure his responses, we chose to pivot the editorial approach to align with the March issue’s theme: Echoes. > The use of AI was a deliberate creative decision intended to reflect this theme; exploring the 'echo' of a persona in the digital age in the absence of the physical subject. We were transparent about this experimental approach as our goal was to explore the intersectionality of celebrity and tech within the Echoes context. > We appreciate the dialogue this piece has sparked among our readers and the industry. We have noted the feedback for future editorial considerations, and remain committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional media. What’s messed up is in their weird AI generated fake interview abomination, the AI created some nonsense about how “it” wants to live up to Mackenyu’s deceased father
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JinSakai619 Apr 8, 2026 +63
That's extremely fucked up. They posted it?
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FireVanGorder Apr 8, 2026 +16
Wait wtf they AI generated his responses to their questions??
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[deleted] Apr 8, 2026 +37
[removed]
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mastermidget23 Apr 8, 2026 -4
Im gonna ask the uncomfortable question, given this subject matter. Are you a bot? You have one comment from the last three years, and because of language trends with bots lately, I'm always wary when I see something called "wild" and "tbh"
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NoLeadership2281 Apr 8, 2026 +139
There’s no “creative” when you involve AI into ur work lol 
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ithinkther41am Apr 8, 2026 +35
It’s Singapore. We have almost no “creative” in general. Source: all our TV dramas in the last 15-20 years, all our non-Indie films, our biggest bank using AI images in most of their marketing now, etc.
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GayAssNinja69 Apr 8, 2026 +7
I know that another poster doesn’t agree because it is true that Singapore still has a handful of “creatives” but it seems like such a bad cause: - The Projector closing - Singapore Fringe Festival lost its main sponsor and likely will have its last run - Goodmans Art Center raising rental rates - Rising amount of AI-generated art in private and government ads - AFA drama and negative feedback I used to take classes at this art center and realise they now offer classes on how to generate AI art..
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ithinkther41am Apr 9, 2026 +1
My sister did tell me another indie cinema was taking over The Projector’s old spot, but I’m really sorry to hear about AFA. It sucks to see that happen to a place you know.
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fnord_happy Apr 8, 2026 +1
Idk it feels spiritually dubai (of east asia) to me.
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ItsHX Apr 8, 2026 -28
who is we
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s3rila Apr 8, 2026 +19
Il vont gonna guess people of Singapore 
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ItsHX Apr 8, 2026 -19
well I had to ask because it’s demonstrably false Singaporeans are not “creative”
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CaravelClerihew Apr 8, 2026 +9
Nah, I used to work in the ad industry in Singapore. The local guys weren't very creative. All the best guys went overseas and the best agencies use overseas talent.
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ItsHX Apr 8, 2026 -7
I literally live here and am active in the sizeable local arts scene but sure
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CaravelClerihew Apr 8, 2026 +8
Ha, I do too and moved from ad work to museums and most of the stuff we acquire are from regional artists, not locals. Artists here don't like pushing their work in interesting ways.
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ItsHX Apr 8, 2026 -5
I, too, love throwing the baby out with the bathwater
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CaravelClerihew Apr 8, 2026 +8
Yeah, I don't think you understand what that idiom means. But at least you proved to me that you're Singaporean. You sound exactly like locals who were taught these idioms in school to sound more Western but generally apply them incorrectly or shoehorn them into things awkwardly, defeating the purpose.
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Quolli Apr 8, 2026 +17
Wow shocked that they doubled-down and are defending it. Given the poor reception to the article and AI in general, would've expected an apology with some sort of statement around how AI was used inappropriately.
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Omegabird420 Apr 8, 2026 +3
Not just that,he's currently both a money maker for Netflix and also active in japan where I assume that sh*t doesn't fly since it might affect someone's reputation. I also wouldn't love to make Netflix media blacklist.
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bershka321 Apr 8, 2026 +7
Do we know if they secured Mackenyu's consent for that? I would imagine not
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mr_ji Apr 9, 2026 +2
I still don't know what a Mackenyu is.
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AttonJRand Apr 8, 2026 +8
ai bros really are the worst
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NoTitleChamp Apr 8, 2026 +16
Deliberate uncreative choice.
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Lazy-Interests Apr 8, 2026 +5
Was anyone under the impression it was accidental?
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kuhpunkt Apr 8, 2026 +13
If it was intentional, why did they approach him for a real interview in the first place?
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CaravelClerihew Apr 8, 2026 +4
Singapore outsourcing 'creative' output to AI? I'm not surprised.
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tattmhomas0 Apr 8, 2026 +3
They're doing it on purpose at this point to garner more attention
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danmanx Apr 8, 2026 +3
I'm also fairly certain that their response to this was also from AI as well.
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ladyteruki Apr 8, 2026 +1
Similarly, we're going to make deliberate purchasing decisions.
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Suitable_Trash183 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Every single time I see ‘Singapore’ and ‘AI’ in the same headline I feel a little more ashamed of where I’m from
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codykonior Apr 8, 2026 +1
Is there a link to the interview? I just want to know if they disclose AI use in it. Because if so that's one thing. If not then it's another. Googling etc did not uncover it.
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Techhead7890 Apr 8, 2026 +6
According to OP's CNA article covering this (written by a human ofc): > The use of Al was disclosed in the article, with Esquire Singapore explaining that they had pulled Mackenyu's "verbatim from previous interviews and fed them through an Al programme to formulate new responses". > > ... The article also disclosed that it was "produced with Claude, Copilot, and edited by humans". > > Online reaction was largely negative. Many users responded in shock, describing the piece as "pretentious", "dubious" and "an insult to journalism
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codykonior Apr 8, 2026 +3
Ah c*** I had somehow missed that part probably scrolling down past all the ads. Cheers.
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