Article · AI translation
IT Home reported on October 29 that, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a reader recently said on social media that they had purchased the South China Sea Marine Life Popular Science Series, published and distributed by China Agriculture Press. The series’ preface states that the vast majority of its images were generated using AI image tools. The reader, however, found an erroneous image of a “two-headed shrimp” in the illustrations, both on the cover and inside volume 13, “Giant Tiger Prawn.”
On October 27, a staff member at China Agriculture Press said the publisher was aware of the situation. A staff member on the publisher’s reader hotline told reporters that it was notifying sellers across the internet to remove the books and was recalling the affected volume.
According to a separate report by Jiemian News on October 28, a person familiar with the matter said the image was mainly intended to depict the giant tiger prawn’s molting process, but the immature use of AI technology had caused the image to be misunderstood by the public.
The text beneath the image in the book also describes the giant tiger prawn’s molting in detail: “Molting is an important stage in the giant tiger prawn’s life cycle and a necessary process for adapting to its environment and continuing to grow.” “When giant tiger prawns reach a certain size, they choose a safe environment and begin to molt.”
China Agriculture Press has not yet responded publicly to the account given by the person familiar with the matter. IT Home noted that the books could no longer be found in the publisher’s official WeChat mini program or official flagship store.