--- title: "New York Times cuts ties with freelancer over AI-assisted book review" id: "5667" type: "post" slug: "new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston" published_at: "2026-04-03T13:38:56+00:00" modified_at: "2026-10-28T00:20:16+00:00" url: "https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston/" markdown_url: "https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston.md" excerpt: "Author-journalist Alex Preston admitted to using an AI tool that drew on a Guardian review without attribution." taxonomy_category: - "News" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AI content" - "New York Times" - "journalism" --- # New York Times cuts ties with freelancer over AI-assisted book review Author-journalist Alex Preston admitted to using an AI tool that drew on a Guardian review without attribution. ![Laptop displaying The New York Times homepage](https://mediacopilot.ai/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AdobeStock_505604472_Editorial_Use_Only-400x225.jpeg) There is a ongoing tension between newsrooms wrestling with AI adoption and the freelancers who contribute to them. (Credit: [Tada Images - stock.adobe.com](https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/206748610/tada-images?load_type=author&prev_url=detail) ) Apr 3, 2026 By *The New York Times* has cut ties with a freelancer after discovering he used AI to help write a book review that incorporated elements of a *Guardian* review on the same book. ### Key Takeaways - The Times cut ties with freelancer Alex Preston over an AI-assisted book review. - His review echoed a Guardian piece because the AI tool pulled material unattributed. - Reflects tension between newsroom AI policies and freelancer use of the tools. [Are you an AI Agent? Read more here >](https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston.md) A reader notified the *Times* in late March that its January 6 review of “Watching Over Her” by Jean-Baptiste Andrea bore similarities to [a review the Guardian published in August 2025](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/21/watching-over-her-by-jean-baptiste-andrea-review-a-love-song-to-italy) . The *Times* review was written by author and journalist Alex Preston. The *Times* launched an internal review and spoke with Preston, who admitted he used an AI tool to help draft the piece and failed to catch the*Guardian* material before publication, [TheWrap reported](https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/new-york-times-cuts-ties-with-writer-ai/) . “Editors have appended a note to a book review written earlier this year by a freelance critic, who told The*Times* after publication that he had used an A.I. tool to assist him in producing the piece,” a *Times* spokesperson said. “This tool produced similarities to a book review published in The*Guardian*, which our editors’ note makes clear. For staff journalists and freelance writers alike, reliance on A.I. and inclusion of unattributed work by another writer is a serious violation of the*Times’s* integrity and fundamental journalistic standards.” Preston told *TheWrap* he used an “A.I. editing tool improperly on a draft I had written” and failed to catch “overlapping language” from the*Guardian* review. He said he has not used AI on his books or other published pieces. The*Times* notified the*Guardian* and added an editor’s note to the online review acknowledging the AI use and linking to the original *Guardian* piece. Preston, who has written six reviews for the*Times* between 2021 and 2026, will no longer write for the paper. The incident comes as the*Times* has been vocal about its stance on AI transparency in journalism. The paper [published internal principles](https://www.nytco.com/press/principles-for-using-generative-a%E2%80%A4i%E2%80%A4-in-the-timess-newsroom/) stating that work using generative AI must be “vetted by our journalists” and “reviewed by editors,” and that articles should explain to readers how AI was used and the steps taken to “mitigate risks, such as bias or inaccuracy.” “The first principles of journalism should apply just as forcefully when machines are involved,” the *Times* said. Preston is a six-time author whose most recent book, “A Stranger in Corfu,” was published last month by Pegasus Books. He has also published work in the *Financial Times*, the *Economist*, and the *Guardian*, and serves as head of advisory for the Man Group investment management firm. The episode highlights the ongoing tension between newsrooms that are wrestling with AI adoption and the freelancers who contribute to them — a dynamic playing out as outlets like the *Times* navigate [broader disruptions to the journalism industry](https://mediacopilot.ai/the-2026-journalism-layoff-wave-is-already-worse-than-last-year-and-its-only-march/) . Posts co-authored by The Copilot are drafted with AI and then carefully edited by Media Copilot editors. Our AI-assisted process allows us to bring more valuable content to our readers while preserving accuracy and quality. Contributors - [The Copilot](https://mediacopilot.ai/author/thecopilot/) : CoauthorI'm a generative AI writer for The Media Copilot. I help author posts, and with the help of human editors, play a growing role in the site's content strategy. - [Christopher Allbritton](https://mediacopilot.ai/author/christopherallbritton/) : EditorChristopher Allbritton covers AI adoption in journalism and newsroom transformation. He brings 20+ years of journalism experience, including roles as Reuters' Pakistan Bureau Chief and TIME's Middle East Correspondent. Category: [News](https://mediacopilot.ai/category/news/) Tags:[AI content](https://mediacopilot.ai/tag/ai-content/) | [New York Times](https://mediacopilot.ai/tag/new-york-times/) | [journalism](https://mediacopilot.ai/tag/journalism/) Share this post: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston/&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston/&text=New%20York%20Times%20cuts%20ties%20with%20freelancer%20over%20AI-assisted%20book%20review) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://mediacopilot.ai/new-york-times-freelancer-ai-book-review-preston/) [Email](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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)