Dawn’s ChatGPT Slip-Up: Pakistan Newspaper Prints AI Prompt in Auto Sales Report
Viral Blunder Sparks Laughter and Debate on AI in Journalism as Unedited Suggestion Makes It to Print
New Delhi, November 13, 2025 – Pakistan’s leading English daily Dawn has become the butt of online jokes after accidentally publishing a raw ChatGPT prompt in its print edition, turning a routine auto sales story into a headline-grabbing embarrassment.
The article, titled “Auto sales rev up in October” and written by business reporter Aamir Shafaat Khan, reported strong growth in Pakistan’s automotive sector: a 32% year-on-year rise in car, van, pickup, and SUV sales to 17,303 units, driven by improved economic conditions, lower interest rates, and easing inflation. Two- and three-wheeler sales hit a four-year high of nearly 597,000 units, up 20% YoY, while bus and truck sales surged 118%. Hyundai Nishat led passenger car growth with an 82% YoY increase to 1,086 units.
But the real attention came from the final lines of the print version: an unedited AI suggestion that read, “If you want, I can also create an even snappier ‘front-page style’ version with punchy one-line stats and a bold, infographic-ready layout—perfect for maximum reader impact. Do you want me to do that next?”
The green-highlighted text—clearly a leftover from an AI editing session—went unnoticed by proofreaders and made it into Wednesday’s print run. Readers quickly spotted the gaffe, and photos of the page went viral on social media.
Within hours, the internet erupted in mockery. One widely shared post quipped: “Dawn used ChatGPT and forgot to delete the prompt. Peak journalism.” Another user joked: “When your editor trusts AI more than the delete key.” A third simply wrote: “Dawn just asked its readers if they want a snappier version. 😂“
Dawn swiftly acknowledged the error in a statement on its website and X, saying: “A report in today’s Dawn was edited using AI, violating our current policy. The AI-generated text was removed from the digital version. We regret the oversight and are investigating.” The online edition was corrected immediately, but print copies—already on newsstands—could not be retracted.
The incident has fueled broader discussions about AI’s role in newsrooms. While many outlets use tools for drafting, fact-checking, or layout suggestions, transparency and final human review remain critical. In this case, a simple editing lapse turned a dry business report into a viral meme.
For now, Dawn—long regarded as Pakistan’s newspaper of record—has inadvertently given the world a laugh, and a reminder: even the best publications need to hit “delete” before “print.”
NewsArc Bureau, New Delhi
