Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts)
Fri Jul 21, 2023, 12:28 PM Jul 2023

Company seeking subsidies circulates fake study

Jul 13 2023

Company seeking subsidies circulates fake study

Plastics manufacturer gave Lockport IDA board members a summary of a study that touted the safety of one of its products. No such study existed; it was made up by an artificial intelligence program.

By J. Dale Shoemaker

A plastics manufacturer seeking tax breaks to build a plant in Lockport has put its application on hold after being called out Thursday for circulating a summary of a study that was fabricated and produced by artificial intelligence.

Prior to a public hearing Thursday, the India-based firm SRI CV Plastics, seeking $312,000 in subsidies from the Lockport Industrial Development Agency, provided the agency’s board a one-page summary of a study that touted the safety of PVC pipes, one of the products the company plans to make at the plant.

A University at Buffalo professor, Lourdes Vera, called out the company’s study summary at Thursday’s hearing as a fake.

“I do not trust this company and this information that they’re distributing,” Vera said at the hearing.

{snip}

So who's Investigative Post? They partner with WGRZ, so it strikes me as legit. Same story, from WGRZ:

INVESTIGATIVE POST

Company seeking subsidies circulates fake study

A plastics manufacturer gave Lockport IDA board members a summary of a study that touted the safety of one of its products. No such study existed.

Author: Investigative Post, J. Dale Shoemaker
Published: 6:02 PM EDT July 13, 2023
Updated: 11:19 PM EDT July 13, 2023

LOCKPORT, N.Y. — A plastics manufacturer seeking tax breaks to build a plant in Lockport has put its application on hold after being called out Thursday for circulating a summary of a study that was fabricated and produced by artificial intelligence.

Prior to a public hearing Thursday, the India-based firm SRI CV Plastics, seeking $312,000 in subsidies from the Lockport Industrial Development Agency, provided the agency’s board a one-page summary of a study that touted the safety of PVC pipes, one of the products the company plans to make at the plant.

A University at Buffalo professor and Lockport native, Lourdes Vera, called out the company’s study summary at Thursday’s hearing as a fake.

You can read the full story on Investigative Post's website.
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»New York»Company seeking subsidies...