Pakistan’s leading English-language daily, Dawn, is once again in the spotlight after an unusual oversight appeared in its print edition. Readers noticed a sentence that appeared to be a direct ChatGPT prompt embedded in an article, raising questions about editorial processes in the newsroom.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, drawing reactions ranging from amusement to concern over editorial standards. Users noted the unusual visibility of a digital tool’s direct input in a traditional print medium, sparking discussions about the growing influence of technology in journalism.

This is not the first time Dawn has faced such scrutiny. Last time, in November, a similar incident happened where mix-up appeared at the end of a business story,  titled “Auto Sales Rev Up in October,” then the article suddenly switched tone and started offering to “create a snappier version” with “infographic-ready layout.” Experts say incidents like these, while not uncommon globally, serve as reminders for newsrooms to maintain strict editorial checks, especially when integrating AI-based tools into content production.

Founded in 1942, Dawn has long been regarded as Pakistan’s most trusted English-language newspaper. The repeated presence of AI-generated material, accidental or otherwise, has drawn attention from media analysts and social media users alike, highlighting the ongoing challenges traditional newsrooms face in an era of advanced automation.

After the previous backlash, Dawn had issued a formal AI news policy, publicly apologized and promised stricter editorial oversight. However, the recurrence of a similar oversight in the current print edition shows that challenges in implementing these policies remain.