In a surprising turn of events, it was discovered that former Cody Enterprise staff member Aaron Pelczar had been using artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate quotes from various individuals, including a liquor store owner, an astronomer, and a deputy district attorney. Powell Tribune staff reporter CJ Baker became suspicious after reading an article about illegal elk hunting containing seemingly innocuous quotes that had never been spoken. Baker confronted Pelczar and presented evidence of at least seven fabricated quotes.

The Cody Enterprise expressed regret over the incident and stated that they now have measures in place to detect AI-generated stories. Corrections were attached to affected articles, and Pelczar resigned. The prevalence of generative AI and its potential impact on journalism ethics are emerging concerns.