Plenipotentiary Barbara Mróz-Gorgoń resigns over AI errors in 200,000 PLN national brand report

Barbara Mróz-Gorgoń stepped down from her position as the government plenipotentiary for promoting Poland's brand on Friday following public scrutiny of a 200,000 PLN report. Prime Minister Donald Tusk appointed her to the post on 29 July 2026 to coordinate the administration's national branding initiatives. The document, titled "Polaków portret własny. Raport z badań DNA marki Polska", drew criticism for extensive reliance on generative artificial intelligence and factual inaccuracies. Mróz-Gorgoń announced her resignation on social media, attributing the decision to widespread public reaction.

Given this unimaginable scale of hate, it is impossible to perform such a responsible role. I hope that this project, important for Poland, will be continued regardless of difficulties.

Inaccuracies and prosecutorial review

The 2025 document contained multiple factual discrepancies in economic and geographical data before its website was taken offline. The report claimed that Poland's GDP per capita rose from approximately 12,500 dollars in 2010 to between 17,000 and 18,000 dollars in 2024, whereas World Bank records showed about 25,100 dollars. Geographic passages placed Katowice in northern or central Poland and Wrocław in the north-west, alongside assertions of 15,000 lakes in the Masurian Lake District. On Friday, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw registered formal proceedings regarding potential irregularities in the funding of the 200,000 PLN project. In an interview on Polsat News, Mróz-Gorgoń defended the methodology while acknowledging the role of digital tools in preparing the text.

We used AI tools exclusively for transcription, summarisation, and text editing; they did not design research content or create conclusions. This was work in places reflecting what Polish women and men really think.

Foundation statement and retraction

Fundacja Marka Polska Think Tank, which Mróz-Gorgoń led as president, issued a public statement clarifying its relationship with the project. The board noted that the foundation was not a party to the contract with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, stating that Stowarzyszenie Konferencje i Kongresy w Polsce served as the contractor. The current leadership stated that it assumed duties after the preparation and publication of the document and found no evidence of receiving funds from the state contract. An initial version of the foundation's announcement included a sentence confirming that the board had decided to conclude operations, but that specific passage was removed shortly after publication without clarification.

Cancellation at Campus Polska Przyszłości

Following her resignation, Mróz-Gorgoń cancelled her scheduled appearance at Campus Polska Przyszłości 2026 in Olsztyn, taking place from 26 to 30 August 2026. Organizers of the socio-political festival, initiated by Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, had scheduled her for a panel discussing the development of Poland's international brand. Event representatives announced her withdrawal on Monday, expressing regret over the lost opportunity for discussion.

We regret to inform that Professor Barbara Mróz-Gorgoń has informed us that she will not take part in Campus Polska Przyszłości 2026. We regret this, as there would certainly have been many topics and questions.

President Karol Nawrocki addressed the controversy during an interview with Krzysztof Stanowski at the presidential residence in Jurata.

I do not want to comment on this. Most certainly, this entire situation was not good for Poland.