Government · Berlin and Washington
German digital minister Karsten Wildberger used AI to write newspaper op-eds and speeches without telling editors, Die Zeit investigation reveals
Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) relied on artificial intelligence to draft speeches and guest articles for major newspapers, the weekly Die Zeit reported. The ministry never disclosed the AI use to the publications involved.
AI text based on reports by Der Tagesspiegel, RP Online, Focus and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
An April 2026 Handelsblatt article was almost entirely AI, a March 2026 FAS piece mostly AI, and a July 2024 Atlantic Council speech entirely AI, according to Die Zeit's analysis.
The Digital Ministry confirmed it made no separate disclosure to Handelsblatt or FAS about the AI use, treating it like any other office tool.
Wildberger sees AI as essential for Germany's quick learning in productive and measured AI deployment across all sectors, his spokesperson said.
Thuringian minister-president Mario Voigt was also criticised after several of his speeches, including a Holocaust memorial address, were linked to AI generation.
- July 2024Speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C., entirely written by AI according to Die Zeit.
- March 2026Guest article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, described as mostly AI-generated.
- April 2026Guest article in Handelsblatt, almost entirely produced by AI.
The allegations
Die Zeit examined several texts attributed to Wildberger with AI detection software. The analysis found that a guest article published in Handelsblatt in April 2026 was nearly entirely AI-generated, while a contribution to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) from March 2026 was written mostly by AI. A speech delivered at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. in July 2024 came entirely from a machine, and several Bundestag speeches were largely AI-produced, according to the report.
The ministry response
A spokesperson for the Digital Ministry confirmed that the minister uses AI as a working tool, framing it as a necessity for Germany's digital transformation.
“Minister Wildberger uses it as a support because he is convinced that Germany must quickly learn how to handle AI productively and judiciously. That applies to business, administration and also to politics.”
Human oversight claims
Every speech begins with a preliminary discussion between the speechwriting team and the minister about structure, impact and core messages, the ministry said. AI can be used as a sparring partner to organise thoughts, test alternative formulations, propose cuts or sharpen the structure.
“Before anything is incorporated into a speech, a person must check, change and decide.”
Broader context in the CDU
The controversy around Wildberger echoes an earlier case involving Thuringian minister-president Mario Voigt, also of the CDU. Voigt faced criticism after several of his speeches and guest articles were found to have been partially or fully created with AI, including a speech for Holocaust Remembrance Day, a funeral address and a New Year's message.
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Sources and context
- Der TagesspiegelMinisterium verteidigt die Nutzung: Wildberger erstellte Gastbeiträge und Reden mithilfe von KI
- RP OnlineVon KI geschrieben: Digitalminister Wildberger gerät wegen Reden und Artikeln unter Druck
- FocusCDU-Minister Wildberger ließ KI Texte und Reden schreiben
- ZEIT ONLINEKarsten Wildberger: "Das komfortable Gefühl einer in sich stimmigen Erzählung"
- Karsten Wildberger
- German Federal Minister for Digital Affairs (CDU) investigated for using AI to write speeches and guest articles.
- Mario Voigt
- Minister-President of Thuringia (CDU) also criticised for AI-generated speeches, including a Holocaust remembrance address.
- Places
- Washington, D.C.
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