Just a week after the previously recalled head of the ZDF studio in New York used an AI-generated video in a report for the 'Heute-Journal,' ARD followed suit. In a segment for the show 'Report from Berlin' last Sunday regarding the CDU party congress in Stuttgart, footage was edited to create the impression that Angela Merkel was standing and applauding the re-election of Friedrich Merz as party leader. In reality, Merkel had already left the room at that time, and the applause was in truth directed at a speech Merz had given several hours earlier.

The recent incidents involving doctored images from ARD and ZDF sparked a reaction from the AfD, who demanded a current hour in the Bundestag to address these issues. However, their attempts to seize the moment were met with indifference from the parliament, which managed to dismiss their concerns with relative ease. This highlights the political landscape in Germany, where the influence of the AfD appears to be waning, even in the face of controversies surrounding mainstream media practices.

The discussion around the use of AI in journalism and the ethical considerations is becoming increasingly critical. As more media outlets experiment with AI-generated content, the potential for misinformation grows, raising questions about the credibility of news sources. This instance serves as a case study for the need for stricter guidelines and responsibilities for media in the digital age, to ensure that public discourse is based on factual information rather than manipulated narratives.