Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President, has raised a strong warning about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence within the political sphere. According to statements from the Federal Presidential Office, he firmly believes that politicians, who hold responsibility and authority through elections, should never be tempted to delegate their own judgment to automated text generation. The office stressed that transparency and the credible ability for politicians to stand by their words as authentic are fundamental components of political integrity, adding that anything less would damage democracy.
A further threat to public trust in both politics and democracy, according to the Federal President, lies in the malicious application of AI tools-specifically, for deliberate deception through manufactured visual or written forgeries. From his perspective, it is essential that AI remains merely a tool that does not undermine the primacy of human intelligence and evaluation. Because these tools often carry inherent flaws, their use requires particular care and human oversight and correction.
The Presidential Office clarified Steinmeier’s commitment: “The Federal President is convinced that any statement, text, or speech within the political environment must always be attributable to a human being and should express human individuality, reason, reflection, and critical judgment. No machine can replace this capability.”
This cautionary stance comes amid a broader public discussion triggered by recent reports that the Minister-President of Thuringia, Mario Voigt, and the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs, Karsten Wildberger, had utilized AI to draft speeches and articles. This has ignited wide-ranging debate across politics, journalism, literature, and academia regarding the appropriate use of AI in text creation.
Responding to inquiries, the Presidential Office further explained that Steinmeier himself does not use AI to compose his speeches. His assisting staff members do use AI, but only as “a research instrument” alongside other resources, always adhering to strict caution and the guidelines set by the Federal Presidential Office. They do not allow AI to write or draft speeches or greetings-not even in parts-but rather prepare drafts in close consultation with the relevant departments and house management, which then serve as foundational material and preparation for the Federal President’s speeches.
