Tagesspiegel Suspends Ex-Editor Casdorff Over AI-Written Articles, June 13

The Tagesspiegel newspaper has suspended Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, its former editor-in-chief and current “Editor at Large,” from publishing after discovering he used artificial intelligence to write opinion pieces without disclosure. The Berlin-based outlet removed his articles from its site and launched an external investigation. The case comes as German media grapples with how to regulate AI in newsrooms.

What Casdorff Did and Why It Matters

Casdorff used AI to write multiple opinion pieces and published them without flagging the tool’s involvement. The Tagesspiegel’s editorial team said this violated internal guidelines that require human journalists to control the core work of reporting, analysis, and writing. Casdorff led the newspaper as editor-in-chief from 2004 to 2018 and as publisher from 2018 to 2024, making him a major figure in its history.

The Newspaper’s Response and Casdorff’s Admission

The Tagesspiegel stated that AI can help with individual editorial tasks but must not replace the core of journalism. Casdorff admitted to making “a huge mistake” and apologized, saying he should have disclosed the AI use and not published the pieces. The newspaper removed his articles pending review and hired an external firm to check whether other texts improperly used AI.

Broader Debate Over AI in German Media

The Casdorff case is part of a wider reckoning in German journalism. Days earlier, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung removed a guest article by Thuringia’s Minister-President Mario Voigt after discovering it was AI-generated. In contrast, Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner published a fully AI-written commentary in Die Welt, arguing that AI is simply a new tool like ghostwriting. This split approach shows no consensus yet on AI transparency rules across German newsrooms.

Technical and Transparency Challenges Ahead

The case exposes a gap between AI as a writing aid and AI as a writer. Newsrooms struggle to track where AI starts and human judgment ends in the editing process. The Tagesspiegel’s decision to hire external auditors signals that internal controls may not catch AI use reliably. Redactions now face pressure to define clear policies on disclosure and human oversight before publishing.

Final Thoughts

Casdorff’s suspension marks a turning point for German media on AI use. The Tagesspiegel’s hard line—banning AI-written articles outright—differs sharply from other outlets, but the case shows that editorial credibility now hinges on transparency about AI involvement in journalism.

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