Thuringian Minister President Mario Voigt faces criticism over AI‑generated speeches

Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) is under renewed scrutiny after the portal „Frag den Staat“ reported that several of his speeches – including a Holocaust‑remembrance address in 2025, a tribute to former premier Bernhard Vogel and a joint guest article with Saxony‑Anhalt’s minister president – contained passages generated with artificial intelligence. Voigt told the Tagesspiegel that “if there were isolated passages created with AI, I will not cut anyone’s head off” and maintains that most of his speeches are his own, while continuing to champion the use of AI in politics.

The state’s Digital Minister Steffen Schütz (BSW) said he would label any AI‑generated content and uses AI only for research and topic preparation. Critics from the Thuringian Left party argue that Voigt’s alleged lack of disclosure breaches the ministry’s digital‑service guidelines, calling him “a textbook example of how not to use AI.” The controversy adds to existing pressure on Voigt, who is already contesting the revocation of his doctorate by the Technical University of Chemnitz.

Both Voigt and his deputy finance minister Katja Wolf emphasize that AI tools can improve administrative efficiency, but the debate highlights growing demands for transparency in political communication.