TV channel launches Germany's first completely AI-generated news programme

German television channel Welt TV has launched KI-Welt (roughly translated as “AI World”), a news magazine programme entirely produced using artificial intelligence. The weekly show will be broadcast every Thursday at 2:45 pm CET, focusing on topics such as AI, robotics and future technologies. Whilst the entire production process – from topic selection and script writing to presentation – is handled by an AI-powered system, editorial oversight remains the responsibility of human journalists, who the channel claims will ensure compliance with journalistic standards.

Technological implementation

A key component of the show is a virtual avatar that engages viewers throughout the roughly 15-minute runtime using a synthetic voice. The AI system behind the production independently analyses news sources, generates content and creates new scripts.

According to Welt.de, this project is considered an experiment within the company to explore new digital production methods, with the aim of determining how far AI can be integrated into an editorial setting. 

"The new KI-Welt show is fully produced by AI – including topic research, script creation and presentation through a virtual avatar."

Where the programme stands in the media landscape

Welt TV is the first German television channel to integrate a fully AI-generated news show into its regular programming. To date, other broadcasters have only experimented with individual elements, such as avatar newsreaders and automated scripting. The company states that KI-Welt is a standalone magazine programme and won’t replace any existing shows. The Welt TV newsroom is also unaffected.

Legal and ethical considerations

The emergence of completely AI-produced shows raises new questions about transparency, accountability and media literacy. This is why human oversight by journalists is highlighted as a key safeguard. At the same time, the project illustrates the growing relevance of AI technologies in journalism and could serve as an example for other media outlets.

Future outlook

Only time will tell whether KI-Welt can establish itself in the long run. For now, the show remains an experiment with an uncertain outcome. Public response and potential technical advancements could play a major role in determining how such show formats are positioned in the future media landscape.