"No Editors Needed"... Leading German Media Faces Layoffs Due to AI

Bild, Editorial Work Replaced by AI
"Soon AI Will Surpass Journalists"

Bild, the largest-selling tabloid newspaper in Europe based in Germany, plans to replace its editorial work with artificial intelligence (AI) in the future.

On the 20th (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian and others, the parent company Axel Springer stated in an email sent to Bild employees that it will actively introduce AI and automation worth 100 million euros (approximately 140.6 billion KRW) as part of cost-cutting measures.

Axel Springer said, "We will part ways with employees performing tasks that AI or automation can replace in the digital age."

Bild and Die Welt newspapers.
[Photo by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) website capture]

Axel Springer added that jobs such as editors, deputy editors, print production support, proofreaders, and photo editors will no longer exist as they do now, and that they are also preparing to reorganize their regional business units.

The Guardian analyzed that although Axel Springer did not specify the scale of layoffs due to AI introduction, it is expected to be in the hundreds.

BILD's competitor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), reported that Bild is pushing for a plan to reduce editorial staff by 200 people and cut regional editors from the current 18 to 12.

FAZ predicted that Axel Springer would take similar measures for its flagship newspaper, Die Welt.

Matthias D?pfner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Axel Springer. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Matthias D?pfner, CEO of Axel Springer, declared a full transition to digital media in February, stating that AI tools like ChatGPT will either improve or replace independent journalism.

CEO D?pfner argued that AI will soon surpass journalists in synthesizing information, and only publishers producing the best original content, such as investigative journalism and unique commentary, will survive.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.