From the hackathon winner “SchnittmAIster” to the BreznBot, from dialect research to international conferences – the AI for Media Network once again demonstrated in 2025 how AI can concretely advance journalism. The membership has doubled to 1200 individuals, and we have ambitious plans for 2026.
In January 2024, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) and Ippen Digital launched the AI for Media Network. It is dedicated to exploring how AI can enhance journalism. We do not view artificial intelligence as an end in itself; rather, we aim to deploy it where it solves specific problems or simplifies workflows.
ARD Team Wins AI for Media Hackathon with Video Editing Pipeline
The network emphasizes practical relevance, particularly during the annual hackathon, where participants develop proofs of concept or prototypes. The AI for Media Hackathon 2025, held at Google’s Munich offices, focused on “Conversational Products and Video Production with AI.” The six-member jury was most impressed by the “SchnittmAIster” project: a KI-supported pipeline that facilitates automated video editing. The SchnittmAIster is now used in BR for producing news videos.
Wildermuth: AI for Media Network is a Central Component for Partnerships
Image and video production with the help of AI was also the focus of the second meetup in 2025, held on July 9 at Bayerischer Rundfunk. BR Director Dr. Katja Wildermuth praised the collaborative spirit of the AI for Media Network, which includes around 500 organizations, such as broadcasters, publishers, software manufacturers, and universities: “In the AI era, BR and ARD are just one player among many. It’s crucial to focus on partnerships. The AI for Media Network is a central component for that.”
An example of such collaboration is the BreznBot, jointly developed by BR and Ippen Digital. It answered questions about the Munich Oktoberfest based on a database with Wiesn-specific content from BR, Münchner Merkur, tz, and oktoberfest.de. Uli Köppen, Chief AI Officer of BR, and Cécile Schneider, Head of Product, introduced the BreznBot at the third meetup on September 25 at WDR in Cologne, which focused on dialogue-oriented journalism with the help of RAG systems.
The other two meetups this year focused on AI agents and how AI can improve regional journalism. We introduced a new segment, “Problem Pitch,” where editorial teams can present a use case for AI implementation that still faces practical challenges. Meetup participants then offer solution suggestions. This format was very well received and will continue in 2026.
Dialect Transcription: A Joint Project by BR Archive and LMU
Another example of collaborations fostered by the AI for Media Network was the dialect transcription project between BR Archive and the Center for Information and Language Processing (CIS) at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. BR provided CIS with several “Betthupferl” episodes spoken in various Bavarian dialects. Researchers tested different automatic speech recognition systems and demonstrated that these models make quite a few errors when transcribing dialect recordings into standard German. Representatives from BR Archive and CIS met during the “Science meets Journalism” workshop of the AI for Media Network in 2024.
Recommendations for Media Visibility in the AI Era
In February, the AI for Media Network published its first report. The whitepaper “How Media Brands Can Mantain Visibility in the AI Era” analyzes how media consumption is changing in the AI era and provides recommendations for media organizations on how to continue or even better reach audiences with high-quality content.
Network as a Sought-After Collaboration Partner
The AI for Media Network was a cooperation partner at two AI conferences. One was the Media Lab Innovation Festival by Media Lab Bayern on March 18 and 19 in Munich, and the other was the News Impact Summit “Elevating Journalism with AI” by the European Journalism Centre on October 9 in Warsaw. At this event, the network gained several international members.
“AI is Alrighty” Party
Our “AI is Alrighty” party, organized with Media Lab Bayern as a side event to the Munich Media Days, was very well received. Over 100 network members gathered at the Alrighty Bar in the Werksviertel to exchange ideas and network in a relaxed atmosphere to the sounds of a DJ set.
Membership Doubled, LinkedIn Group Introduced
Interest in the network’s activities remains high in its second year: We now have 1200 members, doubling the number within a year. We also introduced a LinkedIn group where we collect topic suggestions for upcoming events and discuss AI developments relevant to the media industry. The group already has over 500 members, and those interested in joining the discussion can join the group here.
Extensive Program Planned for 2026
“Bots & Beers” event, aimed at trainee journalists, will be held on January 23 in collaboration with the Institute for the Promotion of Journalistic Talent in Munich. Trainee journalists will be shown five different use cases where AI is applied.
The topic of AI and verification will be the focus of the 7th meetup on February 12 at Spiegel in Hamburg.
Additionally, the AI for Media Network will again be a cooperation partner for the Media Lab Innovation Festival organized by Media Lab Bayern. It will take place on March 18 at the University of Television and Film in Munich.
The 8th meetup will be held on May 12 at BR, with the topic yet to be determined.
To stay updated on all AI for Media Network activities, you can subscribe to our newsletter or join our LinkedIn group.