Deutsche Welle (DW)

DW Supervisory Board Warns of Further Budget Cuts

Deutsche Welle's supervisory board warned that further federal budget cuts could force deep savings and jeopardize the public broadcaster's ability to fulfil its mandate. The federal government cut DW's 2026 budget by €10 million; mid-term planning foresees a €425 million federal subsidy for 2027, but a proposed €16.9 million reduction in ODA funds could lower DW's 2027 grant to €408.1 million. The supervisory board highlighted unresolved questions about whether the federal government will fully compensate tariff (collective bargaining) cost increases — €10.8 million for 2026 and €12.8 million for 2027 — and warned that combined savings requirements mean DW must cut roughly 10% of spending within three years, risking investment, jobs and reductions to the journalistic offering.

Study: Chatbots Weaken Misinformation Detection

An MIT Media Lab study found that relying on AI systems for fact‑checking over the course of a month reduces users’ independent ability to detect misinformation once the chatbot is unavailable. In a four‑week experiment with 67 participants, AI assistance improved misinformation detection by 21%, but when AI was removed performance in week four fell 15 percentage points below baseline; roughly one quarter of participants believed they had improved despite performing worse. The article also cites a separate review of 22 public broadcasters’ tests of ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and Perplexity AI that found nearly half of AI responses had at least one significant issue (31% had major citation problems; 20% contained serious factual errors). Authors warn that conversational styles that narrate answers can create dependency, while socratic questioning may better support learning. The study notes sample limitations and plans broader follow-ups.

DW and Vidio launch 'The Scene' for Southeast Asia

DW and Vidio launch 'The Scene', a series exploring youth culture, identity and everyday life across the region.