Kassel, Germany – A new trend is sweeping across social media, and it’s making its way into local politics. Residents of Kassel are using artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, to generate caricatures of themselves, often depicting them in humorous or aspirational scenarios. The trend has even caught the attention of local politicians, including City Treasurer Matthias Nölke, who used a ChatGPT-generated image to comment on the city’s budget.
Nölke, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), recently posted a caricature to Instagram showing himself holding a “Secret” labeled budget book in one hand and a calculator displaying a zero in the other. A Post-it note urges “Save!” while, in the background, politicians from the coalition partners – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Green Party – are depicted holding bags of money and signs demanding “More Money!” The image, as reported by HNA.de on February 17, 2026, is a clear statement from Nölke that he is the one ensuring the city maintains a balanced budget – a claim the article notes is not currently accurate.
The use of AI-generated imagery isn’t limited to Nölke. Kassel’s Regierungspräsident (Regional President) Mark Weinmeister, a member of the CDU, also shared a playful image of himself in a yacht club jogging suit, pointing a finger at a funding notification. The trend, initially popularized by younger generations creating action figures of themselves with AI, is now being embraced by older demographics, though their children, part of Generation Z, often find it “cringe,” or embarrassing, according to HNA.de.
A Political Satire Backlash
The trend took a more pointed turn when the Kassel branch of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) used ChatGPT to create a mock-up of a front page from the HNA newspaper. The fabricated headline read “2026 noch mehr Baustellen” (“2026 even more construction sites”), and featured a caricature of the governing coalition – Nölke (FDP), Maximilian Bathon (CDU), and City Climate Councilor Simone Fedderke (Green Party) – stuck in a “Jamaica Bob” (a reference to the Jamaica coalition, named for the colors of the parties involved) surrounded by construction sites. The implication was that the coalition was responsible for the city’s ongoing infrastructure issues.
The SPD’s satirical jab drew criticism from Pascal Sommer of the Young Liberals, who labeled it a “low-level and clumsy election campaign tactic.” Sommer argued that FDP City Treasurer Nölke was finally investing in infrastructure after years of stagnation under the Social Democrats. The CDU also weighed in, suggesting the SPD add a disclaimer labeling the image as AI-generated to avoid confusion.
The Man Behind the Meme
Interestingly, the technical execution of the SPD’s caricature was overseen by Normann Günther, whose connections add a layer of complexity to the situation. Günther is married to Cornelia Janusch, an SPD city council member, but is himself a member of the CDU, as well as an entrepreneur and author who frequently lectures on the opportunities and risks of AI. Günther reportedly advised his wife and fellow party members on the creation of the image, and, according to HNA.de, has so far received only a chuckle in response to the satirical front page.
Günther also noted a potential privacy concern, stating, “It’s actually not good if AI can create a caricature of you like this. It obviously already knows a lot about a person.” This echoes broader concerns about data privacy and the potential for AI to reveal personal information, which could be exploited by malicious actors.
AI and the Future of Political Discourse
The use of AI in political campaigns raises questions about the boundaries of satire and the potential for misinformation. While the caricatures are currently lighthearted, the technology could be used to create more deceptive or damaging content. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it will be increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic and AI-generated material, potentially eroding trust in political discourse.
Matthias Nölke, born January 8, 1980, in Kassel, previously served as a member of the German Bundestag from April 2020 to October 2021, according to his Wikipedia page. He is currently the City Treasurer and Economic Development Officer for the city of Kassel, a position he has held since October 2023.
The Kassel municipal elections are ongoing, and it remains to be seen how this AI-fueled trend will impact the outcome. As the campaign progresses, voters will likely encounter more AI-generated content, requiring them to critically evaluate the information they consume. The next scheduled event is a public forum on city infrastructure planned for February 24th, where candidates are expected to address the issues raised in the SPD’s satirical caricature.
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