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Merkel Says She No Longer Uses Her Signature 'Raute' Gesture

Her remarks signal a post-chancellorship turn toward history-focused travel with cautious curiosity about AI.

Overview

  • She made the comments at a Stern magazine event in Berlin on Dec. 11.
  • She noted people beside her increasingly imitate the diamond-shaped hand pose, which she jokingly called “plagiatsverdächtig.”
  • Merkel said she has experimented with AI tools such as ChatGPT but described her enthusiasm as limited.
  • She added that brief trials taught her how to prompt ChatGPT to tell her what she wants to hear.
  • Now 71 and four years out of office, she is spending more time on history-focused travel, citing Florence and Pompeii.