OpenAI and WAN-IFRA Launch Global AI Accelerator for Newsrooms

OpenAI,
in
collaboration
with
the
World
Association
of
News
Publishers
(WAN-IFRA),
has
announced
the
launch
of
an
ambitious
accelerator
program
aimed
at
over
100
news
publishers
globally.
Named
the

Newsroom
AI
Catalyst,
the
initiative
seeks
to
help
newsrooms
adopt
and
integrate





artificial
intelligence
(AI)
technologies
to
enhance
content
creation,
data
analysis,
and
user
experience.

AI’s
Role
in
Modern
Newsrooms

The
advent
of
AI,
particularly
generative
AI,
presents
numerous
opportunities
for
the
journalism
industry.
AI
can
assist
in
producing
and
refining
content,
conducting
deeper
data
analysis,
and
improving
user
engagement
on
news
websites.
However,
it
also
introduces
challenges
such
as
misinformation,
privacy
concerns,
copyright
issues,
and
potential
biases.

The
Newsroom
AI
Catalyst
program
intends
to
address
these
challenges
while
leveraging
AI’s
benefits.
The
program
will
support
128
newsrooms
across
Europe,
Asia
Pacific,
Latin
America,
and
South
Asia,
providing
them
with
expert
guidance
and
hands-on
experience
to
drive
AI-driven
strategic
initiatives.

Program
Structure
and
Objectives

This
three-month
accelerator
will
offer
a
comprehensive
curriculum,
including
learning
modules,
hands-on
workshops,
a
mini
hackathon,
and
a
showcase
event.
It
will
commence
with
an
in-person
workshop,
allowing
participants
and
coaches
to
connect
and
initiate
their
AI
prototyping
projects.
By
the
end
of
the
program,
participants
will
have
developed
clear
plans
for
implementing
AI
in
their
newsrooms.

OpenAI,
the
organization
behind
ChatGPT,
will
fund
and
provide
technical
support
for
the
initiative.
According
to
Vincent
Peyregne,
CEO
of
WAN-IFRA,
this
support
is
crucial
as
news
enterprises
face
declining
advertising
and
print
subscription
revenues,
threatening
the
sustainability
of
news
organizations
and,
consequently,
democracy
itself.

“News
enterprises
across
the
globe
have
come
under
pressure
from
declining
advertising
and
print
subscription
revenues.
The
adversity
confronting
news
leaves
communities
without
access
to
a
shared
basis
of
facts
and
shared
values,
and
puts
democracy
itself
at
risk.
AI
technologies
have
the
potential
to
positively
influence
the
sustainability
of
news
organizations,”
said
Peyregne.

Tom
Rubin,
Chief
of
Intellectual
Property
and
Content
at
OpenAI,
echoed
this
sentiment,
emphasizing
the
transformative
potential
of
AI
in
journalism.
“At
OpenAI,
we
are
committed
to
harnessing
the
transformative
power
of
AI
to
expand
opportunities
broadly.
This
program
is
designed
to
turbocharge
the
capabilities
of
128
newsrooms
across
Europe,
Asia,
and
Latin
America
in
collaboration
with
WAN-IFRA,”
he
said.

Looking
Forward

The
accelerator
program
aims
to
leave
participants
with
a
solid
understanding
of
AI’s
role
in
modern
journalism
and
actionable
plans
to
integrate
these
technologies
effectively.
The
initiative
underscores
the
importance
of
AI
in
maintaining
high-quality
journalism
and
a
sustainable
news
ecosystem.

For
more
details
about
the
program,
including
the
curriculum,
timeline,
eligibility
criteria,
and
application
process,
interested
parties
can
visit
WAN-IFRA’s
official
website
at

WAN-IFRA.

Image
source:
Shutterstock

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