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Local News AI

Narrowing the technology gap between national and local newsrooms

AP’s Local News AI is a two-year initiative helping U.S. local newsrooms identify and adopt artificial intelligence-based solutions. In its first year, the program assessed AI readiness in almost 200 newsrooms and published a report of the findings. Local News AI produced a six-unit course based on the needs identified in its national research. In its second year, the program developed blueprints for 15 newsroom projects that include automation and AI. The team is currently working on five project builds that include generative AI with the Brainerd Dispatch, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, KSAT-TV, WFMZ-TV and WUOM-FM. Each project aims to reduce tedious tasks in the newsrooms and help other newsrooms that can use the project open-source code. The Local News AI initiative is made available by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Another Knight-funded organization, Partnership on AI, has developed an AI Tools for Local Newsrooms Database.

Learn more about how AP has been a leader in advancing AI across the news industry

Reporting on AI

There are many benefits for local newsrooms to implement tools that include automation and AI, however there are also complexities and risks inherent with tools that include AI. Below are links to recent AP investigations on how AI impacts society.

Tech tool offers police ‘mass surveillance on a budget’

U.S. police agencies have been using an obscuretracking tool to follow people’s whereabouts, sometimes without a warrant, AP finds. 

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Algorithm that screens for child neglect raises concerns

Investigative reporters probebias concerns about the use of algorithms to make key decisions in the U.S. child welfare system.

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How AI-powered tech landed man in jail with scant evidence

AP journalists investigate the impacts of the gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter in U.S. cities andcourtrooms.

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ChatGPT & DALL-E: What Generative AI means for journalism webinar

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