Poynter launches AI Innovation Lab to house its growing AI portfolio

The nonprofit Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism and ethics, has emerged as one of the most trusted voices in guiding how newsrooms and the public adapt to artificial intelligence, through training journalists, commissioning research and working with civic and corporate partners on AI literacy projects.

Now, Poynter is bringing its extensive work together under its new Poynter AI Innovation Lab, to ensure journalists and the public have a trusted source for strategy, ethical guidance, training and tools.  

Poynter’s work with AI, especially in the area of AI ethics and digital media literacy, is already substantial. But the creation of the lab signals bigger ambitions in a climate when AI is reshaping how people encounter news and leaving them questioning what they see, said Alex Mahadevan, director of Poynter’s MediaWise media literacy initiative and a faculty member.

“The release of Sora 2, an impressive and frightening AI video generation social network, and new agentic browsers, signal a fundamental shift in our online information ecosystem,” said Mahadevan, who is leading the Poynter AI Innovation Lab. “We’re researching the intersection of AI, media and the online experience of citizens. We’re creating resources and tools for journalists and news consumers to better navigate it. And we can help philanthropic organizations pursue their missions when it comes to the intersection of AI and civil society.”