Announcement made during the SIPConnect 2025 conference.
Miami (July 17, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) announce the launch of the AI Product Lab, an innovative program developed in partnership with the Google News Initiative (GNI), aimed at strengthening product, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation capabilities in news organizations across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
The AI Product Lab is a natural evolution of the successful Digital Revenue Accelerator previously developed by IAPA and GNI, responding to the urgent need to equip newsrooms with practical tools to adapt and lead in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The eight-month program aims to benefit at least 40 media outlets by combining strategic training, hands-on practice, and project execution. Participating teams will receive intensive training in product vision and applied AI for journalism through group sessions, weekly challenges, one-on-one practical workshops, and tech update sessions focused on new features and industry trends.
In addition, media outlets that demonstrate greater progress and commitment to the program will have the opportunity to submit projects for funding and receive specialized technical support, helping accelerate their digital transformation and long-term sustainability.
“The future of media inevitably depends on innovation,” said José Roberto Dutriz, president of IAPA, CEO of La Prensa Grafica from El Salvador. “With initiatives like the AI Product Lab, we seek to empower regional media to develop relevant, sustainable news products that make ethical and strategic use of artificial intelligence. This is a concrete contribution to press freedom and the viability of journalism in our democracies.”
“The launch of the AI Product Lab, in collaboration with the Inter American Press Association, is the result of years of joint work and the success of previous programs. Our goal has always been to strengthen the digital news ecosystem. We look forward to the creative and innovative solutions that will emerge from this program, which will undoubtedly empower journalism in the region in the age of AI,” said Alejandra Brambila, News Partner Manager at Google.
“We are excited to have the trust of regional media, IAPA, and Google to develop this program. We are convinced that it will have a direct impact on participants’ operations and lay the foundation for a community that integrates product vision and AI potential in its path toward innovation,” said Ezequiel Arbusti, CEO of Marktube.
This announcement reinforces the shared commitment of IAPA and the Google News Initiative to strengthening the news ecosystem in Latin America, supporting media outlets of various sizes and contexts to adapt to the challenges of the digital era.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.