• by Ray Schultz , May 24, 2023

The Washington Post has created two cross-functional teams, one strategic, one operational, to foster AI innovation. 

Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan announced the development on Wednesday morning, saying it is “only the first step in establishing AI as a priority opportunity for The Washington Post.” 

The two new teams are: 

• The AI Taskforce—This group will “meet regularly to provide governance, direction, and insights about AI usage throughout The Washington Post,” Ryan writes. The initial members of the AI Taskforce are: Engineering (Patrick Burton), Product (Jessica Gilbert and Bailey Kattleman), AI Hub (Sam Han), News (Sally Buzbee and Justin Bank), Editorial (David Shipley), Legal (Jay Kennedy and Kalea Clark), Subscriptions (Mike Ribero), Revenue (Kate Davey and Johanna Mayer-Jones), PR (Kathy Baird), Analytics (Venkatesh Varalu) and Finance (Steve Gibson).
• The AI Hub--Led by Sam Han,  will be an “operational team from across the company created to expedite our AI initiatives and foster cross-functional cooperation. It will consist of a small full-time team and “matrixed resources” from across the company. Ryan notes that the Hub will be “accountable for coordinating efforts and ensuring alignment of our AI projects with the strategies, guardrails, and priorities established by the AI Taskforce, while also focusing on future innovation.”

Ryan concludes that, “as we learn more, we will adjust team structures and allocate resources that will deliver value and results.”