ProPublica Empowers AI Innovation with New Fellowships for Dana Chiueh and Aaron Brezel

ProPublica Names Dana Chiueh and Aaron Brezel as Lenfest AI Engineering Fellows In a significant move to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, ProPublica has selected Dana Chiueh and Aaron Brezel as its first AI engineering fellows. The two-year fellowships are part of the Lenfest Institutes AI Collaborative and Fellowship program, a nationwide effort supported by Microsoft and OpenAI. According to Ben Werdmuller, ProPublicas senior director of technology, "We're thrilled to welcome Dana and Aaron as our first AI engineering fellows. Their unique combination of technical expertise and journalism experience positions them perfectly to help us explore how AI can safely enhance investigative reporting while maintaining the rigorous standards, ethical principles, and human expertise that define ProPublicas work." Chiueh, who was most recently a news innovation engineer at the Minnesota Star Tribune, participated in the Lenfest program on behalf of her previous employer. Brezel brings experience as a software engineer and data scientist to his new role. The Lenfest AI program selected ProPublica among 10 regional and national news organizations for the fellowships. The ProPublica fellowships are made possible through funding from both the Lenfest Institute and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. The use of AI in journalism is a rapidly evolving field, with significant implications for society. As Werdmuller noted, "We're at the forefront of exploring how AI can be used to enhance investigative reporting, while ensuring that we maintain our commitment to accuracy, fairness, and transparency." The Lenfest AI program aims to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in journalism. By supporting innovative projects and collaborations, the program seeks to advance the responsible use of AI technologies in newsrooms. As Chiueh and Brezel embark on their two-year fellowships, they will work closely with ProPublica's editorial team to develop and implement AI-powered tools that support investigative reporting. Their efforts will focus on ensuring that AI is used in a way that complements human expertise, rather than replacing it. The selection of Chiueh and Brezel as AI engineering fellows marks an important milestone for ProPublica and the Lenfest AI program. As the use of AI in journalism continues to grow, this partnership will provide valuable insights into how these technologies can be used to enhance investigative reporting and promote a more informed public discourse. In related news, the Lenfest Institute has announced plans to expand its AI Collaborative and Fellowship program to include additional news organizations and projects. The program's success is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of journalism and the responsible use of AI technologies in newsrooms. *Reporting by Propublica.*