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About the Event

Artificial intelligence presents a major opportunity for news and media organisations to better understand audiences, build dynamic user experiences, and unlock sustainable revenue advantages. To capture that opportunity, teams need a structured approach that brings together diverse stakeholders and focuses on commercial impact.

The FT Strategies AI Commercial Lab, supported by the Google News Initiative, is a full-day, hands-on workshop supported by virtual preparation sessions. Across the Lab, your team will explore commercial applications of AI, select a priority use case, and define practical next steps to begin implementing AI within your organisation.

Your organisation should assign 3–5 team members from across your organisation, including an executive sponsor who can drive change at your organisation after the programme concludes. Collaboration is central to the Lab, and all sessions are accessible regardless of prior AI experience.

The AI Commercial Lab will be taking place in-person in March 2026 at the Google Offices in India.

On the day of the workshop you can expect to:

  • Explore key commercial levers for applying AI in your organisation
  • Prioritise high-value AI use cases based on your business goals
  • Learn from practical examples and industry inspiration sessions
  • Design a blueprint for a targeted AI experiment in your commercial business
  • Define clear next steps to support ongoing AI implementation and long-term success

Applications close February 2026

Please note that the programme will be delivered in English.
Learn more about this opportunity in the detailed explainer document, here.

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At the end of the day, participants will walk away with enhanced knowledge, processes and an action-plan for what needs to happen next

 

IDEAS GENERATION

COMMERCIAL AI APPLICATIONS

Hands-on exploration of practical AI techniques, such as propensity modelling and contextual targeting, to generate meaningful commercial outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

IMPACT MEASUREMENT

Guidance on establishing clear metrics and evaluation methods to ensure AI initiatives deliver sustained, long-term value.

STRUCTURED APPROACH

AI EXPERIMENT BLUEPRINT

Development of a structured plan for a commercial AI experiment, selected from a curated set of high-potential use cases.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ADVICE

EXPERT-LED INSIGHT

Exposure to practical examples and inspiration sessions delivered by industry specialists with direct experience of AI implementation.

A NETWORK OF PEERS

PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities to connect with and learn from other participants, gaining wider visibility of approaches across the ecosystem.

ACTION-PLAN DOCUMENT

ACTION-PLAN DOCUMENT

A thorough document capturing the details and next steps of the prioritised AI solution idea.

“This was a very valuable starting point of thinking about AI and implementing it in our company throughout different departments. It was eye-opening to see all the new tools and options available to publishers like us.”

 

BurdaMedia Extra

"We have been inspired and the Design Sprint has helped us move forward with an AI task we probably wouldn’t have started for a long time – even though it is a much needed one."

NextPage Media

"An excellent AI workshop, supported by knowledgeable and clever assistance from a very nice group of facilitators."

Daily Maverick