Applications are currently closed, but please register your interest using the form below.
Who is the Programme for?
The AI Launchpad is a five-month hands-on programme that engages a group of 8 publishers on a journey to craft an ambitious and responsible vision for AI in their organisation, guiding them through live experiments to test their ideas. Publishers should be EMEA-based with an existing base of digital readers, ideally at least 500,000 monthly unique viewers. Participants will also require the staff and capability to use data and technology to build and run intermediate-level experiments with artificial intelligence, measuring their impact to the business.
This intensive experience will address AI use-cases at each stage of the content lifecycle, from audience engagement though to monetisation.
Participants are guided by dedicated 1:1 sessions with FTS consultants complemented by inspiring insights from Google, the FT, industry experts, and cohort members.
The Google News Initiative and FT Strategies partnership has already worked with more than 500 publishers across many other programmes in EMEA and worldwide to develop strategies designed to enable success in the digital age.
What is the outcome?
Publishers will leave with:
- Capability analysis, identifying any technical/data gaps for implementing AI
- Learnings from 2-3 practical experiments run over two months on AI use-cases
- 12-month action plan to implement an overarching goal, next steps for AI usage
- Ethical usage charter detailing internal policy, governance and socialisation aims
- An alumni community of engaged publishers enjoying greater market intelligence
- A network of peers and experts for support beyond the programme
Artificial Intelligence & News: Build or Buy?
- Our proprietary framework for identifying AI use cases in a news business
- An overview of ‘Build vs Buy’ considerations in the context of AI experiments
- Detailed case studies of in-house and vendor-enabled experiments run by publishers during this programme
- A full list of experiments run during this programme

Download our report
Fill in the form below and download the report in a PDF format for you to be able to read offline.


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"These consulting sessions have been extremely valuable in helping me understand the strategic relevance of various projects, as well as deepening my knowledge of current developments in artificial intelligence."
Henneo
"The best thing to happen to us in terms of AI was to join this programme."
Economedia
"The FT Strategies team have gone above and beyond to support us throughout this project, offering to collaborate on items that sat out of our main experiment but drove high value"
The Sun
"This programme was incredibly valuable, offering actionable insights, expert guidance, and practical tools that helped us identify and prioritize AI use cases aligned with our business goals. The hands-on, tailored support made the experience both relevant and impactful — highly recommended for any publisher seeking sustainable growth."
Nation Media Group