WhatsUpdate by SWR Germany is being developed as an innovative chatbot that combines regular news updates via push notifications with an interactive assistant capable of answering user questions anytime. By selecting their preferred region and topics, users receive tailored news while enjoying real-time, on-demand access to SWR’s extensive content library. Available 24/7, WhatsUpdate ensures a seamless news experience independent of search engine algorithms. The vision is to expand its reach with broader SWR content, integration across multiple messaging platforms and apps, and a flexible infrastructure that allows editorial brands to create their own customized experiences.
Speakers:
- Daniel Isengard – Project Lead, Development and digital projects at SWR.
- Felix Skrobol – Innovation Manager, SWR X Lab Innovation Unit
My passion is gaming – so I am used to trial and error and always looking for creative solutions. Coming from years of experience as an editor, mainly for radio and online, I am involved in the innovation process from the beginning. In addition to my interest in AI and the possibilities of distributing content digitally, my focus is on networking the product within SWR and helping to integrate it into editorial workflows.
With a background in design, I focus on developing user-centered digital solutions for journalism. As part of SWR’s X Lab, my role is to provide strategic oversight on projects like WhatsUpdate, working alongside editorial teams to drive innovation, integrate new technologies, and ensure the product meets user needs while advancing the overall digital content strategy.
Registration
Anyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are free.
Where will the meetup take place?
This event will be hosted on Zoom. For this particular event, you’ll have the best experience if you join via the Zoom app on a desktop or laptop computer so that you can see the presentation on a larger screen. You can also join using the mobile app, although the presentation may be harder to view.
Can I dial in by phone?
We recommend joining from your computer, tablet or phone using the Zoom app. You won’t be able to access the presentation slides, chat and exercises if you’re dialed in via phone only. If you’re unfamiliar with Zoom, we’ll have staff on hand to troubleshoot, and we also suggest checking out the Zoom support site for more help.
Will this event be recorded?
Yes, this event will be recorded. We will send the recording to everyone who registered after the event, regardless of whether or not they attended.
Will closed captioning be available?
Yes, we will enable Zoom’s closed captioning tool, which now supports closed captioning in both the main room and breakout rooms.
Funding for ONA’s AI in Journalism Initiative is generously provided by Microsoft, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and The Joyce Foundation. To learn more about supporting ONA’s AI programming, contact Hanaa Rifaey, Head of Strategic Partnerships, at hanaa@journalists.org.
