ProPublica has announced that it is joining a cross-industry effort to explore the responsible use of artificial intelligence in investigative journalism. The program, supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, will include four other newsrooms and will hire an engineer for a two-year fellowship. The engineer will work with ProPublica's engagement reporting group to explore how machine learning can help evaluate and route incoming tips more efficiently. The goal is to use large language models to help journalists find important information quickly and ensure that tips reach the right person. ProPublica believes that these technologies have the potential to help journalists and readers find important information and are excited to explore what is possible. The participating news organizations will work together to share what they learn and help other newsrooms replicate their work. The Lenfest AI Collaborative and Fellowship program aims to help local news publishers leverage new AI technology to build sustainable businesses. The program was launched in October 2024 with $10 million in support from OpenAI and Microsoft. ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, and has received numerous awards for its reporting. The Lenfest Institute for Journalism creates solutions for the next era of local news by investing in sustainable business models at the intersection of local journalism and community.