BBC News has appointed a new AI, Innovation and Growth Director, Anjali Kapoor, to oversee AI adoption for the broadcaster’s news division.
Kapoor has previously worked at Meta, where she was Director for Media Partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, and has also had roles at The Globe and Mail, Yahoo!, and Bloomberg Media.
In a statement, the BBC said Kapoor will help lead the broadcaster’s “off-platform growth and focus on optimising BBC audiences and digital strategy for growth in the UK and globally.”
Kapoor said she’s excited to help the BBC “engage new audiences, adopt AI responsibly, and tell impactful stories in a fast-changing digital landscape.”
Deborah Turness is the first person to hold the title as CEO of BBC News – which she took on in September 2022.
The BBC said it advertised Kapoor’s role following a move to place all editorial news under one leader (Turness) to make way for someone who can focus on audience growth, AI adoption, and make the organisation more data-focused.
“Throughout my career, I’ve worked internationally at the intersection of media, technology and business leading audience and product strategies while also aligning innovation with editorial integrity, trust and long-term sustainability,” Kapoor added.
“I’m excited to bring this global perspective to the BBC, helping to drive meaningful change at the forefront of our industry, ensuring BBC journalism remains relevant, inclusive and future-ready.”
AI for Journalists and Readers
In March this year, BBC News announced the creation of a “growth, innovation, and AI” department to deliver more personalised content to audiences.
The BBC also developed pilots focused on Gen AI use, including repurposing existing content, creating new audience experiences, and automating workflows.
The broadcaster also launched ‘BBC Style Assist’ – a Gen AI tool that helps journalists to adapt stories to align with the BBC’s house style.
For readers, Gen AI was used to develop ‘At a glance’ – a short bullet-point summary to help readers grasp the main points of the story.
