Google and Tech Valley marked two years of Digital Sahafat on November 10 at an event held at Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. Digital Sahafat is a Google programme delivered in partnership with Tech Valley, and it trains journalists, media practitioners, and journalism students to use Google artificial intelligence (AI) tools to verify information, work more efficiently, and build sustainable newsroom practices. The programme focuses on regions where access to AI tools and training is limited, and Tech Valley said that in two years it has reached more than 4,000 journalists across four provinces, changing the way that newsrooms in the country work with AI.
The event gathered Google Asia Pacific (APAC) leadership, including Kate Beddoe, Managing Director, News Partnerships, Adeel Farhan, Head of News Partnerships, Felicia Low, Program Manager, and Trang (Ariel) Nguyen, News Partner Manager. Ali Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Artificial Intelligence, International Cooperation, and Special Initiatives, was the chief guest, and Umar Farooq, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tech Valley, also took part. They were joined by Sultana Siddiqui, Founder and Chairperson, and Duraid Qureshi, CEO, of HUM Network, along with senior journalists, media executives, Master Trainers, and programme participants from across the country.
HUM News was highlighted as the success story of the day. Tech Valley said that since its journalists took part in the training, Gemini and Gemini Notebook have become part of everyday work across the newsroom desks of the channel. The tools support journalists instead of replacing them, and every AI output is still verified against credible sources, which fits the focus of the programme on verification. This example shows how a newsroom can use AI for tasks such as organising notes and documents and speeding up routine work while keeping editorial checks in place.
Looking ahead, Tech Valley said that trust matters more than ever as synthetic media becomes more sophisticated. Through Digital Sahafat 3.0, it will bring new training modules to journalists and journalism students and work closely with news organisations on newsroom AI integration, prototyping, and stronger editorial workflows. The company thanked Google, government, media and university partners, and every journalist who chose to learn with it, adding that together they are building a trusted, AI-ready Pakistan. Newsrooms and universities that want to bring Digital Sahafat to their institutions, or join the next cohort, can write to digitalsahafat@techvalley.pk for details.
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