Breaking language barriers in AI learning: Insights from Discovery Spanish
Lessons learned from initiating AI interactions in Spanish-speaking regions for the Discovery course
Back in 2022, the JournalismAI team set an ambitious goal: to develop an introductory course on AI and its uses in journalism, drawing on what we had learned over previous years. The course would be engaging, accessible, and would help spark a global conversation about the opportunities this technology could bring to the field.
The Discovery course was born as a practical learning experience delivered straight to participants’ inboxes, complemented by a global Slack classroom where learners could exchange ideas and deepen their understanding. It meant democratising the knowledge we had gained and putting it into the hands of thousands simultaneously.
At the same time, our research has shown a persistent gap in access, knowledge, and adoption of AI technologies across languages and regions. While Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, the availability of AI-related resources, tools, and models in Spanish remains limited, not just in quantity, but in quality too.
Most of the conversation around AI is centred on developments in the Global North - primarily the US and Europe, with little focus beyond these regions. The Global South is often excluded from this narrative. At JournalismAI, we’ve made it a priority to bring everyone to the table.
We had already taken a first step in this direction by publishing our Generating Change report in both English, Spanish and two other languages. With the Discovery course, we wanted to go further.
Following our successful 2024 collaboration with the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) - which enabled us to adapt the Discovery course into Arabic and reach more than 3,000 participants - we then turned our focus to Spanish. We partnered with Álvaro Liuzzi, a professor and author of the guide in Spanish PeriodismoIA to lead this new edition.
The Spanish edition welcomed over 4,000 students, and thanks to Álvaro’s contribution, it introduced several innovative features. For the first time, we launched a custom chat assistant to support learners by answering their questions and offering deeper insights about the content.
We also experimented with tools like an automated podcast in Spanish generated by Google’s NotebookLM. Some visually impaired participants shared how this addition allowed them to access the course’s key insights even when reading was a challenge. “Reading has always been my window to the world as a health journalist. When I suffered a total retinal detachment in 2021, my professional reality changed drastically. Upon enrolling in the Discovery course in Spanish, I faced difficulties accessing information and participating in the forums. The solution came through podcasts, which I discovered not only as an accessible format but also as a powerful tool for learning and inclusion.”, Luz Grisales González, from Colombia wrote. Enhancing accessibility is one of my favourite applications of AI, and I’m glad we found a way to put it into practice.
From the Spanish edition, over 1,100 participants joined our vibrant Slack community where they shared projects, discussed challenges, offered support, and connected with peers who are exploring the intersection of AI and journalism.
But translating Discovery into Spanish was never just a matter of language. It was about building community and encouraging conversation in ways that reflect local realities. It meant addressing challenges on our own terms and recognising the power of technology to empower journalists and communities that are often excluded from the global tech narrative.
Participant feedback highlighted the value of the experience. Many said they had learned to use AI tools more thoughtfully and strategically in their journalistic work.
“My experience in the Discovery programme by JournalismAI was incredibly enriching because it allowed me to expand my previous knowledge of AI and understand both its potential and limitations in journalism. It also provided a methodical approach to developing and launching a project of my own, just like many newsrooms and media outlets around the world are already doing” - Florencia Luz Fernández, Vavel, Argentina.
One of our main goals was to improve the understanding of how AI is used in newsrooms, and participants told us they now feel more confident leading these conversations in their own workplaces.
“The unknown can be intimidating, but as I began to understand what AI is and how it’s being used in journalism, I started thinking about how I could use it myself and what I could propose to my newsroom to keep up with the current state of journalism and the needs of our audiences” - Georgina Fabiola Trelles Ramírez, Sectei, Mexico.
Discovery remains an introductory course. But with this edition, we’ve been able to expand the conversation and tackle the core questions that many journalists have about AI, in the same language and words they use to shape their ideas. And we're proud to say that those who joined found the course meaningful and useful.
With one foot in front of the other, we’re working to bring more content and conversations to all corners of the world, making the responsible use of AI in journalism a global reality. The next edition of Discovery will be in Portuguese. If you know someone who might be interested, invite them to join before 1 June 2025!