Develop AI is an AI consultancy and training company that helps newsrooms & businesses adopt artificial intelligence responsibly. Founded by journalist and entrepreneur Paul McNally, the firm works with public and private broadcasters, publishers and media support organisations to design practical AI policies, build prototypes and train staff. Its programs range from newsroom AI audits and hands‑on workshops to one‑on‑one mentoring and progress reporting.

Develop AI exists to ensure that artificial intelligence strengthens, rather than undermines, journalism, justice, and public accountability, especially in contexts where institutions are fragile and resources are limited. We focus on building ethical, low-bandwidth, and context-aware AI systems that help journalists, media organisations and civil society actors operate more safely, effectively and independently. This includes strengthening legal protection, improving decision-making under pressure, preserving institutional memory, and reducing the risks faced by those who challenge power.

Through applied tools, training, and partnerships across the globe, Develop AI supports journalists and media organisations to adopt AI in ways that align with editorial values, democratic principles, and human rights standards. Its work prioritises communities and practitioners who are most exposed to harm, such as women journalists, early-career reporters, and those working in under-resourced environments, ensuring that new technologies expand access to protection and accountability rather than deepen existing inequalities.

Beyond product work, Develop AI publishes a weekly newsletter on AI and runs training across Africa, Europe, MENA, Asia and the Pacific with partners such as DW Akademie, the United States Agency for Global Media, Public Media Alliance and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The company has helped more than one hundred newsrooms implement or build AI tools and processes aligned with editorial values.