Google is empowering journalists with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company today unveiled Journalist Studio, a comprehensive collection of tools designed to streamline and enhance the work of news professionals. This initial release incorporates existing resources alongside two innovative products focused on efficient document searching and data visualization.

The first of these tools is named Pinpoint, and it’s engineered to assist reporters in managing extensive collections of files – even those containing hundreds of thousands of documents.

Pinpoint offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional keyword searches using “Ctrl + F.” Leveraging the power of Google Search and its AI-driven Knowledge Graph, alongside optical character recognition and speech-to-text capabilities, this tool provides a more intelligent approach.

It can analyze scanned PDFs, images, handwritten notes, and audio recordings to automatically recognize key individuals, organizations, and places referenced within the content. Pinpoint then highlights these terms, and their related synonyms, throughout the files, facilitating quick access to essential information.

Recognizing its value in accelerating research, Google points out that Pinpoint is also suitable for shorter-term assignments, such as Rappler’s investigation of CIA reports from the 1970s in the Philippines, or Verificado MX’s rapid fact-checking of the government’s daily pandemic briefings in Mexico.

Pinpoint is currently available to journalists who can request access through the platform. The tool presently supports seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Google has also collaborated with The Center for Public Integrity, Document Cloud, Stanford University’s Big Local News program, and The Washington Post to establish publicly accessible shared collections for all users.

The second new tool introduced today is The Common Knowledge Project, which remains in its beta phase.

This tool enables journalists to explore, visualize, and share data pertaining to significant issues within their communities. By utilizing thousands of data points, reporters can create their own interactive charts in a matter of minutes, according to the company.

Developed by the visual journalism team at Polygraph, with support from the Google News Initiative, this tool draws its data from Data Commons, which encompasses thousands of publicly available datasets from organizations like the U.S. Census and the CDC.

Upon release, the tool provides U.S. data covering topics such as demographics, the economy, housing, education, and crime.

As it is still undergoing beta testing, Google is encouraging journalists to share their suggestions for further improvements.

Google will provide detailed demonstrations and discussions of these new tools during a series of forthcoming virtual events, including the Online News Association’s conference on Thursday, October 15. The Google News Initiative training will also launch a six-part series concentrating on tools for reporters in seven languages across nine regions, beginning the week of October 20.

The new programs are accessible on the Journalist Studio website, which also serves as a central hub for other resources available to reporters, including Google’s account security system, the Advanced Protection Program; direct access to the Data Commons; DataSet Search; a Fact Check Explorer; a tool for data visualization using customizable templates, Flourish; the Google Data GIF Maker; Google Public Data Explorer; Google Trends; DIY VPN Outline; DDoS defense tool, Project Shield; and tiled cartogram maker Tilegrams.

The site also directs users to other Google services, such as Google Drive, Google Scholar, Google Earth, Google News, and various training materials.

Update: Further details have been shared from a demonstration led by Megan H. Chan, Google’s news ecosystems lead. Chan, formerly an editor and digital executive at publications including Politico and The Washington Post, described instances where reporters received substantial public records – these documents were often vital, but also presented a significant challenge to review.

Pinpoint is intended to simplify this process by identifying the most frequently mentioned people, organizations, and locations, and enabling quick navigation to each reference. Chan emphasized that this should be less time-consuming than repeatedly using CTRL-F for different search terms. Moreover, leveraging Google’s Knowledge Graph technology, Pinpoint can identify related terms and differentiate between similar entities, such as “John F. Kennedy” and “John F. Kennedy, Jr.”

Chan added that these tools are “not a substitute for a human journalist,” but rather aim to enhance their effectiveness. She also suggested their potential benefit in the fact-checking process, allowing journalists to more quickly and reliably substantiate their claims with supporting evidence for their editors, rather than relying solely on personal notes.