CNN AI Innovation Intern: NYC - Summer 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery • New York, NY

1d • $19 - $25 • Hybrid

About The Position

CNN’s AI Innovation team sits at the intersection of journalism, technology and editorial standards — building practical, responsible AI tools that help journalists break news faster, report more ambitiously and work more efficiently. As an AI Innovation Intern, you will work directly with newsroom leaders to test, evaluate and improve AI-powered tools used in reporting, video production, workflow automation and internal knowledge-sharing. This team is unique because it does not experiment in theory — it pilots real tools with real reporters, measures impact rigorously and embeds guardrails that protect CNN’s standards and audience trust. You will contribute to hands-on projects that shape how AI is responsibly integrated into one of the world’s most influential news organizations, supporting WBD’s broader mission to innovate across media while upholding the highest creative and ethical standards. By the end of the semester, the intern will have directly contributed to newsroom AI pilots, improved internal AI documentation and training materials, and helped shape how a major global news organization responsibly deploys emerging technology in real reporting workflows.

Requirements

• Strong interest in journalism, media technology, artificial intelligence or digital product development.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information critically and assess quality, accuracy and risk.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to summarize findings clearly for non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience using generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini or similar) with an understanding that outputs require verification and human oversight.
• Comfort working in spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets) to track pilots, metrics, feedback and structured evaluations.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, especially when reviewing language, attribution and editorial standards.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
• Must be actively enrolled in an accredited college or university degree program for the full duration of the internship (proof of enrollment required)
• Must be a rising Junior, rising Senior undergraduate Student (18 years or older)
• Must be in academic good standing (3.0 or above GPA)
• A transcript will be required to verify your GPA if an offer is extended.
• Warner Bros. Discovery will only consider candidates who are presently authorized to work for any employer in the United States and who will not require work visa sponsorship from Warner Bros. Discovery now or in the future in order to retain their authorization to work in the United States.
• Candidates currently on any student or exchange visa, including F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, J-1, M-1, etc., will not be eligible for the internship program.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or practical experience in data analysis, computer science, media studies, product management or investigative reporting.
• Familiarity with prompt engineering concepts and iterative testing.
• Basic understanding of APIs, automation tools or workflow integrations (e.g., Slack workflows, no-code tools).
• Experience conducting competitive or market research and presenting structured findings.
• Knowledge of newsroom workflows, digital publishing systems or video production environments.

Responsibilities

• Support live AI tool pilots (e.g., reporting research tools, headline and summary generators, chatbot workflows, video clipping tools) by gathering feedback, tracking performance metrics, and helping document results for leadership review.
• Assist in auditing AI-generated outputs for accuracy, attribution, tone and adherence to CNN standards, contributing to measurable improvements in prompt design and quality control processes.
• Help build and maintain internal resources, including the CNN AI SharePoint hub, tool documentation, prompt libraries and training materials used by newsroom teams.
• Conduct competitive and industry research on AI use in journalism, producing structured briefings that inform tool evaluation, investment decisions and future roadmap planning.
• Support newsroom education initiatives by helping organize trainings, office hours and the AI Innovation newsletter, including identifying and writing up real-world AI use cases from across teams.
• Contribute to framework development projects — such as AI project prioritization and tool evaluation matrices — by organizing inputs, tracking pilot criteria and preparing summaries that help guide investment decisions.

Benefits

• Hands-on work with passionate, talented team members in your field
• Mentorship from some of the industry’s kindest and most passionate entertainment veterans
• Engaging events including professional development seminars, panels with recruiters and former interns, intern-exclusive events, and so much more
• Access to top-level executives and employees through our Speaker Series and Roundtables
• Incredible networking opportunities with industry-leading professionals and a robust intern alumni network
• A creative, collaborative, and inclusive company culture

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed