Work better, think smarter: Sign up for Rappler’s two-part AI series workshop

2026-01-26 - 05:19

As Generative AI (Gen AI) reshapes how Filipinos work, lead, and think, organizations and professionals face a pressing challenge: How can we responsibly adopt these tools, establish clear guardrails and craft practical policies that address both the technology’s promise and its real-world risks and limitations? Rappler, through its learning arm, RappLearn, is launching a series of AI-focused workshops starting in February 2026, to help professionals and organizations navigate the AI era with clarity and purpose. The series kicks off with two-part, full-day workshops: Workshop 1: Teaching and Thinking in the Age of AI – Participants will learn the basics of generative AI, gain hands-on experience with AI tools, and explore ways to integrate AI responsibly in their work while keeping decision-making human-centered, and safeguarding critical thinking. Workshop 2: Crafting and Implementing AI policies that work – Organizations will learn to draft values-based AI policies, define governance roles, and embed ethical checks in workflows to ensure responsible use of AI across organizations. These full-day workshops are grounded in real challenges that Rappler experienced firsthand as a newsroom, offering practical frameworks for decision-making, governance, and responsible use. It’s co-designed with The Nerve, a digital forensics consultancy born out of Rappler’s investigative work on disinformation. Rappler is the first newsroom in the Philippines to publish its formal AI policy, a commitment that comes to life in Rai, a newsroom chatbot built on verified reporting and protected by strong editorial guardrails. This is complemented by The Nerve’s expertise in AI systems, digital forensics, and platform risk, helping organizations translate AI ethics into practical, operational workflows. Both workshops will be led by Gemma Mendoza, Rappler’s Head of Digital Services and Lead Research for Disinformation and Platforms, and Don Kevin Hapal, Head of Data and Innovation at The Nerve. Workshop 1: Teaching and Thinking in the Age of AI (Open for individual or group registrations) Saturday, February 28, 2026 | Rappler Newsroom | 9 am to 4 pm This workshop provides foundational knowledge and hands-on guidance in using generative AI. Participants will learn how to use select AI tools, understand their capabilities and limitations, and explore strategies to integrate AI responsibly while keeping decision-making human-centered, and safeguarding critical thinking. CONTINUOUS LEARNING. Economist and former NEDA chief Solita ‘Winnie’ Monsod joins educators and professionals at the Rappler newsroom for RappLearn and The Nerve’s ‘Teaching and Thinking in the Age of AI’ workshop. The workshop covers the following topics: AI, the Future of Work, and Professional Readiness – This session bridges AI concepts and theory with practical application highlighting why AI literacy is essential for sustained relevance and growth in the workplace. Demystifying Generative AI – This module explains generative AI in simple terms, helping participants understand how these tools work and why they sometimes make mistakes. Hands-on Lab: Practical AI for the Workplace and the Classroom – A hands-on session for participants to use AI tools, practice writing effective prompts, and learn how to teach these skills to students and professionals. Protecting Critical Thinking in the AI Era – This session highlights risks that AI poses to critical thinking and learning, and helps participants focus on human-centered oversight and skill development. Quick Takeaways & Practical Assessments – A final synthesis activity where participants apply lessons learned in a sample module. This is also the second run of the AI in the classroom pilot workshop in November 2025 where 16 participants from various sectors joined. Participants of the pilot described the workshop as both timely and grounding. One noted that “the mix of educators and professionals from different sectors enriched the discussions,” while another highlighted the balance between “clear, accessible foundations on AI and more nuanced questions about its implications for teaching, thinking, and decision-making.” This workshop is ideal for educators, professionals, leaders, and anyone who wants to learn the basics of AI, seeking practical approaches to integrate it responsibly into classrooms, workplaces, and other learning environments. Workshop 2: Crafting and Implementing AI policies that work (Team-Based Policy Lab for Executives, Organizations, and Institutions) Saturday, March 7, 2026 | Rappler Newsroom | 9 am to 4 pm Without a clear AI policy, organizations face growing risks, from legal issues to reputational harm. Building on the foundational knowledge of Gen AI learned in Workshop 1, this session will give leaders and organizations a head start to turn AI ethics into practical action. Participants will use the People-First AI Policy Canvas to draft a values-based framework that prioritizes transparency, fairness, and accountability. The session is designed to help organizations move beyond content generation and explore AI’s advanced reasoning and agentic automation capabilities while mitigating risks and integrating ethical guardrails. MULTI-SECTORAL PARTICIPATION. At least 16 participants from various organizations in the academe, corporate, and NGOs participate the AI workshop. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to draft a core AI policy using a structured framework to define non-negotiable “red lines” and ensure AI use aligns with organizational values and mission. They will define roles and identify the “Policy Owners,” “Evaluators,” and “Workflow Champions” needed to drive adherence within teams. Participants will also learn how to apply ethics by incorporating policy checks in project briefs, procurement templates, and product proposals, and creating risk-tiering mechanisms to guide organizational decision-making. The full-day workshop includes the following topics: The GenAI Landscape – A deep dive into current capabilities, from LLMs to autonomous web agents. Case Study: The Rappler Model – Lessons from the first Filipino newsroom to publish AI guidelines and develop human-in-the-loop systems. The Policy Lab – Collaborative sessions where teams apply the Policy Canvas to define what they stand for and who they want to protect. The Three Levers of Success – Practical modules on People and Roles, Workflows and Integration, and Continuous Learning. This workshop is ideal for leaders and practitioners who want to align innovation with organizational values, including business managers, tech and IT professionals, team leads driving ethical adoption, as well as leaders from academe, the church, and civil society. How to join the workshops Interested individuals or teams can register using the form below. RESERVE YOUR SLOT HERE Registration closes on February 27 for Workshop 1 and March 6 for Workshop 2, or until slots are filled, whichever comes first. The workshop rates and details are as follows: Workshop 1: Teaching and Thinking in the Age of AI Registration fee at ₱16,000 per participant Open to both individual participants or groups Early bird rates available until Friday, February 6 Group discounts apply for registrations of at least five participants and above Workshop 2: Crafting and Implementing AI Policies that Work Registration fee starts at ₱25,000 per participant (introductory rate) Offered as a team-based Policy Lab for organizations Minimum of three participants per organization Rappler will reach out to confirm participation details and issue a final invoice Fees cover participation, lunch and afternoon snack, workshop materials and tools, and other additional learning resources. For additional information, questions, or to inquire about corporate training packages and customized group sessions, email learn@rappler.com – Rappler.com