40 - The Evolving Role of Engineers and Journalists in an AI-Driven World
How AI is Transforming Media and SaaS: Insights from Joe Croney, CTO at The Washington Post
In this episode of the AI & Data Driven Leadership Podcast, host Dean Guida speaks with Joe Croney, Chief Technology Officer at The Washington Post, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism, digital media, and SaaS. With extensive experience spanning Microsoft, SaaS platforms, and enterprise media systems, Joe shares how AI is driving innovation in storytelling, editorial workflows, and audience engagement—while reinforcing the importance of ethics, trust, and human oversight.
Reinventing Journalism and Software Through AI
Joe describes this moment as a pivotal reinvention for both media and software. AI is no longer a future concept—it’s an active force changing how stories are created, how audiences consume content, and how software products evolve. At The Washington Post, AI is used to enhance, not replace, journalism—helping with SEO optimization, headline generation, summarization, and accessibility through text-to-audio conversion.
He also discusses the Ask The Post initiative—a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model that enables readers to ask questions and receive answers grounded in decades of verified reporting. This system demonstrates how custom-trained AI can deliver transparency, accuracy, and brand trust, offering a glimpse of how every company can leverage AI to deepen user engagement and data credibility.
Joe emphasizes that the same principles apply beyond media. In SaaS and enterprise software, success will hinge on balancing automation with authenticity. AI’s true value lies in augmentation—streamlining processes, enhancing creativity, and empowering teams to work smarter while keeping humans firmly in the decision loop.
About Joe Croney
Joe Croney is the Chief Technology Officer at The Washington Post and head of Arc XP, the organization’s SaaS platform serving enterprise clients worldwide. With decades of experience leading technology teams at the intersection of media, software, and innovation, Joe is passionate about using AI responsibly to accelerate creativity, improve productivity, and foster trust in digital systems.
About The Washington Post
Founded in 1877, The Washington Post is one of the world’s most trusted news organizations, known for its investigative reporting and digital innovation. Beyond journalism, the company’s Arc XP platform delivers enterprise-grade SaaS solutions for publishers, brands, and organizations looking to scale their content, engagement, and digital experiences.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Key Episode Highlights
How AI is reshaping editorial workflows, storytelling, and content accessibility.
The importance of ethical AI design, guardrails, and transparency in journalism.
Building proprietary AI tools—like Ask The Post—to strengthen user trust.
Lessons for SaaS leaders on integrating AI responsibly and enhancing customer experience.
Why AI will amplify, not replace, the creativity and intuition of human teams.
Conclusion
Dean Guida and Joe Croney’s conversation reveals that AI’s impact on media and software isn’t about automation—it’s about augmentation. The future belongs to leaders who embrace AI with integrity, applying it to elevate creativity, improve efficiency, and strengthen user trust. As organizations rethink their data, technology, and leadership strategies, the combination of human insight and AI-driven innovation will define the next era of growth and credibility.
Explore Slingshotapp.io to learn more about AI-driven leadership solutions, and if you’re a qualified leader interested in sharing your insights, apply to be a guest on the AI & Data Driven Leadership Podcast here.
