WASHINGTON — RenewPR president Ben Finzel has created a professional networking group for LGBT communications professionals in DC. DC Family Communicators launched in May and now has nearly 80 members. The group is free to join. It is modeled after an Atlanta organization, Atlanta Family Communicators, that has been around for about 15 years and has nearly 300 members.

WASHINGTON — APCO Worldwide last week announced the launch of its APCO AI Comms Lab, an innovation center that uses artificial intelligence solutions to build and protect the reputations of brands, governments and organizations. The lab will help clients fast-track AI solutions and technologies that use a data-driven scientific approach based on insights into how companies, organizations and individuals communicate and engage with audiences and, more fundamentally, how they operate. It is being led by Imad Lahad, senior director and co-lead of APCO’s global digital practice. APCO launched the lab from its Dubai office, with the innovation center integrated into other offices around the world.

SEATTLE — Spry, the mobile public relations network, has extended its reach with the launch of a Spry app for Android. The new offering makes Spry's on-demand platform (pictured) available to virtually all smartphone users. It allows Spry to reach a larger set of organizations and businesses that can hire affordable PR and journalism talent through the app.