Henk van Ess
Henk van Ess is an investigator, tool builder, and trainer with two decades in online research and OSINT — and one of the first to integrate AI into investigative methods that hold up under scrutiny.
His motto: “think like a document” — don’t chase the question, imagine what the answer would look like if it existed, then go find that shape. When one approach fails, another opens up, turning even spectacular failures into learning moments.
He builds the tools he teaches with. ImageWhisperer.org detects AI-generated images. Research Pilot helps professionals dig deeper, faster.
His AI prompting methodologies go a step further. He developed a method where AI writes its own prompts — turning a single question into a full investigative workflow.
Summer Conference Event
— Demo Talk
26 June 2026
AI Without Prompting: Tricks to Force AI to Behave in Investigations
Most journalists lose the fight with AI before it begins, by writing the prompt themselves. This session flips the relationship: instead of telling the model what to do, you make the model write its own analytical prompt — and then execute it.
Summer Conference Event
— Demo Talk
26 June 2026
How to Combine OSINT and AI for Investigations
Based on the session originally delivered in-house at BBC Verify. Open-source intelligence has always rewarded patience: long hours, many tabs, careful cross-checking. AI changes the economics of that work — but only if you use it the right way.
Past courses
OCRI Event
16 May 2022
Climate Investigations Using OSINT and Data workshop
Participants in Nepal will after the workshop acquire skills on new and innovative tools/techniques that would enable them produce/publish in-depth investigative pieces for their respective media outlets on climate change.
Summer Conference Event
— Talk
5 July 2019
Open Source: Tracking Down a Most-Wanted Criminal via Instagram
What is “chronolocation” and why do we need it? How do we research deceiving Instagrams? What is wrong with Google reverse image search? What is the hidden connection between Instagram and Facebook?
Summer Conference Event
— Workshop
4 July 2019
Open Source: Fantastic Formulas to Filter Social Media
Who is the mysterious person behind a mining contract in the Central African Republic? What do you do when you have only a very common name and no photos? And what to do when a Twitter account is completely deleted?
