SVD ASPAC communication coordinators organize workshops on ‘Artificial Intelligence’

The communication coordinators of Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) region, in partnership with the general communication coordinator, organized a three-day international virtual workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to investigate its potential in the field of communication ministry.

The workshop, from March 7-9, centered around the theme 'unlocking the potential of AI', and attracted 235 registered participants. On average, there were 160 attendees present each day.

Notably, the program attracted members of SVD from various countries, as well as the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and mission collaborators.

Father Anil Ivan Fernandes, the Director of Canara Communication Centre in Mangalore, and Mr. Leo Victor Zalki, the Director of Oxidane Enviro LLP, India, provided valuable expertise as resource experts, offering guidance to participants on the complexities of AI.

The seminar encompassed a diverse array of subjects, such as the art of guiding prompts in ChatGPT, principles of design in Canva, the creation of visually appealing text-to-image conversions, the astonishing transformation of images into videos, the remarkable generation of speech from text, the impressive animation achieved through prompting, the emotionally impactful craft of storytelling and scriptwriting, the firsthand experience of logo creation, the effortless production of book summaries, and the utilization of AI tools for video summaries.

Ten fortunate participants received complimentary access to the esteemed tool, invideo.ai, during the last day's giveaway event.

Father Anthony Swamy, the SVD-ASPAC communication coordinator, stated that the seminar significantly enhanced attendees' knowledge and practical skills, deepening their understanding of how AI could enhance communication efforts within the SVD-SSpS communities.

He said that the knowledge the participants acquired will unquestionably be crucial in influencing future communication tactics in ministry. 

Father Swamy conveyed his appreciation to Fr. Modeste Munini SVD, the General Communication Coordinator, and the tremendous financial support from the India Central Province (INC), which played a crucial role in ensuring the success and practicality of the event.

A multitude of participants conveyed their appreciation for the chance to delve into the emerging realm of artificial intelligence, which they anticipate could serve as valuable instruments for the mission. -Father Anthony Swamy, SVD