Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 15: In a significant move to bridge the digital divide for the local business community, Rachana, the Catholic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized an intensive day-long workshop titled ‘AI Tools for Business and Productivity’ at the Mangalore Club on Tuesday, April 15. The session, aimed at demystifying Artificial Intelligence, emphasized that while the technology is a formidable force, it serves best as an ‘intelligent assistant’ rather than a replacement for human ingenuity.
The programme commenced with an invocation by Fr Sudeep Paul, director of Sandesha, followed by a welcome address from Rachana president Roy Castelino. Underscoring the urgency of technological adoption, Castelino stated that the training reflects the chamber’s commitment to ensuring its members are prepared for both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. He described the workshop as the beginning of a new chapter in the community’s journey toward innovation and progress in a rapidly changing world.
Lead trainer Leo Victor Zalki, director of Oxidane Enviro LLP, provided a deep dive into the practicalities of AI during the technical sessions. Addressing the common anxiety regarding job security, Zalki offered a sobering perspective, noting that while AI will not replace humans, individuals with AI knowledge will inevitably replace those without it. He introduced a structured six-step prompt framework - encompassing persona, task, context, examples, format, and tone - to help business owners extract high-quality, accurate outputs from tools like ChatGPT & others.
The workshop also addressed the ethical complexities of the digital boom, with Zalki highlighting critical concerns regarding data privacy. Because AI systems rely heavily on user data, he warned that the risk of misuse remains a growing threat and urged users to keep ethics at the core of their digital operations. Furthermore, he advised parents to monitor their children’s engagement with platforms like Snapchat to mitigate privacy risks and growing digital dependency.
During the hands-on segment, participants actively used various AI applications to generate marketing posters, videos, and music, demonstrating the immediate practical potential of AI in business promotion.
Srujana Mathais emerged as the interactive quiz winner. ‘Fortune Wheel’ giveaway winners included Ramola Agnes Monteiro, Jeevan Sunil Veigas, Viraj Sequeira, Joel Crasta, and Asha D’Souza. All participants were awarded certificates upon the successful completion of the workshop.