Bhubaneswar, 16 January (H.S.): In a significant step towards strengthening technology-driven governance, the Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Department, Government of Odisha, through the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), on Thursday organised a specialised AI Sensitization and Capacity-Strengthening Workshop for Director-level officers from various government departments.

The programme aimed at familiarising senior officials with the practical applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government functioning to enhance efficiency, transparency and citizen service delivery.

The workshop was inaugurated by Principal Secretary, E&IT Department, Vishal Dev, who underlined the state government’s proactive approach towards emerging technologies. In his inaugural address, Shri Dev emphasised that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day necessity for effective governance. “The coming decades will be driven by intelligence. By equipping our officers with the right tools, we are ensuring that the Odisha AI Mission translates into faster, more transparent and citizen-centric governance,” he said.

The intensive training session was designed to simplify AI concepts and provide hands-on exposure to real-world use cases relevant to government operations. Key areas covered during the workshop included AI-assisted drafting and communication, intelligent search, chat with documents and PDFs, deep research techniques, and data analysis. Participants also took part in practical breakout sessions to explore and test identified use cases for implementation in their respective departments.

A dedicated segment of the workshop focused on Responsible AI, highlighting best practices, ethical considerations, and data privacy norms. Officials were briefed on the do’s and don’ts of AI usage to ensure responsible adoption while safeguarding sensitive government data.

The initiative forms part of the Odisha AI Mission, a flagship programme of the state government aimed at positioning Odisha as a leader in the AI ecosystem. By fostering innovation and digital capability within the bureaucracy, the mission seeks to improve governance outcomes and enhance the Ease of Living for citizens through technology-enabled public services.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda