Bhubaneswar: A significant workshop on the uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in e-Governance was inaugurated today at the Odisha State Centre of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Bhubaneswar. The event saw the participation of over 100 senior officers from the Government of Odisha and the Government of India, aimed at enhancing efficiency and citizen-centric services through technology.
Shrimati Anu Garg, Development Commissioner highlighted the transformative potential of AI in her inaugural address. She emphasized how AI can simplify routine official tasks like noting, drafting, preparing presentations, and proposal writing, thereby fostering greater innovation in governance.
The keynote address was delivered by Shri Timothy Dkhar, DDG & State Coordinator, NIC, who shared his experiences with AI applications. He stressed the importance of critical considerations such as legal compliance, privacy safeguards, transparency, and ethical responsibility while deploying AI technologies in governance.
The boot camp provided a comprehensive overview of advanced topics, including Deep Learning, Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, and Context Engineering. Live demonstrations of various AI tools like Napkin, Gamma, and NotebookLM showcased how officers can leverage these technologies to improve day-to-day tasks and decision-making. The discussion also included a detailed look at the pros and cons of these tools.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Hota, DDG & SIO, Odisha, welcomed the participants and announced that this workshop is the first in a series. He stated that similar sessions will be conducted in the coming months to further build AI awareness and capacity among government officers. Officers from NIC district centres also participated virtually, extending the reach of the workshop.
On this occasion, a brochure detailing AI-powered projects and proof-of-concepts (PoCs) developed by NIC was released. Additionally, the guests inaugurated the newly renovated Training Centre of NIC, Odisha, which is set to boost the state’s digital capacity-building infrastructure.
The program was concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Pabitranand Patnaik, Additional SIO, and the day’s proceedings were coordinated by Shri Jayanta Kumar Mishra, Head, Training Division.