By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 21 Apr: On the occasion of National Public Relations Day, a workshop was organised by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), Dehradun Chapter, on the theme, “Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence: Role of Public Relations”.
The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Chief Guest Banshidhar Tiwari, Director General, Information, and Vice Chairman MDDA; Dr Nitin Upadhyay, Joint Director, Information; Vijay Thapliyal, CEO of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee; and Ravi Vizaraniya, President of PRSI Dehradun Chapter.
In his address, DG Banshidhar Tiwari emphasised the importance of maintaining human values in the rapidly evolving age of AI. He urged everyone to act responsibly in today’s tech-driven environment. He said that, while AI can save time, how we utilise that saved time is a reflection of our values. He stressed the importance of staying connected not only through social media but also with family and society.
Tiwari cautioned against blindly forwarding or sharing unverified information, as misinformation can negatively impact both individuals and society. “AI can help generate content,” he noted, “but it must be enriched with personal thoughts and experiences. Responsible use of AI is our collective duty, and greater awareness is essential.”
Dr Nitin Upadhyay, Joint Director, Information, said new technologies always bring both challenges and opportunities. AI should be used as a supportive tool in public relations and not as a replacement for human capabilities.
Anupam Trivedi, Editor, News18, warned that while science provides convenience, it also introduces problems. Fake news, fuelled by AI misuse, is a rising concern. He emphasised that, in public relations, personal connections still matter more than AI.
Vijay Thapliyal, CEO of the Temple Committee, highlighted that while AI can offer everything, it cannot replicate human emotion.
Aakash Sharma, technical expert, presented various AI tools beneficial for public relations, emphasising that AI enhances efficiency without replacing human creativity.
AI tools were also discussed from the point of view of PR Efficiency. ChatGPT was described as AI writing assistant for press releases, social media content, and slogans. Canva AI as a fast design tool for posters, banners, and social graphics. Google Forms is convenient for real-time feedback and voting. Mentimeter is useful for interactive polls and Q&A during live events. SlidesAI.io converts text into engaging presentation slides. Buffer/Hootsuite are for scheduling and publishing posts across platforms. Meltwater / Brand24 are Media and social monitoring tools. Talkwalker is for sentiment analysis and brand monitoring. Google Alerts provides Email alerts for keyword-based news updates. Later is for social media scheduling and content planning. SocialBee helps in reposting and managing multi-platform content. Mailchimp is a popular tool for email campaigns and newsletters. Hunter.io is for finding email contacts of journalists or influencers.
PRSI Dehradun Chapter President Ravi Vizaraniya welcomed the guests and outlined the significance of the event. The programme was compered by Anil Verma.
Present on the occasion were PRSI Dehradun Chapter Secretary Anil Sati, Treasurer Suresh Chandra Bhatt, and members Sudhakar Bhatt, Vaibhav Goyal, Rakesh Dobhal, Ajay Dabral, Deepak Sharma, Prashant Rawat, Jyoti Negi, Shivangi, Manmohan Bhatt, Sanjay Singh, and Pratap Singh Bisht, among others.
