East Asia-Oceania – Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for evangelisation: a new era in youth ministry
EAO – October 2024 – Social Communication delegates from the East Asia-Oceania Region met online to take part in the second cycle of phase two of the "Communication Training School", focused on: "Artificial Intelligence in Evangelisation" and led by Fr Paul Aldrin Dungca, SDB, from the Salesian Province of the Northern Philippines. A total of 36 participants, including Salesians, sisters, lay people and young people from Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and other countries, joined the session. In this training session, Fr Dungca began by talking about how to conceptualise youth activities using stories, but also conflicts and tensions. It has shown how Artificial Intelligence tools, available for free, can help refine these concepts into more concrete plans. He also showed how to create materials for events, thus improving the process of planning and preparing youth activities. Important issues such as intellectual property and privacy were then touched upon. In conclusion, the participants shared how AI helped them communicate with young people. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 December and will continue to reflect the commitment to the ongoing formation of the Salesians and the Salesian Family in communication.