30th December 2024

I recently had the privilege of leading a course at Shiksha Kendra, a facility devoted to giving underprivileged students access to high-quality education. The purpose of the session was to familiarise the students with the revolutionary possibilities of large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI) in creative domains including publishing, design, and writing.

An interactive demonstration kicked off the workshop. "What if you could write a book or create illustrations with just a few simple inputs?" I asked the pupils. As I demonstrated the potential of AI tools, their interest was evident. I created a narrative with colourful pictures using a short prompt. The kids were amazed to see how quickly abstract concepts could be transformed into professional-grade content.

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I separated the participants into groups and helped them develop their own initiatives, building on their excitement. Every group experimented with visual design, formatting, and storytelling. One group created a story about a young hero protecting his neighbourhood, and another team imagined a compassionate utopia. They were able to observe how technology may enhance their creativity through the practical experience.

I connected them to online freelance marketplaces and platforms like Amazon Kindle to make sure the lesson had a lasting effect. I described how these resources could help them reach a worldwide audience and make money off of their works. The thought of turning their concepts into real, commercial goods was completely novel to many.

 

This session was an opportunity to empower young minds to realise their potential, not just to teach technical skills. Seeing their enthusiasm and increasing self-assurance as they grasped the opportunities before them was incredibly satisfying. My faith in the ability of technology to close gaps and create opportunities for people who need them most was strengthened by this encounter.