St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), The School of Engineering (SOE), St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), in collaboration with the Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Mangaluru, organised a one-day workshop titled ‘Unboxing AI’.

Held at Sanidhya Hall on the St Aloysius campus, the workshop was designed exclusively for the postgraduate students and faculty members of MCODS, focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence in dental education, research, and clinical practice.

The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of esteemed dignitaries. Dr Srikanth, (Associate dean, MCODS, Mangalore)stressed the importance of embracing the rapid advancements in AI, stating that adapting to these changes is essential for professionals to remain relevant.Dr Karthik Shetty (Coordinator, PG Vertical) MCODS, Mangalore highlighted the urgent need for engineering and medical institutions to break barriers and work together to offer innovative solutions to societal challenges.

In his presidential address, Dr Melwyn D’Cunha SJ, pro vice chancellor, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), emphasised the values of empathy, continuous learning, and adaptability while adopting transformative technologies such as AI. Dr S Ruban, Dean, School of Engineering, welcomed the gathering, Mr Siraj, chair of the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), proposed the vote of thanks, and Glenson Toney, assistant dean, SOE, compered the event.

The inaugural ceremony was followed by a session by Dr S Ruban titled ‘Why, How and When to Use AI: A Dental Perspective’, offering valuable insights into the practical and emerging applications of AI in dental healthcare.

Hands-on training sessions were later conducted at the JW Lab, Maffei Block. Glenson Toney led an engaging session on building AI chatbots and utilising AI tools for image classification. Participants developed their own personalized chatbots during the session, with the top five models being recognized for creativity and performance.

Mr Siraj then delivered a session on ‘AI-Driven Research: Working Smarter, Not Harder’, where he introduced participants to a range of advanced AI tools for literature search, data analysis, and scientific writing, aimed at enhancing research efficiency and accuracy.

The workshop was organised as part of the ongoing MoU between St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) and Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Mangaluru, reaffirming the commitment of both institutions toward interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering AI literacy in healthcare education.