MELAKA: From bringing old family photographs back to life to creating fun digital memories, Melaka residents will get a chance to explore what artificial intelligence (AI) can do in their everyday lives through a series of free community workshops this month.
Organised by the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM), the three hands-on sessions aim to make AI less intimidating and more accessible, allowing residents of different ages and backgrounds to discover and experiment with the technology using their own smartphones.
The workshops, themed “AI in the Community – A Smart Living Experience”, are being organised with the support of Barisan Nasional candidates Melvin Chua Kiew Wei and Jasmine Lok Huey Yee, who are contesting the Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir seats respectively.
The hands-on sessions will introduce participants to practical AI applications, including identifying AI-generated images, restoring old family photographs, animating still pictures and creating AI-generated group photographs.
In a joint statement, Chua and Lok said the initiative aimed to make AI education accessible to people of all ages and levels of digital literacy while promoting responsible use of the technology.
“We believe that AI education should not be a privilege reserved for a select few, but an accessible learning opportunity for everyone,” they said.
They added that participants would also learn how to verify online information and recognise potentially misleading or fraudulent digital content.
“Technology should bring people closer together, not widen the gap between generations or communities. Everyone deserves an opportunity to participate in and benefit from digital progress,” they said.
The first workshop will be held at the Portuguese Settlement open stage in Ujong Pasir today (Nov 7), from 8pm to 9pm. The second session is scheduled for Sunday (Nov 8), from 11am to 1pm, at Taste Sweet cafe in Kampung Tujuh, while the third will take place at Restoren New Lim Kee in Taman Melaka Raya on Thursday (Nov 12), from 7pm to 9pm.
Admission is free, with students, working adults, parents, small business owners and senior citizens welcome to participate. Young people are also encouraged to attend with their parents or grandparents.
Participants must bring their own fully charged smartphones, as devices will not be provided by the organisers.
For registration and enquiries, the public may visit the official Facebook pages of Melvin Chua and Jasmine Lok, or contact Yap at 014-3610 483 or Jet at 016-290 1519.
