Name: State of the Art of AI in Communications: A Level-Setting Conversation
Start: 2026-04-08T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-08T19:30:00-04:00
Location: McMaster University

A practical 90‑minute hybrid session exploring what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s changing fast in AI for communicators.
About this Event

State of the Art of AI in Communications: A Level-Setting Conversation

Presenter: Alex Sévigny, PhD, APR, FCPRS

Location: McMaster University + Virtual

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m, Informal reception at The Phoenix post-event. $8 Evening Parking (after 4pm)

at McMaster U in Lot B or under L.R. Wilson Hall (TBC).

Proposed Pricing (In-Person & Hybrid):

CPRS Member: $30
Student :$10
Non-Member: $50

In-Person Capacity: 35. No limit on virtual attendance.

AI is no longer a “future trend” in communications, it’s a shifting set of tools, risks, and opportunities that communicators are being asked to understand right now. This 90-minute, hybrid (in-person and virtual) professional development session is designed as a practical level-setting conversation for CPRS Hamilton members and any other communicators who would like to join, whether you’ve experimented with generative AI daily or haven’t touched it yet.

In this interactive session, Alex Sévigny will map the current state of the art in AI as it applies to communications work: what today’s models can (and can’t) do, where they reliably add value, and where they introduce brand, legal, privacy, and reputational risk. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, we’ll explore high-impact use cases across the communications lifecycle: research and insight gathering, message development, content drafting, stakeholder Q&A, media relations support, measurement, and issue/crisis preparedness—alongside common failure modes like hallucinations, bias, confidentiality leakage, and “automation without accountability.”

You’ll leave with a shared vocabulary, a clear-eyed view of what “good” looks like when using AI responsibly, and a simple set of decision points and guardrails you can apply immediately, both individually and within your organization.

SHORTFORM: Session abstract

Alex Sévigny will lead a practical, hybrid level-setting conversation on the state of AI in communications: what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s changing fast. We’ll explore some high-value use cases, common risks (accuracy, bias, confidentiality, brand safety), and actionable guardrails communicators can apply right away. Session is suitable for beginners and experienced users alike.