The Next Chapter: AI, Comics, and Tech Writing

In this presentation, Surag Ramachandran, Director of Technical Documentation at Certes, shares his experience leveraging AI tools to generate content for educational comic books.

He discusses the benefits of using comics as a communication medium, including improved information retention, universal understanding, reduced cognitive load, and increased user engagement.

Surag covers the three main ways he has used AI-generated comics – as standalone educational products, as marketing material, and as course learning content. He also dives into the key challenges of crafting comics, such as storytelling, artistic consistency, and scheduling.

The presentation explores how AI art generators like PlaygroundAI, and traditional graphical tools like Adobe Photoshop can be used to create images in various styles, from pop art to realism to fantasy.

Surag also touches on the limitations of existing AI comic strip generators and shares his step-by-step process for generating comics with AI.

Key Takeaways:

• Comics are a powerful communication tool that technical writers and instructional designers should leverage
• AI can be a valuable asset in the comic creation process, from generating visuals to integrating text
• Thoughtful planning and execution are required to overcome the challenges of merging AI and comics
• AI-generated comics can serve diverse purposes, from education to marketing to course materials

About the Speaker

Surag Ramachandran is a seasoned leader in technical documentation with over 20 years of experience spanning government organizations, startups, and multinational corporations. As Director of Technical Documentation at Certes, he excels in transforming complex information into user-friendly content.

Beyond his technical expertise, Surag is a published author, comic book creator, and storyteller in both English and Malayalam, seamlessly blending creativity with precision. His unique approach enriches both the technical and creative worlds, showcasing the power of clear and engaging communication.