Build with AI

There are many opportunities that come with adopting Generative AI, making it critical to determine where to focus your efforts. In this session we’ll run through GenAI adoption strategies, what to look at when determining what AI opportunities to explore, and how to prioritize your AI investments to deliver business value.

Join me for an engaging presentation on the thriving world of startups, where I will spotlight tech companies that are making waves in our region. Learn valuable insights on how to kickstart your own tech venture! I'll also explore strategies for connecting with the local tech community, uncovering exciting employment opportunities, and building meaningful networks to accelerate your journey in the industry.

A quick discussion about the journey from being a developer, to a serial entrepreneur and the challenges and benefits that come with such a transition.

The purpose of research is progress, and the fuel for that progress is data. As methods continue to evolve, greater volumes of valuable data are generated - necessitating more complex and comprehensive secure data management strategies. In this talk, Aislyn will discuss best practices laid out overseas and the impact of government regulation on internal lab policies. She'll also discuss the need for cybersecurity training, purpose built tools and strategic long-term data storage planning on the part of lab heads and institutions; as well as the potential uses for previously processed data, such as machine learning, AI training and future research projects.

Are you a software engineer who believes technical prowess alone guarantees success? Do you think writing flawless code is the sole key to success in software engineering? This talk challenges that notion, highlighting two often-underestimated skills vital for career advancement: building a strong professional network and mastering computer networks. We’ll explore the reasons why these skills are indispensable, exploring the ways a strong network opens doors to opportunities and how troubleshooting network issues empowers engineers. Discover unexpected parallels between these seemingly unrelated domains, as we draw connections between nurturing professional relationships and constructing efficient network infrastructure.

We will delve into how generative AI is revolutionizing industrial processes by solving key challenges in logistics. This presentation will outline a detailed case study, illustrating the limitations of traditional logistical approaches and showcasing the integration of generative AI to optimize routes, manage resources, and enhance real-time decision-making. The discussion will highlight how data-driven AI solutions were implemented, leading to significant improvements in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and delivery accuracy. Key performance metrics and collaborative insights will be shared, underscoring the practical success and lessons learned. The talk will also touch on the broader potential for applying generative AI across industries to streamline operations and drive innovative change.

There are many opportunities that come with adopting Generative AI, making it critical to determine where to focus your efforts. In this session we’ll run through GenAI adoption strategies, what to look at when determining what AI opportunities to explore, and how to prioritize your AI investments to deliver business value.

Join this hands-on session to learn how to build a large language model (LLM) from scratch using PyTorch. Designed for developers with some knowledge of Python and a basic understanding of deep learning, this workshop offers a deep dive into constructing a ChatGPT-like model. Participants will explore key steps including data preprocessing, implementing attention mechanisms, understanding transformer architectures, and performing both pretraining and fine-tuning. By the end of the session, attendees will have the practical skills to develop and customize LLMs for various applications, from text generation to classification. This session is ideal for those eager to understand the mechanics of LLMs and apply that knowledge to real-world projects.

In this session, we'll go beyond the hype and delve into the cutting edge of intelligent systems that can reason, plan, and make decisions – just like us, but at lightning speed. Gain practical skills to build your own AI agents using Google Cloud's powerful tools. With demos and resources, you can turn theory into reality. Learn how to create AI-powered solutions for your organization, from automating complex tasks to generating creative content. Witness the capabilities of Google Cloud's AI tools firsthand through captivating demonstrations. Whether you're a seasoned AI enthusiast or just starting your journey, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to harness the full potential of AI agents.

In this talk, I will demonstrate a Shiny web app that allows users to generate AI-written stories and illustrations using multiple tools. Attendees will explore how the app captures user inputs—such as the story’s opening sentence, number of sentences, drawing instructions, and title—and leverages Cloudflare’s Workers Model API for text generation (Llama 3.1) and image generation (Stable Diffusion). The app compiles story content and images into a Quarto-based slide deck, offering a dynamic storytelling experience. I'll also show how easy it is to deploy the app to Google Cloud Run. Join me to see how Shiny, Quarto, and AI come together in cloud deployment to create engaging content.

In this session, we’re diving deep into Google Gemini and revealing the secrets behind crafting the ultimate prompts. Drawing from Google's Gemini Prompting Guide 101, you'll learn how to create razor-sharp, impactful prompts that consistently deliver mind-blowing results. Whether you're an AI newbie or a tech veteran, this talk will be packed with expert tips, live demos, and must-know strategies to elevate your AI experience. If you're ready to unlock the full potential of Google Gemini, this is the session you can’t afford to miss!

In the rapidly advancing world of AI, customizing language models is essential for achieving tailored solutions. Many people believe that they need to be highly skilled in programming to build their own custom AI chatbots or applications, but that’s not true. In this talk, I will conduct a live demo session that delves into the art of customizing various LLMs, including Gemini, using low-code and no-code techniques. Through real-world examples and live demos based on Gemini, I will showcase how businesses and developers are successfully implementing tailored solutions for applications ranging from chatbots to content creation. You’ll discover practical strategies for adjusting parameters, crafting effective prompts, and enhancing user experience across different models. Whether you’re a developer, a business leader, an AI enthusiast, or a student, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to start customizing LLMs for your specific needs. Embrace the power of low-code and no-code solutions to unlock the potential of these advanced models and transform your ideas into reality. Join me to learn how to harness the capabilities of multiple LLMs and elevate your projects without getting bogged down by complex coding!

There are many opportunities that come with adopting Generative AI, making it critical to determine where to focus your efforts. In this session we’ll run through GenAI adoption strategies, what to look at when determining what AI opportunities to explore, and how to prioritize your AI investments to deliver business value.

As AI agents become more advanced, the challenge shifts from merely developing new capabilities to transforming them into practical, valuable products. This talk explores strategies for turning innovative AI technologies into products and focuses on how principles of product thinking can transform the way we design, build, and deploy AI agents, ensuring they are not only functional but also user-centric and market-ready.

Learn how to push the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to its limits and get up to 10X for your JVM’s performance. Selecting the right approach or library can increase the performance of a Java program significantly. Topics to be discussed include fast collections, fast float/double calculations, random generators, hashing, RegEx and text search, Reflection, and JSON Parsing. This session is ideal for Java programmers who want a deeper understanding of the language and its usage.

Figma is a must-have tool for developers looking to streamline their design process. This talk will introduce you to using Figma as a developer, making it easy to create wireframes, prototypes, and manage design systems—all without needing advanced design skills. We'll also explore how AI-powered extensions in Figma can save time, handle repetitive tasks, and offer smart design suggestions. These tools help developers focus on building, while AI takes care of enhancing the design process. By the end of this session, you’ll know how to integrate Figma into your development workflow and use AI extensions to boost productivity. Whether you’re building websites or apps, Figma and AI will make your work easier and more efficient.

In this session, you'll learn how to containerize applications and deploy them seamlessly to Google Cloud. We’ll cover Docker’s role in packaging applications and Docker Compose’s ability to streamline local development by mimicking cloud environments. The talk will guide you through building a cloud-ready app, creating a docker-compose.yml file, and deploying it using Google Cloud. By the end, you’ll understand how to leverage Docker for both development and deployment, ensuring your workflow is optimized from local testing to production.

Have you heard about Lighthouse? Are you afraid to go into the light like Carol Anne in Poltergeist? Don't be afraid because Lighthouse is an awesome tool to achieve your web experience goals. You can do a bunch of awesome things in Lighthouse like running SEO audits, front-end performance audits, and my favorite, accessibility audits. This talk will explore reasons that audits and testing are necessary, and walk through different types of audits you can run. The end goal is analyzing the results and taking steps to achieve your web experience goals.

There are many opportunities that come with adopting Generative AI, making it critical to determine where to focus your efforts. In this session we’ll run through GenAI adoption strategies, what to look at when determining what AI opportunities to explore, and how to prioritize your AI investments to deliver business value.

Are you a developer with Computer Vision coding skills? We want to talk to you. We want to build a computer vision model to analyze the movement of athletes during a game and identify insights to help them improve how they play. Let’s work together to “Build with AI” this sports analytics model. In this session, we will go over the problem we are trying to solve and invite developers to work with us on this project.

In today's fast-paced tech landscape, it's no longer sufficient for developers to focus solely on technical execution. This talk highlights the shift from just writing code to understanding the broader context of how the features you build solve real problems for customers. By incorporating insights from our exploration of Generative AI's impact, we'll discuss how these developments apply to a wider audience.

In my upcoming presentation, I will focus on Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment (TARA) as the foundational stage of cybersecurity, which has been highlighted in key standards and best practices, such as MITRE, NIST, ISO/SAE 21434, and Auto-ISAC. The presentation will begin by discussing the growing importance of cybersecurity in automotive systems, particularly as vehicles become increasingly connected and automated. I will explain why TARA is crucial for securing these systems and provide an overview of what TARA entails. We will delve into the TARA models outlined in ISO/SAE 21434, exploring how they guide the identification and mitigation of security risks. The discussion will also cover other standards and best practices, comparing their approaches to risk management. I will introduce several TARA projects and demonstrate how the Canadian metrics framework is applied in evaluating TARA effectiveness. Finally, I will present a practical example of implementing TARA in heavy-duty vehicles, highlighting the specific considerations and challenges of applying TARA in this context. This talk aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of TARA and its role in enhancing automotive cybersecurity.

In today’s world of relentless cyber threats, traditional defenses aren’t enough to keep organizations safe. That’s where the Zero Trust framework comes in: a powerful, modern approach to security that rethinks protection with continuous verification, least-privilege access, and a strict “never trust, always verify” philosophy. More than just a security model, Zero Trust is reshaping technology stacks and guiding the strategies of CIOs and IT leaders everywhere. Join us to explore how Zero Trust safeguards enterprise environments and enables secure, adaptable tech infrastructures. Whether you’re starting or scaling your Zero Trust strategy, this session will provide insights to build resilient, future-focused security for your organization.

Joe Youssouf and Oden Technologies are at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT), building innovative tools to improve the factories of today. Solutions like Oden's real-time "Process-AI" optimization recommendations have the potential to reduce waste, increase manufacturing efficiency, and improve safety in manufacturing around the world. Join the conversation as Joe shares his vision for the possibilities of Industry 4.0, dissecting the challenges, successes, and lessons learned in integrating AI-powered solutions, such as Process-AI, into the manufacturing sector and beyond. This talk will also feature interactive workshop-style coding examples and graphics, alongside Joe's personal experiences and advice as a Data Scientist in the startup world.