The Open Source AI Community - Jumpstarting at Rootconf

Hello world! Join our kick-off meetup at Rootconf - 22 Nov 2024

We’re kicking off this community (beyond the existing WA group) to initiate a wider and more constructive conversation on how open source can help build a healthier AI ecosystem by looking beyond the constraints of proprietary AI agendas and technologies.

When? Friday, 22nd Nov, from 4:00 PM to 5:30PM
Where? @ Rootconf, BIC, Indiranagar, Bengaluru

To get things rolling we plan an open discussion about larger, ecosystem concerns - grounded in day-to-day realities. We will also have a demonstration of 2-3 projects around open source AI, where creators can show what they are building, why and where they need help and support from the community.

How to join - Rootconf ticket and membership holders 🎟️

This inaugural meetup is taking place within the Rootconf Mini 2024 conference. Access to this first event is limited only to Rootconf ticket and membership holders.

Who should participate

1. Developers working with Open Source AI - you can be an individual builder/maker, or someone working in a startup or enterprise where you are pursuing side projects, or you can be a developer in a small or large company where open source AI is used.
2. Engineering leaders within an org - engineering manager or team lead - who is evaluating open source AI tools and technologies for adoption.
3. Startup founders who are either using open source AI to build products or are using open source AI in the overall tech stack.

Topics for the kick-off discussion

1. Use-cases where open source AI can be applied well following the ethics, rationales etc.
2. What are the some of the AI projects that developers are excited to work on? What are the gaps they see? What type of discussions are pertinent for developers?
3. What support/resources do engineers need to support/adopt/experiment with Open Source for AI?
4. Gender inclusivity - more discovery and promotion of open source AI projects initiated by women; inclusion of women engineers as volunteers and stewards for open source AI projects.
5. How to ensure sustainability in open source AI - via grants and other means; other ways such to build support for Open Source AI projects. What works? What doesn’t work? Examples and case studies.

Anwesha Sen (Assistant Programme Manager at The Takshashila Institution) will moderate the kick-off discussion. Participants will include Akash (Open Source AI enthusiast; Sr. ML Engineer at Airtel), Bharat Shetty (AI Consultant), Unnati (AI/ML engineer) and Dr. Venkata Pingali (Scribble Data).

Showcase of demos by

1. Bharat Shetty on ideas/projects they are building around accessibility.
2. Dr. Venkata Pingali on Indic approach to agents.

About the Open Source AI Community

We’re community of practitioners -- from startups and enterprises to builders and tinkerers -- who are using Open Source AI in their day-to-day practice and building.

Our tribe includes:

• Individual builders - developers who are pursuing hobby projects and tech/product ideas - who are experimenting with open source AI to create products, and who are navigating the ecosystem from the point of view of regulations, uncertainty and not knowing what they have control over, and how much.
• Individuals - such as Bharat Shetty and Gopi Kumar Sasi - who have ideas on how to use Open Source and AI technologies to solve for accessibility.
• Ecosystem builders who have ideas/projects that are running, and they are looking for contributors and volunteers for open source AI projects.

Contact information ☎️

For inquiries about our kick-off event, contact +91-7676332020 or write to info@hasgeek.com

For queries about the community, post a comment here - https://hasgeek.com/open_source_ai_community/kick-off-at-rootconf/comments