Functional World #17 | Let's Teach LLMs to Write Great Scala!

Join Kannupriya Kalra, org admin and mentor for Google Summer of Code with Scala Center, as she takes us on a deep dive into the world of Large Language Models - this time, through a Scala lens. While most AI tooling is built around Python, this talk makes the case for a better, type-safe alternative: Scala.

Discover how typed functional programming can unlock more reliable and maintainable LLM-powered applications. Learn from Kannupriya’s experience as the co-creator of LLM4S, the first Scala-first AI toolkit, and see how concepts like zero-shot prompting and agentic workflows come to life in a strongly-typed ecosystem.
Whether you're curious about building AI in Scala or looking for your next open-source project, this talk is your gateway to smarter, safer, and more scalable AI development.

What you’ll learn:

• Why Scala is a strong alternative to Python for LLM development
• Key concepts like zero-shot prompting and agentic feedback loops
• How type safety improves AI reliability
• A hands-on look at LLM4S, Scala’s own LLM framework
• Lessons from the Python ecosystem and how Scala compares
• Ways to contribute, collaborate, and grow with the Scala AI community

Ready to teach LLMs some functional discipline? Join us! 😉