About us
The AI Collective is a non-profit, grassroots community uniting 200,000+ pioneers β founders, researchers, operators, and investors β exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AIβs future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
In Hampton Roads, our chapter brings that mission to life across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and beyond β connecting technologists, creatives, students, and entrepreneurs through intimate meetups, hands-on workshops, and real-world collaborations that drive innovation in healthcare, defense, education, tourism, and the local economy. From fireside chats to industry demo nights, weβre building a trusted space for bold ideas, meaningful dialogue, and collective progress on AIβs cutting edge.
Upcoming events
27

Build Your Own AI Agent: The Claude Agent SDK | AICHR
Β·OnlineOnlineNotice: This meeting will be recorded. By joining and remaining in this meeting, you consent to being recorded. If you do not consent, please do not join.
This event is capped at 500 attendees. Register now to secure your spot.
Build Your Own AI Agent: The Claude Agent SDK -
You've been using Claude Code interactively. Type a prompt, watch it work, review the output. That's great for your workflow. But what happens when you need Claude running inside your application? Processing uploads at 3 AM? Reviewing PRs automatically? Analyzing logs as a service?
The Claude Agent SDK is Claude Code packaged as a Python and TypeScript library. One function call, one prompt, and you have a fully autonomous agent with 10+ built-in tools β file reading, code editing, shell commands, web search, MCP connections β all handled autonomously. No tool loop. No orchestration code. The SDK is free and open source. You pay for tokens only.
This is a live coding workshop. We'll build 10 real agents from scratch, starting with a 10-line bug finder and ending with a multi-agent coordinator that spawns subagents for parallel work.
What we'll cover:
π§ Why the Agent SDK Changes Everything The difference between the Client SDK (you build the tool loop), Claude Code CLI (you interact manually), and the Agent SDK (Claude handles tools autonomously in your code).
β‘ 10 Agents We'll Build Live:
- Bug Finder & Fixer β reads code, finds bugs, fixes them. 10 lines of Python.
- Code Documentation Generator β docstrings for every function in a directory
- Test Writer β writes tests, runs them, fixes failures, iterates until green
- File Processor Pipeline β watch a folder, process every new file automatically
- API Health Monitor β hits endpoints, reports status, opens issues on failure
- Log Analyzer β reads logs, groups errors by pattern, produces a digest
- Security Auditor β scans for hardcoded secrets, SQL injection, missing validation
- Data Report Generator β reads a database or CSV, produces formatted reports
- PR Review Bot β triggered by webhook, reviews against your checklist, posts comments
- Multi-Agent Coordinator β spawns subagents for parallel research + writing + review
ποΈ Managed Agents Preview The hosted version: sandboxed containers, persistent state, credential vaulting. $0.08/session-hour + tokens. Public beta since April 8, 2026. When to use Agent SDK (your infra) vs Managed Agents (Anthropic's infra).
Who this is for: Python or TypeScript developers who want to build autonomous AI agents. If you've been using Claude Code and want to embed its capabilities into your own applications, services, or pipelines β this is the session. Prior experience with Claude Code is helpful but not required.
Who this is NOT for: Non-developers. This is a coding workshop. Every demo involves writing and running Python or TypeScript code. If you're looking for no-code AI workflows, see our earlier events in the series.
What you'll leave with: β The Agent SDK installed and a working agent running on your machine β A free homework doc with all 10 agent templates in Python and TypeScript β Understanding of built-in tools, permission modes, MCP integration, and subagents β The architecture for building production agent services
Prerequisites: β Python 3.10+ or Node.js 18+ β An Anthropic API key (sign up at console.anthropic.com) β A code editor and terminal β Basic Python or TypeScript proficiency
ποΈ Your Speaker Andrew Stafford Co-Lead of The AI Collective Hampton Roads. 25+ years across technology, cloud architecture, and AI β including work with Amazon, NASA, healthcare platforms, and enterprise systems. Author of AI for Business. Currently building at the intersection of AI tooling, agentic workflows, and practical business automation.
π’ For Businesses Want to bring AI automation training to your team? We offer private workshops (lunch and learn, half-day, full-day bootcamp), conference speaking, and technical consulting. Book a discovery call
***
π€ Organizers & partners
β
Organizers
The AI Collective Hampton RoadsβPlatinum partners
TechArk
Regent University
ECPI University
Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation
Retail Alliance & Retail Alliance FoundationBronze partners
Assembly
757 Collabπ βOur parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 225,000+ pioneers β founders, researchers, operators, and investors β exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AIβs future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.
263 attendees
π§ββοΈ AICHR | Peninsula Builders Study Group
Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA, USNew AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. βTo-be-studiedβ lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.
Sound familiar?Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing itβtogether.
Thereβs no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up.How it works:
We meet every two weeks on Tuesdays from 6:00β7:30 PM at CNU. Sessions are a mix of focused study and group discussion.Things to bring:
- Laptop
- Earphones/headphones
Session details:
π Study time: 6:05 PM β 7:05 PM
π€ Networking time: 7:05 PM β 7:30 PM
π Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
π Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)
π¬ Join Slack: Fill Google FormDirections:
Park in the visitor spots in front of Trible Library. From there, take the first right onto the brick path (on your right if youβre facing the library), walk past the Freeman Center, and take the first left. Luter 170 is in the rightmost wing of the Luter Hall building, youβll see a sign on the door.Roadmap (optional structure weβre following):
- AI Fluency + Claude 101 (start here)
- Building with the Claude API
- Intro to MCP + MCP Advanced
- Claude Code in Action + Coursera module
- Practice questions + scenario walkthroughs
- Anti-patterns review
Based on: βThe Claude Certified Architect is Here!β
You are welcome to study on anything else too. The goal is the habit, not the syllabus.π€ Organizers & partners
β
Organizers
The AI Collective Hampton RoadsβPlatinum partners
TechArk
Regent University
ECPI University
Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation
Retail Alliance & Retail Alliance Foundation
The HIVE + City of Virginia BeachBronze partners
Assembly
757 Collabπ βOur parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 200,000+ pioneers β founders, researchers, operators, and investors β exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AIβs future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.
5 attendees
π§ββοΈ AICHR | Humans in AI Week
The HIVE by City of Virginia Beach, 140 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA, USJoin us for Humans in AI Week
From June 1 to 8, 2026, every AI Collective chapter in the world is hosting simultaneous public events β 200+ cities, 50+ countries, one week, the same conversation. It's the largest coordinated civilian conversation about AI ever organized.
The AI era is being built right now and the humans behind it matter more than ever. Humans in AI Week is dedicated to the human layer of AI: trust, coordination, and shared understanding. The missing layer above the tech stack that lets humanity and technology advance in harmony.
This is the Hampton Roads edition, your chance to connect with the people shaping AI as part of a global moment happening in real time across the world.
βWhat to expect
- Food, drinks, and an open, welcoming atmosphere
- Conversations with builders, researchers, founders, and the AI-curious across New Jersey
- A chance to meet your local AI Collective community and join a worldwide conversation about where AI is going and who it's for
π€ Organizers & partners
β
Organizers
The AI Collective Hampton RoadsβPlatinum partners
TechArk
Regent University
ECPI University
Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation
Retail Alliance & Retail Alliance Foundation
The HIVE + City of Virginia BeachBronze partners
Assembly
757 Collab
TEKsystemsπ βOur parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 200,000+ pioneers β founders, researchers, operators, and investors β exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AIβs future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.
4 attendees
Claude + Social Media Pipelines: One Post β Every Platform | AICHR
Β·OnlineOnlineNotice: This meeting will be recorded. By joining and remaining in this meeting, you consent to being recorded. If you do not consent, please do not join.
Claude + Social Media Pipelines: One Post β Every Platform, Automatically β
You create one piece of content. Claude turns it into 10+ platform-specific posts, schedules them across LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok β and keeps your brand voice consistent across all of them.
This isn't AI-generated slop. This is a structured pipeline: source content β repurpose in your voice β schedule β post β analyze what worked. The tools are free or low-cost. The output is content that sounds like you, not a robot.
This is a live demo workshop. We'll build a complete social media pipeline from scratch β starting with a single YouTube video and ending with a week's worth of scheduled, platform-native content across every channel.
What we'll cover:
π The Social Media Stack Inside Claude How Blotato MCP, Meta MCP, Puppeteer MCP, Skills, and Routines combine into a single content engine β and why this stack replaces $200-500/mo in social media tools.
π± Demos We'll Build Live:
- Blotato Multi-Platform Publisher β connect your social accounts and publish to LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok from one Claude conversation
- YouTube-to-Everything Repurposer β take a YouTube video or podcast episode, extract key insights, and generate platform-native posts for 5+ channels automatically
- Brand Voice Skill β create a voice-guide.md so Claude writes like you across every platform, every time
- Meta Ads Manager β manage Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns directly from Claude using Meta MCP (shipped April 29, 2026)
- Puppeteer Browser Poster β post to platforms that don't have official API connectors using headless browser automation
- Content Calendar Routine β set up a weekly Routine that runs your entire content pipeline on autopilot: research trending topics β draft posts β schedule across platforms
- Full Pipeline Demo β raw source content β brand-voiced repurposing β multi-platform scheduling β performance tracking, end to end
π The Numbers The social media management market is growing from $27B (2024) to $125B (2032). 56% of marketers are already integrating AI. Teams adopting agentic AI report a 300x output increase. This event shows you how to capture that β without hiring a social media team.
Who this is for: Content creators, marketers, founders, and business owners who want to multiply their content output without multiplying their time. If you're posting manually to each platform, spending hours repurposing content, or paying for scheduling tools that don't integrate with AI β this is the session. Prior experience with Claude is helpful but not required.
Who this is NOT for: People looking for theory. This is a hands-on workshop. Every demo involves setting up real connections and publishing real content. If you're looking for a high-level overview of AI in marketing, this isn't it.
What you'll leave with: β A working multi-platform social media pipeline connected to your accounts β A free setup guide with every demo walkthrough, step by step β A brand voice skill file you can use immediately β A homework doc with bonus pipelines, advanced automations, and exercises β Understanding of Blotato MCP, Meta MCP, Puppeteer MCP, Skills, and Routines for social media
Prerequisites: β A Claude Pro, Max, or Team subscription (Cowork or Claude Code) β Social media accounts you want to connect (LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok) β A Blotato account (free tier available β we'll walk through setup) β A piece of existing content to repurpose (YouTube video, blog post, podcast episode, or even a set of notes)
ποΈ Your Speaker Andrew Stafford Co-Lead of The AI Collective Hampton Roads. 25+ years across technology, cloud architecture, and AI β including work with Amazon, NASA, healthcare platforms, and enterprise systems. Author of AI for Business. Currently building at the intersection of AI tooling, agentic workflows, and practical business automation.
π’ For Businesses Want to bring AI automation training to your team? We offer private workshops (lunch and learn, half-day, full-day bootcamp), conference speaking, and technical consulting. Book a discovery call
***
π€ Organizers & partners
Organizers The AI Collective Hampton Roads
Platinum partners TechArk Regent University ECPI University Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation Retail Alliance & Retail Alliance Foundation
Bronze partners Assembly 757 Collab
π Our parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 240,000+ pioneers β founders, researchers, operators, and investors β exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI's future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.
35 attendees
Past events
36
