Dreaming in Pixels, Local AI & Lean Coffee

How does random noise become a recognisable image? How can you run AI on your own machine and keep your documents private? And what questions would you bring to a room full of people exploring AI?
Join AIZA for two practical talks with Rishal Hurbans and Ritesh Kanjee, followed by a Lean Coffee discussion where you help shape the conversation.

Wednesday, 28 October 2026
17:45–19:45 SAST
Entelect, 3rd Floor, Melrose Arch
3 Melrose Boulevard, Johannesburg

Beneath Generative AI: Dreaming in Pixels
Rishal Hurbans · Author of Grokking AI Algorithms
You type “a dragon reading a newspaper in a coffee shop,” and moments later, there it is. How did random numbers become something so specific?
We’ll slow that process down and explore the algorithms behind diffusion-based image generation. Starting with images as grids of numbers, we’ll add noise until their structure disappears, then discover how a neural network learns to help reverse the process: predict the noise, update the image, and repeat.
Through visual explanations, animated diagrams, and small worked examples, we’ll build intuition for convolutions, U-Net architectures, and latent spaces. We’ll explore how text prompts guide generation, and why a model can produce a beautiful image while still getting the details wrong.
You’ll leave better equipped to understand these models, evaluate their output, and build upon them.

How to build a secure local AI system
Ritesh Kanjee · Director, Augmented AI Automations
Learn how to build a secure local AI that runs on your own machine, reads your documents, and keeps everything private. I’ll show you the exact setup, step by step. You’ll walk out with a working system.

Lean Coffee: Your questions, our conversation
After the talks, we’ll open the discussion to the room. Lean Coffee is a structured conversation with an agenda built by the people taking part: suggest topics, vote on what interests you, and explore them together.
Bring your questions about image generation, local AI, privacy, or the challenges you’re facing when putting AI into practice. Share something you’ve tried, a problem you’re working through, or an idea you’d like to explore. You’re equally welcome to listen and learn.
Developers, data scientists, business leaders, and curious minds are all welcome. No previous meetup experience needed.
Thank you to Entelect for supporting the AIZA community.
Learn more at weareaiza.com.