Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) + Building a WordPress Site From Scratch

Accso is in Suite 302 in the Clock Tower building. Nearest parking is in the Clock Tower parking.

This event is 17:30 for 18:00. The session content will start promptly at 18:15 PM. Attendees are welcome to arrive earlier for networking and snacks!

Agenda

Community Intro and Welcoming

18:00 - Community Intro and Welcoming

18:05 - Bring Your Data to AI: A Practical Guide to Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is one of the most exciting ways to make AI more useful. Instead of relying only on what a language model already knows, RAG can pull in your own data and give much smarter, context-aware answers.

In this session, I’ll walk through:

- What RAG is and how it works (LLM + knowledge base + retriever)
- A quick look at keyword search, semantic search, and hybrid search
- How you can run a simple RAG pipeline locally using open-source tools
- A live demo showing a small app built with RAG

Speaker: Abed Matini

Senior Backend Developer at Ogilvy South Africa | AI Developer

19:05 - 60 Minutes to Glory: Building a WordPress Site From Scratch Without Crying (Much)

Ever stared at a blank screen thinking, “I could build a website… if only I had a time machine, a team of developers, AI savvy, and a strong emotional support animal”? Well, good news: you don’t need any of those (except maybe the emotional support animal—no judgment).

In this turbo-charged, caffeine-fueled session, we’ll race against the clock to build a fully functional WordPress site from scratch in under 60 minutes. That’s right—using themes, plugins (the RIGHT plugins - no shady plugins from 2009), and absolutely no existential dread. Just raw creativity, a dash of CSS, and the kind of reckless optimism that makes tech demos, sans sacrifice to The Demo Gods, great.
You’ll learn:
• How to set up WordPress faster than your coffee brews
• Picking a theme that doesn’t scream “I made this in 2007”
• Plugin essentials that won’t break your site or your soul
• Crafting content that’s actually readable (and maybe even fun)
• Basic security tips so your site doesn’t get hacked by a bored teenager

Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned dev who just enjoys watching chaos unfold, this talk will leave you laughing, learning, and possibly questioning your life choices. Bring your sense of humor, and a timer—we’re going in.

Stickers will be provided to the survivors.

Speaker: Louise van der Bijl

Web Specialist, Account & Client Administration

20:30 - Closing and SWAGS exchange