MIDI-GPT: Human AI Jam Sessions with Music LLMs, & The Australian Synchrotron

The MLAI Meetup is a community for AI researchers and professionals which hosts monthly talks on exciting research. Our format is:

• 6:00 - 6:20: Socializing
• 6:20 - 6:40: Announcements and AI news
• 6:40 - 7:40: Talk(s) and Q&A
• 7:40 - 8:00 Networking
• 8:00: Head to the nearest pub for dinner

We have a great event this month, with a long talk by Adric Landman and a short talk by Joanna Wieclaw!

Adric Landman: "MIDI-GPT: Human AI Jam Sessions with Music LLMs"

Abstract: This talk explores the intersection of music, machine learning, and interactivity through MIDI-GPT, an open-source project that uses large language models (LLMs) to generate music dynamically from MIDI inputs. By connecting a digital keyboard to a custom-built LLM, MIDI-GPT captures live performances, predicts the next sequence of notes, and plays them back in real time, creating an interactive jam session where human creativity and machine intelligence co-compose music together.

The session will share the journey of building and training a custom LLM from scratch, explain how MIDI represents musical performance, and discuss future directions for AI-driven music creation. Live demonstrations will invite the audience to experiment and play along with the system.

Speaker bio: Adric is a Senior Software Developer at RecordPoint with more than 15 years of experience. Beyond their professional work, they are a Hacker-at-Large at the Connected Community Hackerspace, where they focus on projects that explore the interaction between hardware and software including innovative creations like SauceBot.

More recently, Adric has been exploring the intersection of machine learning and music, with a particular focus on creating technologies that enable more natural, human-centered, and interactive experiences beyond traditional screen-based interfaces. Passionate about experimentation and the future of human-computer interaction, Adric enjoys pushing the boundaries of how people and technology can work together.

Joanna Wieclaw: "The Australian Synchrotron: Powering Discovery Through Precision Light"

Abstract: The Australian Synchrotron is one of only two synchrotrons in the Southern Hemisphere, generating brilliant beams of light to accelerate discovery across medicine, materials science, environmental research and beyond. This talk provides a quick behind-the-scenes look at how the Synchrotron operates - from electron acceleration and storage ring design to how synchrotron light is delivered to experimental beamlines. You'll discover how researchers worldwide use this infrastructure to map protein structures, analyse cultural artefacts and develop next-generation technologies. We'll also explore the engineering systems that keep it running, including precision motion control and diagnostics that ensure experiments run safely and repeatably. Whether you're a data scientist, engineer or simply curious about the machinery behind big science, this is your gateway to understanding how light becomes a tool for discovery.

Speaker bio: Joanna Wieclaw is a Senior Controls Technician at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO. She specialises in motion control and diagnostic systems that support reliable beamline operation, enabling researchers to conduct high-precision experiments across diverse scientific disciplines. With a background in Mechatronics and extensive experience in system integration, control systems, and live diagnostics, Joanna maintains the critical infrastructure that powers cutting-edge research. Her role combines practical engineering with rapid problem-solving, ensuring complex experimental systems remain stable and responsive for breakthrough discoveries.