What we’re about
This is a group for people who want to explore, share, and learn about artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, intelligent machines etc. and understand the creative minds behind these creations.
We meet on the First Monday of every month at EPIC Innovation. We typically feature a couple of speakers, mingle with drinks, and share new tools and insights about AI.
Give feedback on the group, or apply to speak, by filling out this form.
Upcoming events
7
AI Reasoning & Context Engineering
EPIC Innovation Center, 78-100 Manchester St, Christchurch, NZExplore brain-inspired AI and high-performance prompting at December’s First Monday Meetup. Andy Masters will introduce Hierarchical Reasoning Models—small, fast systems you can run locally—then Caelan Huntress will show you how to open and close the context windows. Drinks, demos, and practical takeaways included.
Meet up with your local AI community on the First Monday of December at EPIC Innovation:
5:30–6:00 pm — Drinks & Networking
6:00–6:45 pm — Hierarchical Reasoning Models — Andy Masters
6:45–7:30 pm — Context Engineering — Caelan Huntress
7:30–8:00 pm — Drinks & Open Q&A
This month’s First Monday Meetup dives into brain-inspired reasoning models and high-performance prompting. You’ll explore small, fast-learning AI models you can run locally, then level up your prompting skills through live demos and hands-on practice.
Hierarchical Reasoning Models - Andy Masters
Getting hands-on with HRMs (Hierarchical Reasoning Models). HRMs are small, fast-learning, and can tackle niche problems that frontier LLMs often fumble.
In this session, Andy will:
- Introduce HRMs and their inspiration from the brain’s fast/slow thinking systems
- Work through example “grid-style” problems like mazes and Sudoku puzzles
- Show how to run an HRM on your own machine—either through code or, for non-technical users, via Excel
Context Engineering — Caelan Huntress
Context Engineering is the discipline of preparing everything before the prompt — constructing the backstory, reference material, framing, and constraints that determine the quality of the model’s reasoning. Caelan will teach a practical, repeatable system for designing context that boosts accuracy, reduces hallucination, and anchors AI in your real-world scenario.
- Design context “warm-ups” that prime the model for your goals
- Apply a RAG to improve accuracy on complex tasks
- Structure context using immediate vs. persistent memory
- Manage noise, avoid context pollution, and understand why longer isn’t always better
***
When: Monday, 2 December, 5:30–8:00 pm
Where: EPIC Innovation, Christchurch
Bring: Your laptop (optional, for hands-on exercises)
***
Sponsored by Agentic Intelligence
Raise a glass to Agentic Intelligence for sponsoring the evening’s drinks, and to EPIC Innovation for hosting the event in their wonderful facility!89 attendees
•OnlineAI Coaching Power Hour - on Zoom
OnlineA weekly space to think better, together — with the help of AI.
What happens when you blend human connection, coaching frameworks, and an AI that listens without judgment or ego?
You get a power hour that jump-starts clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Join Caelan Huntress for a weekly AI Coaching Power Hour.
This session is designed to give you one hour of focused reflection, a gentle push forward, and a supportive community to grow with. Whether you're navigating a challenge, shaping a goal, or simply wanting a structured space to think out loud — you’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to take your next step.
During this hands-on, interactive workshop, you will learn how to create a coach out of your favourite book, and practice having structured conversations with an AI partner.
AGENDA
15 min - we talk to each other, on Zoom
15 min - we talk to an AI coach, individually
10 min - we come back together and debrief
10 min - breakout room 1:1s
5 min - weekly commitments
5 min - show & tell, open Q&A
These 4 x weekly Ai Coaching Power Hours are drop in. You can RSVP for the whole series, or for only one (select the date on the right).
### 🧭 What We’ll Do (in 60 minutes)
15 min — Human Connection
We start together on Zoom. Simple conversation. Real presence. You’ll share what you’re working on and what you want coaching around today.
15 min — Solo AI Coaching Session
You’ll be paired with a private AI coaching prompt (provided), and spend 1:1 time with an AI coach. Think of it as a reflective mirror: asking questions, offering perspective, helping you articulate what you truly want.
10 min — Group Debrief
We come back together to share insights, a-has, breakthroughs, surprises, and patterns. This is where collective reflection can help you illuminate your own insights.
10 min — Breakout Room 1:1s
You’ll get paired with another participant for a live, human-to-human coaching conversation. It’s simple, structured, and insightful.
5 min — Weekly Commitments
You close the loop by naming one action you’ll take before next week. Small steps lead to big shifts.
5 min — Show & Tell / Open Q&A
Got a prompt that worked well? A coaching tool to share? A question about your AI session? Share it. We’ll explore it together.
***
### 📌 Who This Is For
- Anyone curious about AI coaching
- Coaches who want to expand their toolkit
- Creatives, founders, leaders, solopreneurs
- Anyone craving a consistent weekly moment of reflection
- People who want to think better — and appreciate guided structure
No experience with AI needed. No pressure to share more than you want. Just bring yourself, an open mind, and something you’re working on.
***
### ⚡ Why Join?
Because breakthroughs don’t come from thinking harder.
They come from thinking differently — with new questions, new mirrors, and a supportive circle.
You’ll leave each week with:
- a fresh insight about yourself
- one clear next action
- and a growing sense of momentum, grounded in community
RSVP for one of the dates on the right, or for the whole series. No cost for the month of January. This 4-week series is the beta test while the AI Coaching Academy is being built.
1 attendee- •Online
AI Coaching Power Hour - on Zoom
OnlineA weekly space to think better, together — with the help of AI.
What happens when you blend human connection, coaching frameworks, and an AI that listens without judgment or ego?
You get a power hour that jump-starts clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Join Caelan Huntress for a weekly AI Coaching Power Hour.
This session is designed to give you one hour of focused reflection, a gentle push forward, and a supportive community to grow with. Whether you're navigating a challenge, shaping a goal, or simply wanting a structured space to think out loud — you’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to take your next step.
During this hands-on, interactive workshop, you will learn how to create a coach out of your favourite book, and practice having structured conversations with an AI partner.
AGENDA
15 min - we talk to each other, on Zoom
15 min - we talk to an AI coach, individually
10 min - we come back together and debrief
10 min - breakout room 1:1s
5 min - weekly commitments
5 min - show & tell, open Q&A
These 4 x weekly Ai Coaching Power Hours are drop in. You can RSVP for the whole series, or for only one (select the date on the right).
### 🧭 What We’ll Do (in 60 minutes)
15 min — Human Connection
We start together on Zoom. Simple conversation. Real presence. You’ll share what you’re working on and what you want coaching around today.
15 min — Solo AI Coaching Session
You’ll be paired with a private AI coaching prompt (provided), and spend 1:1 time with an AI coach. Think of it as a reflective mirror: asking questions, offering perspective, helping you articulate what you truly want.
10 min — Group Debrief
We come back together to share insights, a-has, breakthroughs, surprises, and patterns. This is where collective reflection can help you illuminate your own insights.
10 min — Breakout Room 1:1s
You’ll get paired with another participant for a live, human-to-human coaching conversation. It’s simple, structured, and insightful.
5 min — Weekly Commitments
You close the loop by naming one action you’ll take before next week. Small steps lead to big shifts.
5 min — Show & Tell / Open Q&A
Got a prompt that worked well? A coaching tool to share? A question about your AI session? Share it. We’ll explore it together.
***
### 📌 Who This Is For
- Anyone curious about AI coaching
- Coaches who want to expand their toolkit
- Creatives, founders, leaders, solopreneurs
- Anyone craving a consistent weekly moment of reflection
- People who want to think better — and appreciate guided structure
No experience with AI needed. No pressure to share more than you want. Just bring yourself, an open mind, and something you’re working on.
***
### ⚡ Why Join?
Because breakthroughs don’t come from thinking harder.
They come from thinking differently — with new questions, new mirrors, and a supportive circle.
You’ll leave each week with:
- a fresh insight about yourself
- one clear next action
- and a growing sense of momentum, grounded in community
RSVP for one of the dates on the right, or for the whole series. No cost for the month of January. This 4-week series is the beta test while the AI Coaching Academy is being built.
1 attendee
Past events
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