Name: Lisbon Search and AI #1 Hosted by Arrow Electronics
Start: 2025-11-20T18:00:00Z
End: 2025-11-20T20:00:00Z
Location: Arrow Electronics

Hi, and welcome to the official launch of the Lisbon Search & AI user group.

Below you will find the agenda + talk summaries
**18:00 – 18:30: Arrivals, Networking, Food & Drinks**
**18:30 – 18:35: Welcome & Housekeeping**
**18:35 – 19:05: First Speaker -** Carlos Rolo, NetApp Instaclustr
**19:05 – 19:40: Second Speaker -** Afonso Mendes, Freelancer
**19:40 – 19:50: Q&A**
**19:50 – 20:00 Wrap-up, Networking, Food & Drinks**
**Talk 1:** Search Meets AI — Connecting OpenSearch to LLMs for RAG, Agents, Memory, and AI Pipelines.
**Speaker:** Carlos Rolo - NetApp Instaclustr, Manager Open Source Contributions
**Talk Summary:** This session shows how to connect OpenSearch with large language models to build modern, AI-powered search. We'll cover practical examples of vector indexes, reranking, AI Search Pipelines. Beyond classic RAG, we'll demonstrate agentic workflows that use OpenSearch as a tool, add, if we have time new features like short- and long-term agent memory for context persistence, MCP, and flow agents.
**Talk 2:** Large Language Models and their role within the current Search & AI ecosystem
**Speaker:** Afonso Mendes
**Talk Summary:** This session looks beyond the buzz to question what large language models (LLMs) truly bring to the table, and where their limits lie. We will examine how these models fit within the broader ecosystem of Search and AI tools and how they relate with more traditional systems. From uncovering where LLMs shine to exposing where they do not, the discussion invites a clearer view of their real value in today’s landscape.

Bernardo Mendes

Carlos Rolo

Kris Freedain

Lisbon Search and AI User Group

OpenSearch Project

Technology

Open Source

New Technology

Apache Lucene

Information Technology

Data

Big Data

Data Analytics

Carlos Rolo, Open Source Contributions Manager, is a family man who loves doing random activities with his wife and kids, playing water polo, and exploring AI innovations alongside tinkering with home tech setups. With expertise in Rust, Python, and a strong foundation in Go, Carlos is a celebrated 2x Cassandra MVP and has released a groundbreaking time series compressor (instaclustr/atsc) with 7 patents pending. Actively engaged in the Cassandra community, he enjoys sharing technical insights and fostering collaboration. Connect with Carlos on LinkedIn and GitHub
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosjuzarterolo/
https://github.com/cjrolo

Afonso Mendes, Freelancer, is a software developer specializing in open-source, AI-driven analytical frameworks. Originally trained as an immunologist, he transitioned early in his career to developing computational tools that address critical gaps in data analysis. He has extensive experience with Java and Python, with his flagship achievement being the development of SReD (Structural Repetition Detector), a state-of-the-art framework for unbiased pattern recognition. Currently, his focus revolves around implementing large language model (LLM)-based solutions. Outside of professional work, Afonso enjoys kickboxing, playing guitar, and experimenting with 3D printing and electromechanics. Connect with him on LinkedIn and GitHub.
[www.linkedin.com/in/afonsomendes92](http://www.linkedin.com/in/afonsomendes92)
[www.github.com/ammendes](http://www.github.com/ammendes)

Lisbon Search and AI User Group

Lisbon Search and AI #1 Hosted by Arrow Electronics

Lisbon Search and AI User Group

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