Build With AI - Session 1: An Intro To AI

Introduction
Join us as we launch our Build With AI series with our exciting kickoff session "An Intro To AI".

This event will feature several insightful speakers who will unveil the essentials of artificial intelligence. Expect engaging discussions that dispel myths about AI bias and exploratory talks about the practical applications of AI to solve real-world problems. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of AI's current impact on various industries, its challenges and advantages, and a look into its future role in transforming our lives.

Explore the Session
This much we know: The past, present, and future of GenAI in tech
In four years GenAI has gone from a curiosity to the presumptive nemesis of Software Engineering. Applications of GenAI dominate the agendas of every tech conference, and the public perception is of a vocation living on borrowed time. But rhetoric and reality are two very different things. This talk will briefly reprise where we are and how we arrived here before analysing the most likely paths forward and their implications for our profession.

Garth Gilmour
Technical Learning Consultant

AI from First Principles : Building from Real User Problems
Most teams are adding AI to products, but very few are starting from the actual user problem.

This talk explores a first principles approach to building with AI - focusing on understanding what users are trying to do, where the real friction exists, and where AI genuinely adds value (or doesn't). This would be a look at how developers and product teams can design AI into systems in a way that's aligned with real outcomes.

Nelson Okpalachukwu
Senior Product Owner and Data Platform Expert

Bias In, Bias Out: What AI Learns From Us
AI is no longer just an intelligent technical tool; it is becoming a business decision-maker. From recruitment and marketing to credit scoring and customer service, AI systems increasingly influence real-world outcomes.

This talk explores how bias can quietly enter AI systems through data, assumptions, and design choices, how this can impact organisational performance, trust, and reputation. Using clear, non-technical examples, this session explains why bias matters for businesses and managers, highlights common risks, and outlines practical principles for using AI responsibly.

Charles Vincent
Full Professor and Principal Researcher

The New Intrapreneur: What AI Means for Engineers Entering Industry Today
For engineers leaving university today, AI isn't a future skill; it’s often a fundamental and sought-out skill in today’s job listings for software engineers. The question isn't whether you can use it, but whether you know how to use it to develop products and strengthen the business you’re applying to. This talk is for software engineers at the start of their careers who want to understand what the age of accessible AI actually means for them in practice. Drawing on experience in R&D at Combilift and postgraduate research in AI for medicine at UCD, this 20-minute session explores how the intrapreneur role has been fundamentally redefined and why engineers who combine domain knowledge with AI fluency are now among the most valuable people in any R&D team. Expect an honest look at where AI is delivering real results in industry, where it isn't, and the practical mindset shifts that separate engineers who use AI from engineers who shape what their organisations do with it.

Caolán Maguire
Software Engineer and MSc AI for Medicine and Medical Research

Keep an eye out for other events in this Build With AI series!

Agenda

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Speakers

Garth Gilmour - Jetbrains (Developer Advocate)

In the beginning I mostly taught C++ to C coders, then Java to C++ coders, then C# to Java coders and eventually JavaScript to everyone. These days I specialise in server-side coding using Kotlin / Spring Boot and client slide coding using TypeScript / Angular. The majority of my time is spent designing and delivering induction and retraining programs for groups of developers. I do this both l…

Nelson Okpalachukwu

Caolán Maguire

Charles Vincent

Hosted By

Rachel Connor, GDG Organizer

Imogen Greene, GDG Organizer

As a first-class honours graduate in BSc (Hons) Computer Science with a distinction in professional practice, I am motivated to use technology to make a lasting impact. I am driven by a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and inclusivity—working to help others succeed, improve team dynamics, and contribute to a more open and supportive tech community.

Over my years in university and also my internship and graduate programme with CME Group I have gained strong full-stack application development experience and skills in JavaScript, the Google Cloud Platform, Python, C#, and industry-standard development cycle tools.

I am equally invested in leadership and interpersonal development. During my four years at university, I led two student societies, including founding the Women in STEM Society. I was an active member of Ulster University’s Google Developer Student Club, serving on the committee for three years and as its lead for one year. I also represented my peers as a course representative for four years, where I acted as a liaison between students and faculty. In this role, I presented evidence on academic concerns, advocated for fair treatment, and negotiated solutions such as resits—developing strong communication, problem-solving, and negotiation skills while ensuring that student voices were heard.

Beyond university, I continue to give back as a STEM Ambassador, delivering presentations in classrooms, mentoring students, judging coding competitions, and supporting the organisation of large-scale events such as DevFest Ireland. In 2025, I was accepted into Ulster University’s Go Global: Experience China programme, broadening my cultural and professional perspective through international opportunities.

Currently, I am proud to serve as an organiser of GDG Belfast, helping to bring the local developer community together through events, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Alongside this, I work as a software engineer at CME Group, where I continue to grow as both a technologist and a community contributor.

Caitlin Hanna, Associate Software Engineer

Yuan Zhang, GDG Organizer

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Partner

Liberty IT

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Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-belfast-presents-build-with-ai-session-1-an-intro-to-ai/.