Kick off - Discovering the Power of Open Source AI with IBM

### Meetup Description:

Join us for the Executive Kick-Off of CT OpenSource AI Connect, a new initiative dedicated to advancing open-source AI through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. Hosted at Quinnipiac University in partnership with the IBM AI Alliance, this event brings together thought leaders from academia, industry, and open-source communities to explore the transformative potential of AI for society.

What to Expect:

• Networking & Refreshments to kick off the evening
• Opening Remarks and the vision behind CT OpenSource AI Connect
• Executive Insights on enterprise data, security, and industry collaboration
• Sneak Peek Talks on Quantum AI and trending areas in AI research & open development
• Engaging Discussions on ethical innovation and open collaboration
• Open Source AI Workshop
• Bring your laptops, notebooks, pencils or pen for workshop and sessions

Whether you're an AI researcher, technologist, executive, or student, this meetup offers a unique opportunity to connect, contribute, and co-create the future of open AI.
Let’s ignite collaboration, inspire innovation, and impact society—together..

Thanks to Quinnipiac University Dean and Faculty for hosting this event
Dean: Prof. Taskin Kocak
Associate Dean: Brian O'Neill,
Faculty: Prof. Mostafa Analoui, Prof. Guido Lang, Prof. Chetan Jaisawal

Location: School of Business, Room SB 170, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Date: Nov 20'th 2025
Start Time: 5:00 PM

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🕠 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
Item: Meetup Start, Networking & Refreshments

🕠 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
Item: QPU Talk
Presenter: QPU Dean and Faculty

🕠 5:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Item: Welcome & Kick-Off (IBM)
Presenter: Sanjeev Kumar Marimekala, (STSM and Thought Leader (Enterprise Architect), IBM, CIO and CT OpenSource AI Connect Chair
Talk Title: "Ignite Collaboration. Inspire Innovation. Impact Society."
Description: Introduction to the CT OpenSource AI Connect initiative and the purpose.

• Democratizing AI innovation through open collaboration
• Bridging academia and industry
• Empowering communities with ethical AI
• Creating a platform for mentorship and learning

🕠 5:45 PM – 6:00 PM
Item: Executive Insights, IBM
Presenter: Ed Lovely, VP and Chief Data Officer, IBM, F&O
Talk Title: "Enterprise Data, Security, and Industry Collaboration"
Description:
A strategic perspective on how enterprise data governance, security frameworks, and cross-industry collaboration are shaping the future of open-source AI. This session will highlight key challenges, emerging best practices, and opportunities for collective innovation.

🕕 6:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Item: Sneak Peek Talk - Academic Perspective
Presenter: Prof. Phillip Bradford, Associate Professor, Computing Dept. University of Connecticut
Talk Title: "Quantum AI – Common Threads"
Description:
An exploration of the intersection between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, highlighting shared principles, emerging research, and the potential for transformative breakthroughs. This session will connect theoretical foundations with practical implications for open-source AI development.

🕕 6:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Item: Sneak Peek Talk (Remote) - ResearchNet.ai
Presenter: Arunava (Ron) Majumdar, Founder & CEO
Talk Title: "Trending Areas in AI Research and Open development"
Description:
A spotlight on emerging trends in AI research—from foundation models and multimodal learning to federated AI and open-source tooling. This session will explore how open development practices are accelerating innovation, democratizing access, and shaping the future of responsible AI.

🕕 6:30 PM – 6:35 PM
Item: Sneak Peek Talk (Remote) - Texas State University
Presenter: Prof. Damian Valles, HIPE Director
Talk Title: "Trending Areas in AI Research and Open development Clearer AI Transparency and Trust in Academic Research"
Description:
The talk covers an overview of transparency practices, such as data disclosure, code availability, and reproducibility, that are adopted (or neglected) in AI research publications. By analyzing academic publishing trends, it highlights the gaps between claimed openness and actual accessibility, and explores how these practices affect trust, accountability, and scientific progress. Many are considering large language models to enhance transparency, from automated literature audits to generating reproducible research workflows, presenting both opportunities and challenges for academic integrity.

🕕 6:35 PM – 7:00 PM
Item: Workshop (IBM)
Presenter: Joe Sepi, Program Director, Open Technologies and Developer Advocacy, IBM, Research
Workshop Details: "Open Source AI Workshop"
Workshop Description:
You've probably heard how tools like ChatGPT are changing workflows — but when it comes to privacy, security, and control, using public AI tools isn't always an option. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to run your own local, open-source LLMs — no cloud, no cost, and no compromise. We'll walk through installing and running models with tools like ollama, AnythingLLM, and continue using familiar environments like VS Code. By the end, you'll have a fully functional local AI assistant, ready to support your work securely and offline. Our overarching goals of this workshop is as follows:Learn about Open Source AI and its general use cases.
Use an open source LLM that is built in a verifiable and legal way.
Learn about Prompt Engineering and how to leverage a local LLM in daily tasks.