Melbourne Python- March Meetup: RAG in LLMs & Exploring Erlang-Style Concurrency

🎉 Melbourne Python's March Meetup-2025! 🎉

Hello Pythonistas! As we move further into 2025, Melbourne Python is back with another meetup event. This session will dive into two topics about how Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) is shaping the future of reliable AI chatbots and how free-threaded Python and the actor model can be used for concurrent programming.

This meetup is all about connecting, learning, and sharing the endless possibilities of Python – from web development and AI to the latest innovations driving the tech world forward. Don’t miss this chance to be part of something exciting and transformative!

Join us at 5:30 pm on Thursday, March 20th at Judo Bank, in the Queen and Collins building, Level 26/376-390 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia (https://maps.app.goo.gl/A9JQTYGrMqGn8AzAA).

Please note: Building entrance is located just next door to Rustica cafe. Press level 26 and you'll certainly find us.

Our agenda for the evening will be:

• 5:30 - 6pm : Networking, pizza and drinks
• 6:00 - 6:15pm : Welcome and Updates
• 6:15 - 6:45 PM: Talk 1 by Luca Lenz – Intern @ Legal Tech Helper on "Retrieval Augmented Generation for Reliable Chatbots(From RAG to Riches)". Luca, a mathematics and scientific computing graduate from Heidelberg University, will share insights from his recent work at Legal Tech Helper. His talk explores Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and how it enhances AI chatbot reliability, particularly in sensitive applications like legal and medical services. He will discuss common challenges of LLMs, and introduce tools like Docling, Milvus, and Ollama for implementing RAG with self-hosted LLMs.
• 6:45 - 7pm : Grab a new drink, meet someone new and get ready for the last talk of the night.
• 7 - 7:30pm: Talk 2 by James Schinner – Senior Backend Engineer @ Archa on "Free-Threaded Python and the Actor Model". James, an experienced backend engineer who transitioned into programming from electrical work and biomedical science, will explore the actor model in threaded Python. James will demonstrates how free-threaded Python, inspired by Erlang-style concurrency, can create more reliable systems. He will break down the actor model's conceptual benefits and showcase an implementation of threaded concurrency in Python.
• Door closes at 8pm.

Special mentions to our sponsors Judo Bank, Just Digital People and AWS for making this event possible. We wouldn't have done it without your help. Forever grateful :)

If you are interested in giving a talk or sponsoring the event for a future meetup, please email melbournepython@gmail.com or fill in the speaking interest form directly at https://forms.gle/S5T1SL4ULY5aogf47.

We look forward to seeing you there!