AI and Society

A decade. Hundreds of conversations, ideas, and inspirations. And we're celebrating with a meetup that truly delivers. Three exceptional speakers, topics that matter, and plenty of room for what has made this meetup special for 10 years: real people, real conversations, real networking. **The Evening at a Glance** 17:30 Doors open, first drinks, familiar faces and new ones 18:00 Welcome and a brief look back at 10 years of DevOps Meetup Zurich 18:15–18:45 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** by Alexander Friesen 18:45–19:15 **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** by Lea Düker 19:15–19:25 Short break 19:25–19:55 **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** by Vasileios Konofaos 19:55–20:15 Panel discussion with all three speakers 20:15 Networking, Open Space, snacks, drinks, and anniversary cake 🎂 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** What do you do when your software’s "deployment target" is a piece of security hardware embedded in a concrete wall for 20 years? In the world of access control, we don't have the luxury of "move fast and break things"—if the integration fails, the door stays locked. For decades, hardware development at Primion relied on manual bit-shifting, incomplete specifications, and the "read, write, and pray" method. When the pandemic decentralized our R&D department—scattering 60 developers across Europe—the traditional model of physical bench testing collapsed. We couldn't send a lab to everyone’s home, so we brought the developers to the lab through robotics. In this session, we deep-dive into how we bridged the physical-digital divide by building a fully automated hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing farm. We will explore: * The Architecture: How we orchestrate GitLab CI, Azure ephemeral environments, and Playwright to drive physical interactions. * The Hardware Hack: How a 200 CHF robotic claw replaced manual testing, allowing developers to "touch" hardware from anywhere in the world. * The Shift-Left Strategy: Moving from "praying for compatibility" to robust integration testing that catches bit-level errors before they ever hit the factory floor. * Scaling on a Budget: How a single working student scaled our setup to 20+ (and rising) automated test cells. Join us to see how "claws moving in the dark" turned hardware debugging from a nightmare into a breeze, and learn how to apply DevSecOps principles to the most stubborn, physical environments. **Alexander Friesen** Aexander is a **Lead IT Architect** with over a decade of experience in software architecture and technical leadership. He specializes in building and scaling modern ecosystems for major enterprises like **Swisscard** and **Siemens**. DevOps & Platform Engineering Highlights * **Platform Leadership:** Directed technical strategy for Siemens’ IoT flagship "BuildingX" and managed multi-million dollar budgets for large-scale SAFe trains. * **Automation & Compliance:** Expert in **DevSecOps**, achieving ISO27000 compliance through automated CI/CD pipelines and security scanning. * **Efficiency Gains:** Improved software team productivity by **30%** through the implementation of AI Ops and Internal Developer Platforms. * **Cloud Native Stack:** Certified **AWS Architect** with deep expertise in Kubernetes, Terraform, Serverless, and **Data Mesh** architectures. * **Global Teams:** Proven track record of leading cross-functional engineering teams across Switzerland, Germany, the USA, and India. **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** Many organizations invest in agile methods, DevOps, and new technologies, and yet the desired impact on collaboration, accountability, and decision-making often fails to materialize. A key lever for change lies in how organizations are structured. This talk provides an introduction to Holacracy as a model for radical self-organization and places it within the broader landscape of organizational development. It explains what defines Holacracy, the principles behind it, and the problems it aims to address. The focus, however, is not solely on the organizational model. The talk also presents concrete tools and practices of self-organization, such as clear role definitions, structured decision-making processes, and transparent governance, that can be applied regardless of the organizational structure in place. **Lea Düker** * Since 2024: IT Project Manager and Scrum Master at digital agency Unic AG * 2021–2024: Project Manager and Deputy Head of IT at the Building Department of the City of Zurich * 2018–2021: Consultant for Process Management at Join GmbH * 2016–2018: Master's degree in Business Management with a specialization in Process Management **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** In our session, we'll be delving into the advanced flow engineering practices we've implemented at KPMG CH for our Cloud Platform. These methods have truly transformed how we deliver outcomes—faster, safer, and with an even greater level of satisfaction. During the session, we'll take a closer look at how we leverage OKRs to align teams and drive strategic goals, and how Value Stream Management helps us optimize workflow and eliminate bottlenecks. Our robust Governance model will also be discussed, highlighting how we maintain compliance without sacrificing agility. Beyond sharing the technical details, we'll reflect on the lessons learned and valuable insights we've gained throughout our journey. Our goal is to provide actionable takeaways that will benefit the DevOps community and inspire organizations seeking to enhance their delivery pipelines and nurture a culture of continuous improvement. **Vasileios Konofaos** Head of Business Services CH Group Digital Vasileios Konofaos is a seasoned technology leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large‑scale software engineering, cloud infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives. As Director of Business Services CH Group Digital at KPMG Switzerland, he leads high‑impact programs that advance innovation, operational excellence, and AI‑enabled capabilities across the organization. His career spans senior roles in global financial institutions and consulting firms, where he has successfully delivered complex projects in software development, automation, DevOps, and machine learning. Certified in Azure, ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2, and Scrum, Vasileios is recognized for his strategic mindset, strong leadership, and ability to empower teams to achieve exceptional results. He brings deep expertise in systems analysis, project delivery, and process improvement, consistently enabling organizations to scale technology solutions with quality and precision. Many thanks to our **sponsors**: * Catering and Location Sponsor: **KPMG** https://kpmg.com/

Ciao! L'appuntamento di aprile è per mercoledì 8 alle 19 con un altro interessante talk in presenza, sempre al [Politecnico di Milano](https://www.google.com/maps/place/45%C2%B028'41.3%22N+9%C2%B013'43.6%22E/@45.478127,9.228763,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d45.478127!4d9.228763?entry=ttu)! Questo mese testiamo un nuovo formato, quello del panel. Per questo motivo, questo mese 4 speaker diversi discuteranno e condivideranno il modo in cui usano l’AI al lavoro. L’AI per molte persone è uno degli alleati più importanti sul posto di lavoro: bisogna però saperla usare con criterio ed etica per ottenerne il meglio. Nello specifico, ecco chi sono i nostri speaker e di cosa parleranno: \- Dennis Ploetner: best practices per sfruttare l'AI nello sviluppo software \- Matteo Enna: come gestire i team non tecnici che desiderano approcciarsi al vibe coding in azienda \- Giovanni Invernizzi: come sfruttare l'AI per un'ottimizzazione avanzata delle web performance \- Stefano Minoia: come utilizzare l'AI per rendere un sito più accessibile Sai cosa c’è di bellissimo? Il fatto che, se vorrai, potrai partecipare anche tu al giro di tavolo condividendo (anche da remoto se ci segui in streaming) il modo in cui anche tu hai integrato l’AI nel tuo flusso di lavoro. Porta i tuoi successi, ma anche i tuoi dubbi e i vostri fallimenti, perchè alla fine community significa crescere l’un l’altro. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Saremo in diretta streaming Non puoi partecipare di persona? Noi non ti giudicheremo! :) Se vuoi, puoi seguirci anche in diretta streaming su YouTube. Il link sarà visibile solo una volta che avrai fatto la tua iscrizione all'evento. Durante la diretta, se vorrai, potrai intervenire anche tu usando una webcam e un microfono per dire la tua: basterà usare il link che verrà fornito via chat. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- I prossimi appuntamenti della community WordPress Checkout Summit La prima conferenza indipendente dal vivo per i professionisti di WooCommerce. 23-24 aprile a Palermo [https://checkoutsummit.com/](https://checkoutsummit.com/) WordCamp Torino 8-9 maggio a Torino [https://torino.wordcamp.org/2026/](https://torino.wordcamp.org/2026/) WordCamp Europe 4-6 giugno a Cracovia [https://europe.wordcamp.org/2026/](https://europe.wordcamp.org/2026/) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- In breve, ecco come sarà organizzata la serata: 19:00 Benvenuto + networking 19:20 Panel (di circa 50 minuti) 20:10 Domande e risposte 20:30 Fine; Chi vuole può continuare il networking in un bar o pizzeria vicino al luogo dell’evento. All’inizio dell’incontro faremo il conteggio per prenotare: per non creare disguidi conferma la presenza solo se sei sicuro di venire. Networking significa che ci sarà tempo per chiacchierare con chi partecipa e fare amicizia. Potresti trovare una persona interessante, un futuro cliente, un futuro fornitore o un nuovo partner di lavoro, chi può dirlo? Non riesci a venire, o devi dare la tua disdetta? Nessun rancore, sarà per la prossima. Ti chiediamo solo di farci sapere 24 ore prima così - liberiamo il tuo posto per altre persone. Vuoi essere speaker? Beh, nulla di più facile: Compila il modulo [cliccando qui](https://wpmilano.org/speaker-form/). Ti risponderemo per fornirti tutti i dettagli. Ci vediamo lì! 😉

Map the World, Change the World. Join Our Mapathon! Got a laptop? Ready to make a difference? 💥 We're on a mission to create life-saving maps for disaster response, and we need YOU. No experience? No problem. Whether you're a mapping newbie or an OpenStreetMap Pro, you'll learn, collaborate, and help create maps that matter. What to bring? Your laptop (mouse = bonus points!) Why join? Learn cool mapping skills Make a real impact in crisis zones Meet like-minded change-makers Ready to map for good? Let’s do this.

Come say hi and join for a fun evening of playing boardgames with nice people 😊 P.S. Since its ordinary coffee house, please bring your own games. or at least playing cards! :)

Join us, once a month, on a Wednesday afternoon for an easy-paced walk by the lake — a midweek pause to breathe, move, and connect. We’ll meet in front of the Opera House and take a walk along the lake, letting conversation flow as naturally as the path. These walks are about more than slowing down — they’re a way to clear the noise and make space for new perspectives. Sometimes it’s in motion that the mind finds its calm and ideas come into focus. A simple hour to refresh, connect, and perhaps see something familiar in a new light.

!THE EVENT IS NOT BOOKABLE VIA Meetup Get ready for a playful Games Night 💘🎲 This evening is all about board games, laughter, and relaxed socializing. We’ll gather in a cozy location as a group of around 20–25 people, sit around big tables, and spend the evening playing classic, easygoing board games - no experience needed. Expect fun conversations, light icebreakers, and a touch of friendly competition in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. This is a Playhard community event for women. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase at the venue, so you can grab something while you play and chat. Bring with you: Your playful energy 😜 Let's make it a night to remember. Hey girl, Just fyi Playhard is a members-only social club for girls 25-35ish in Zurich. We host 10-20 intimate events each month, from brunches and girls nights to deep talks and games… Don’t be confused by the event page signups — our social club has over 100 members and 8-15 girls come to each of our events. Being a member of Playhard is mandatory for attendance. To secure your spot in the community, please join the waitlist via our website: https://playhard.ch/ More about Playhard: Website: https://playhard.ch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playhard_zurich Dm us or email hey@playhard.ch with questions See you soon! xoxo Playhard

**WALK THE TALK** Zurich Toastmasters is the place to be if you want to improve your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. **Walk the Talk** offers a friendly and inspirational environment for all levels of public speaking experience. Guests and new members are always welcome! A typical meeting includes 1–3 prepared speeches by members, evaluations of the speeches, and Table Topics – impromptu speaking. This meeting is Hybrid. "You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart." John Ford DISCLAIMER: We may take pictures/videos of our events and share them online or on social media. If you do not wish to be in the pictures, please let us know before the meeting starts. We will do our best to respect your wishes.

PLEASE PURCHASE **CHF 59 (early bird)** TICKET VIA [LUMA](https://luma.com/rii1rycb). Most AI workshops show you slides. This one gives you something to take home. ​In 2-3 hours you'll build a personal AI assistant that actually knows how you work: what drains you, how you prioritise, what you keep forgetting. No coding. No fluff. Just your laptop and one problem you wish would solve itself. ​You leave with something working. Tonight. ​**What to expect:** You'll learn how to build your own AI assistant using Claude and taking advantage of Claude skills and MCP connectors. All whilst you get to sip on your Aperol (or San Bitter as an alcohol-free alternative). **What to bring** A Claude account (free plan works). Claude Pro recommended if you want to go further on the night. ​**Works even better if you use one of these:** Notion, Asana, Linear, Jira, Google Drive, Gmail, Slack, ClickUp, [Monday.com](https://monday.com/). Claude connects directly to all of them, so your assistant can see your actual tasks without you pasting anything. **In Hottingen, Zurich, detailed location will be revealed after ticket purchase via [luma](https://luma.com/rii1rycb).** ​Don't use any of these? No problem, you'll still build something that works.

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Update 25.03.: We are fully booked.** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Hi everyone — I'm Michael from **Digitec Galaxus**, where I'm responsible for the integration of recommender systems. Together with my colleagues at Digitec Galaxus' recommendations team, we’ve recently taken over the **Zurich Recommendation Systems** meet-up group and consider reviving it as a regular series. To kick things off, we're joining forces with the **Digitec Galaxus Product Development Meet-Up** for an evening on recommender systems in practice. We will present two talks: * **Max Nolte (Migros Genossenschaftsbund)**, amongst other things, on four years of building and operating the engine behind personalized Cumulus coupons — covering data, models, measurement, and the practical realities of running it day to day at a brick-and-mortar retailer. * **Michael Weiss and Robert Rosenbach (Digitec Galaxus)** on the full recommendation stack in Switzerlands leading e-commerce platform — from the engineering architecture that keeps things fast, scalable, and maintainable, to insights from model training: what to optimize for and which inputs matter the most. Each presentation will take roughly 30 minutes, including questions, leaving plenty of time for discussion and exchange afterwards. To participate, please sign up for the events in both groups: * **Digitec Galaxus Product Development Meet-Up** — Primary organizer: This is the sign-up that counts, and you’ll also find a more comprehensive announcement of the talks there ;-) [https://www.meetup.com/digitec-galaxus-zuerich/events/313707996](https://www.meetup.com/digitec-galaxus-zuerich/events/313707996) * **Zurich Recommendation Systems** (i.e., this event) — to help us gauge interest in running this as a continuous series going forward Looking forward to seeing you there!

This meetup is an ongoing social anxiety connection space. ✨ We’ll come together to create a small, low-pressure environment where we can talk, listen, and support one another. There’s no pressure to share—you’re welcome to simply be there and take things at your own pace. You’re also free to leave at any time (no announcement or explanation needed). We’ll continue shaping these meetups together, so feel free to bring any ideas, suggestions, or thoughts! 😌

**Got something you’re designing, experimenting with - or just looking to chat with other creatives?** **Then you’re invited to join us at sphères.** 🙂 We meet monthly to chat and connect in a relaxed, friendly setting. It’s a chance to meet new people, talk about what you’re working on, and be part of Zürich’s creative community - surrounded by like-minded people who just get it. PS: RSVPs are coming in from multiple platforms, which means the total number of sign-ups is likely higher than what you see here. 🥂 **Why swing by?** * Find new collaborators, clients, employers and friends * Swap ideas, get feedback, and share experiences * Meet in a cozy after-work drinks atmosphere * Join creatives from various fields and ages. 📍 **Where?** [sphères](https://share.google/iOZR7HY6DqyLDm2Kj), next to the Limmat river. \> Hardturmstrasse 66\, 8005 Zürich (Tram-Station Förrlibuckstrasse) ⏰ **When?** Every second Thursday of the month, starting at 6 PM / 18:00 Uhr 🔗 **Discord link** Get event reminders and connect with other members on Discord: ➡️ [discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk](discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk) —— **Who’s Visual Fields?** Visual Fields is a network of designers and creatives built for people to connect, support, and share with fellow experts. We have upcoming events in Zürich, Basel, and Luzern. [Check out upcoming events](https://www.visualfields.ch/) —— **Event policies** We have zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment. Be mindful not to make assumptions about gender, sexual orientation, or identity. Always ask for consent - for physical contact and work critique - and treat everyone and the space with respect. [All policies](https://experienc.es/policies) **Fine print (the friendly kind)** By joining, you agree that photos or videos taken at the event may be used by Visual Fields for promotional and communication purposes. See you soon!! 🤩

**[⚠️ >>Ticket needed (click here)<<](https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/eating-drinking/digital-detox-cafe-7438257105201571682.html) or** **[www.social-circle.ch](http://www.social-circle.ch/)** **Unplug & Create: Digital Detox Café at Paint it Easy** Take a break from screens and reconnect with yourself and others at our Digital Detox event in Zürich’s most inviting creative space, Paint it Easy. We’ll kick off the evening with a relaxed atmosphere, setting the tone for a mindful and inspiring night. Join our craft group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3) Choose your path for the evening: **Deep Talk with Question Cards:** Dive into meaningful conversations and connect with fellow participants on a deeper level. **Boardgames:** Just for fun or to meet new people. **Creative Activities:** * **Drawing** (included) * **Canvas Painting** (CHF 10/hour + canvas, e.g., 30x40 cm: CHF 9) * **Pottery Painting** (CHF 20–45 per piece) * **Jewellery Making with Beads** (CHF 10/hour + materials, avg. CHF 20–30) * **Linocut Printmaking** (CHF 25–35 per piece) **Location:** Paint it Easy, Zürich **Early Bird Ticket:** CHF 15 **Includes :** Welcome drink\*, drawing material, notebook, games, workshop **Doesn't include** : optional creative activity fees (depending on your choice) \*Warm drink, homemade iced tea, or lemonade Want more events like this? Join our community! [https://chat.whatsapp.com/DaGFCvKs6iu62pftk5cotM?mode=gi_t](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DaGFCvKs6iu62pftk5cotM?mode=gi_t) No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and an open mind! Whether you're painting, reflecting, or connecting, this is your space to recharge, express, and enjoy. Please note that pictures might be taken and used, if you don't want to be on them please let the host know. Tickets are not refundable. #digitaldetox

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on **AI Agentic Coding** and how autonomous AI systems are transforming the way software is built. Experts in AI, software engineering, and developer tools will share insights on how agentic AI—systems that can plan, reason, and execute coding tasks—is reshaping modern development workflows. The discussion will cover topics such as AI-assisted development, productivity gains, challenges around reliability and governance, and what the future of software engineering may look like with AI agents as collaborators. Whether you’re a developer, tech leader, or AI enthusiast, this session is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and explore how agentic AI is redefining coding

AI is changing how art is made. But when does it stop being your work and start being the machine’s? This month we're going to be doing a panel with with digital image, music, and written word artists, talking about at what point, while using AI in the creation process, does the work become not the artist creation? We encourage audience participation during this event that will be moderated by Chris Slee. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/55umjqta)

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is powerful, but what if you could scale from a solo AI assistant to an entire team of specialized agents working in parallel? This session introduces Squad: an open-source framework for multi-agent orchestration that lets you define teams of AI agents with specific roles, responsibilities, and expertise. We'll progress from Copilot basics to the Copilot CLI, explore how Agents add autonomy, and see how Instructions and Skills let you customize agent behavior. Then, the climax: a live demo where a Squad team of 3 agents (Lead, Developer, Tester) stands up and builds a working application in real-time, showcasing true multi-agent collaboration. Whether you're new to AI or exploring how to scale your use of Copilot, this session will show you what's possible when agents work as a team. **YouTube Link** TBD

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Join us for an in-depth workshop on Agentic AI through AWS, where we’ll explore foundational concepts, real-world use cases, key AWS services, and how to get started building your own intelligent systems. Led by AWS Solutions Architect and Dev Advocate Fabricio Flores. Hosted at Pomerene Hall 250!