AI Ethics

**Belgium AI Community - Building Together Session** A casual event where AI and Machine Learning practitioners get to meet and exchange on projects and cool open-source AI based tooling. This event will be run as part of the Open Source Village, a 2-week open source festival before and after [FOSDEM](https://fosdem.org/2026/), check out their other events [here](https://opensourcevillage.org/). **Who this is for** AI and Data Science enthusiasts who are looking for feedback on their projects, seasoned builders who want to share their tooling with fellow AI hackers or simply curious minds looking for the next step in their AI journey. **What we do** We meet and exchange on projects whether they be already in flight or only getting started, we share feedback, ideas and also get our hands dirty building out our community's ideas. If you are looking for a team to enroll in a Machine learning Competition, or want help contributing to an AI-related Open-source projects, this is the place for you. AI development is driven by real-life use-cases, and the people with ideas to apply AI are also more than welcome to come and share them with the community. **What this is not** While we acknowledge vibe-coding tools are a useful tool on an AI builder's belt, this meetup is not focusing on the use of vibe-coding products and starting a company from scratch, although sharing tips on customising and building upon them are always welcome. **​> Format** **16:00 – Kickoff** Brief intro: share what you're working on (or thinking about). We prioritise problem-solving and real-world applications. The core question: *what problem do you want to solve?* **16:15 – Session** Work solo or team up with others. Sessions are flexible and evolve organically around participant needs. Tools of the trade are whiteboards, pen and paper and laptops. The Commons Hub Brussels remains open as long as at least one member is present. **19:30 – Wrap-up** If time allows, we regroup to briefly present what we've explored or built. Everyone is invited to share the concrete steps taken toward their solution — and what comes next.

We often talk about love, loyalty, and the sanctity of vows, but the landscape of human relationships is rarely a sun-drenched meadow. It's more often a labyrinth, full of convenient compromises and unspoken arrangements. Think of those grand, old marriages of convenience, where fortunes and titles were exchanged and affection was, well, optional. These unions were built on foundations far more solid than fleeting emotion, and the silent contract was often with appearances themselves, rather than the person beside you. This brings us to the stark territory of infidelity. We tend to cast a harsh light on cheating, a clear breach of trust, but is it always so black and white? When we explore the clandestine and the forbidden that fulfill needs unmet elsewhere, we tread into morally complex terrain. Tonight, we're dissecting the nuances of cheating, the motivations behind it, the perceived 'innocence' of various liaisons, and whether the act itself, or the contexts surrounding it, truly alter the ethical calculus of betrayal. Let's delve into the uncomfortable choices and the very definition of fidelity. This debate will follow a British Parliamentary format with eight debaters split into **four teams of two.** Participants who wish to speak are highly encouraged to bring a paper and pen. You are welcome to participate even if you have no prior debating experience. We aim for debates that are respectful, constructive, and welcoming: * **Respect ideas and people** Listen actively, stay quiet while others speak, and debate arguments, not identities or beliefs. * **Be concise and civil** Keep questions short and relevant; avoid hostility, hate speech, or discrimination. * **Respect boundaries and time** No unwanted advances or suggestive behavior; arrive on time to avoid disrupting the debate. * **Follow moderators** They guide the discussion and ensure fairness.

This is a **recurring weekly gathering** of open-minded people who want to understand geopolitics **without confirmation bias**. We are not here to repeat talking points, defend camps, or feel morally validated. We are here to **listen, compare perspectives, and learn** — especially from people who come from, live in, or are directly affected by the regions being discussed. Each week, we look at **current and long-term geopolitical issues**, including conflicts rarely covered or oversimplified by Western media. **Topics We Cover** Our discussions focus on **current and long-term geopolitical issues**, including conflicts rarely covered or oversimplified by Western media, sovereignty, and reality as it is, not as it is marketed. We approach geopolitics and society from a realist, sovereignty-first perspective, skeptical of globalist ideology and media **groupthink**. The aim is to understand interests, incentives, history, law, and consequences — not to rehearse fashionable outrage. **Examples of topics we regularly examine include:** **1\. Venezuela & Cuba** Sanctions, regime survival, sovereignty, and how U.S. policy, energy interests, and regional power dynamics shape outcomes in Latin America — beyond Cold War clichés. **2\. Ukraine\, Cyprus & European Borders** Frozen conflicts, divided territories, and how international law is selectively applied when sovereignty clashes with strategic interests. **3\. Iran\, Gaza\, Syria & Lebanon** The Middle East beyond slogans: proxy wars, regional balances, sectarian fault lines, sanctions, militias, state collapse, and why Western media framing often obscures long-term realities. **4\. Congo \(DRC\) & Resource Wars** How minerals, supply chains, and foreign interests fuel instability in Africa — and why some of the deadliest conflicts on earth barely make the news. **5\. Taiwan\, Greenland & Strategic Geography** Why islands, trade routes, chokepoints, and remote territories matter enormously in a multipolar world — and how geography shapes power more than ideology ever will. **What Makes This Different** – We prioritize **voices from affected regions**: Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia – We examine **what Western media doesn’t tell, doesn’t show, or doesn’t contextualize** – We welcome **new ideas, uncomfortable facts, and disagreement** – We focus on power, interests, culture, history, economics — not slogans **This is not a safe space for ideology.** **It *is* a safe space for honest thinking.** In Brussels, there are already debate initiatives that offer structured discussions. Too often, however, a small circle curates skewed propositions and narrows the range of acceptable conclusions, turning moderation into gatekeeping . There are also plenty of spaces dedicated to repeating anti-American slogans or reducing complex geopolitics to partisan outrage. This forum is not one of them. Our approach is different. **We welcome genuine diversity of opinion and lived experience.** No one here will be cancelled, banned, or shamed for challenging dominant narratives. Ideas are debated openly; personal attacks and defamation are not tolerated. **Motions & Proposals Welcome** We actively encourage participants to propose motions for debate. If you suggest a motion, please do so with substance: a clear claim, basic historical or legal grounding, and an understanding of the stakes involved. Motions designed to provoke thinking are welcome; motions designed to score points or repeat media talking points are not. **Languages** The language of discussion will depend on the participants present. Debates are typically held in English and French, but we are comfortable switching or accommodating other languages when the moderation team can support it. Languages we can currently handle include: – English – French – Dutch – Spanish – Italian – Russian – Farsi The goal is understanding, not linguistic purity. When needed, participants may clarify or translate key points to ensure everyone can follow the discussion. If you speak more than one language, that’s an asset here ### **What We Ask of Participants** – Come to understand, not to perform or “win” – Be genuinely open to **new ideas and perspectives**, especially those that challenge your own – Speak from **knowledge**, not slogans — history, law, and context matter – If you bring a topic, come prepared: facts, timelines, sources, and legal or historical grounding are encouraged – Argue **ideas**, never individuals – No censorship of viewpoints – No personal attacks – No defamation or accusations against individuals **Strong disagreement is not only accepted — it is expected.** **Intellectual laziness is not.** **This is not a dating meetup.** Not every social space exists for flirting, hitting on people, or testing romantic opportunities. Anyone who treats this forum as a dating pool, approaches others with unwanted advances, or assumes participation implies romantic availability is misunderstanding the purpose of this group. Conversation comes first. Ideas come first. Respect comes first. If you are here primarily to date, pursue, or pressure others, this is not the right space for you. Boundaries are enforced. Discomfort is taken seriously. **Those who ignore this will be immediately asked to leave.** **Location & RSVP** The event will take place in Ixelles, in a public bar. To keep the discussion safe, focused, and accountable, the exact venue will be shared only with confirmed RSVPs via our WhatsApp chat. Depending on the final size of the group, we have several appropriate and secure venue options in the area. This allows us to: – Adapt the venue to the group size – Avoid disruptive or bad-faith behavior common to fully open meetups – Prevent meetup creeps and repeat offenders – Ensure everyone present respects the rules of conduct 👉 To RSVP and receive the location: **https://chat.whatsapp.com/LX7UkWGZ3UdLQWLBvNdezN** The goal is not exclusivity, but accountability and quality of discussion. If this format doesn’t suit you, this event may not be the right fit.

**This is an In-Person Evening Session** Detailed information and registration can be found here : https://dataminds.be/mcp-❤%ef%b8%8f-azure-the-real-story-conversational-bi-a-comparison-between-environments-and-key-decisions-to-be-made-in-person-element61/ ### MCP ❤️ Azure: The Real Story **Speaker**: Chidi Nweke & Konstantin Lazarov MCP is everywhere right now, but much of the discussion is hype-heavy and light on real engineering. In this session, we’ll focus on what actually changes, what doesn’t, and what MCP genuinely enables in a Microsoft stack. We’ll look at how MCP on Azure and Microsoft 365 has helped us deliver more with less. You’ll see practical examples of how MCP connects with AI agents with the broader M365 ecosystem. We’ll then dive into how Azure-native tools like API Management can be used to quickly build MCP servers, along with the trade-offs such as cost and flexibility versus creating them from scratch. Expect architecture patterns, lessons from the field, and a clear-eyed view of what MCP means for AI agents today (and what it absolutely does not magically fix). ### Conversational BI: A comparison between environments and key decisions to be made **Speakers**: Artur Tyvaert Conversational BI is gaining traction as the next big step in analytics. It promises to bridge gaps left by traditional BI by answering one-off questions in a natural Q&A format and adapting to changing business needs. But how should its architecture look, and when do we choose Databricks Genie, Microsoft Copilot, or a custom solution? In this session, we’ll compare scenarios across key dimensions to answer: “Which conversational BI setup fits which use case?” * Semantic layers: Power BI vs. Databricks—how they’re built, the role of metric views, and whether YAML-based definitions offer advantages over TMDL. * Governance: Permissions and security—RLS in Power BI vs. role-based access and data masking in Unity Catalog. * Environment: Does Genie’s Lakehouse integration give it an edge? What if you already invested in Power BI? How is conversation history handled for user insights? If you’re new to conversational BI or planning your first implementation, join us to gain clarity on building reliable, scalable conversational analytics.

Join a cozy evening of chatting and hacking on **decentralized technologies**! We gather on the **first Wednesday of each month** in the Commons Hub, a beacon of hope and innovation in the center of Brussels. ⭐️ After setting the tone in a brief intro, and grabbing a slice of **pizza**, we'll split in smaller groups ("**pods**") to exchange knowledge, gather feedback and build/explore crypto hands-on. Topics will be decided on the spot ([open space technology](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/25-open-space-technology/)). Come prepared or show up curious... and bring your **laptop** if you wish. All fair game: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Nostr, Smart Contracts, DAO governance, ZK proofs... What has **emerged** before: \- many discussions\, presentations and workshops \- generating [yield on BTC](https://dao-brussels-vault.lovable.app/) for the community \- building and dissecting [Citizen Wallet](https://citizenwallet.xyz/) \- throwing epic parties such as [Block 26](https://www.blockfest.be/) \- ideating a decentralized ocean impact network \- experiments with commitment pooling \- creating a beer brand with supply\-chain transparency \- hosting hackathons \- \.\.\. If you're a hacker, visionary or blockchain nerd that wants to make a dent in the city, you'll feel right at home! \-\-\- P.S. This month the Crypto Wednesday falls in the middle of the Open Source Village. Exceptionally no free coworking during the day, but many relevant events spread over two weeks. Check out the [schedule on their site](https://opensourcevillage.org/). P.S. Would it be a ridiculous idea to cowork or host events at the Commons Hub? Prices in euros and *on-chain* sweat equity are available on [their site](https://commonshub.brussels/). You'll get warmly introduced on their Friday potluck lunches! P.S. It's not too late to party with the 100 most active people in the Belgian blockchain scene. Last year was a success... do you really want to miss [Block 26](https://www.blockfest.be/)? \-\-\- Your message here? Reach out to sponsor food or drinks.

First impressions matter – especially when you speak. In this first session, we focus on how to **open a speech or presentation with impact**. You’ll learn how to capture attention from the first seconds, clarify your message early and avoid the common mistake of “warming up” too long. This is a **practical workshop**: * You will speak * You will receive live feedback * Your presentation will be recorded so you can track your progress This session is part of a **four-session public speaking programme**. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions to get the full benefit. Cost: 20€ for the whole programme. Workshop dates (Wednesdays): • 7 January • 21 January • 4 February • 18 February

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

Need some quiet time for reading? Want to share the experience with others? Join us at the charming venue of La Belladone to read in the company of others. It’s alone, but also together, get it? We read for an hour, then chat over a drink, then go back to reading (if we feel like it) This is a free activity except for drinks.

*Life Turns.* *Companies evolve.* *Teams need to get together.* Different cultures and approaches are confronted, and the rational mind brings a set of beliefs on how things “should be” that creates blocks and might lead to exhaustion and burnout. When the purpose is not clear or it is not shared, it is difficult for team members to align with it. In this workshop, we’ll **allow the group purpose to emerge** and **to be co-created**, via the **identification of the Next Elegant Step** for each of the participants. The serious game “Your Next Elegant Step” (C) is a method to align with personal purpose and higher values, based on the principle of identification of C. G. Jung and uses art-creative tools. **The aim of this workshop is:** * to adapt the creative serious game “Your Next Elegant Step” to teams in a corporate environment * to experience the power of non-verbal and creative art tools * to support each individual to find their next elegant step in their career environment * to let emerge the purpose for the group, to be clearly stated and identified * to have fun while doing profound work. We hope you will join us again for what promises to be an inspiring evening! ***Claudia*** *is founder and owner of EPSILOC, she facilitates art therapy and self-development through group workshops, team-building activities, and individual sessions.* *She uses various techniques, including autobiographical writing and clay and art materials.* *Her strength lies in the integration of rational and emotional approaches, rooted in her Life experiences, which include a PhD in Physics, a Coaching and facilitation license, Arts of Fire – Ceramics, a C1 qualification, a Focusing facilitator’s license, and an Art Therapy Practitioner certificate.* *She wrote her autobiography in 2019, as well as a Self-Esteem guide for school teachers. The title of her **last book is “Life Turns. Find your center with the Earth”**, where she guides the reader to use clay as a powerful tool for self-discovery and development.*

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @MIR Concept Coffee Store! Saturday, 7 February 2026, from 10:00 - 13:00. MIR opened its doors about 3 years ago, right off Place Jourdan. Doriana, the owner, is a super nice host, and is excited to have our group as her café. The café is very beautiful and has great coffee, andmany yummy food options. Their Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/mirconceptstore/ **The address is:** MIR Concept Coffee Store Rue Gray 4A 1040 Etterbeek *** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the gallery, it's either on the right-hand side or left-hand side of its hallway, depending which entrance you take. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** [https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==](https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==) **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I will post the event on Saturday/Sunday evening for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder to everyone on Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * In case RSVP is closed (once there are 10-15 people on the waiting list), I might reopen it on Friday, depending on the number of cancellations in the meantime. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON Saturday!**

Claddagh Toastmasters HELPS You improve your public speaking and leadership skills and make in-person friends in Brussels, Belgium & in Europe!!! You are invited to Claddagh Toastmasters; guests are most welcome and bring a friend if you wish. Admission Free. You need also to register by email, as seats are limited. See email registration details below. Welcome coffee at 6.45 pm. Meeting starts at 7pm sharp. You ring the Claddagh designated bell to gain entry. We meet on the ground floor. Making and meeting friends is still a challenge for many in Brussels, use your voice to make new friends at Claddagh Toastmasters and at the same time grow your confidence to speak before a ' live audience'! You are invited to the next meeting of Claddagh Toastmasters of Brussel. The days are getting shorter with longer dark evenings, and work loads remain with all their challenges highlight the need for greater leadership and communication skills. Claddagh Toastmasters helps you to acquire Leadership Skills and Public Speaking Skills’ Claddagh Toastmasters also HELPS You to make friends in Brussels, Belgium, in Europe and via its world wide network of 270,000 members in over 14,000 clubs that meet in 150 countries. Toastmasters were founded in 1924 year in California. Toastmaster's founder, Ralph Smedley wrote in 1955, ''while most of us have entered Toastmasters to learn to make speeches, that benefit is the beginning of the good which may come to us, and the good that we do for mankind''. Claddagh Toastmasters helps you to develop your skills in public speaking, planning, leadership training, and managing your time. They aim is to provide a fun and social environment in which to practice your skills. You are invited to Claddagh Toastmasters; guests are most welcome and bring a friend if you wish. Admission Free. You need also to register by email, as seats are limited. See email registration details below. Welcome coffee at 6.45 pm. Meeting starts at 7pm sharp. You ring the Claddagh designated bell to gain entry. We meet on the ground floor. Please note our venue: The Mug -Schuman Co-working & Meeting Rooms Centre, Rue Charles Martel 8, Brussels 1000, (Near Schuman & Maelbeek Metro stops) Known as ´The Mug´. It is one minute´s walk from the Meeting Point Pub & restaurant on Rue Taciturne) https://www.themug.be/ CLADDAGH ENGLISH/IRISH TOASTMASTERS CLUB OF BRUSSELS TOASTMASTER AN CHLADAIGH – CLUB DÁTHEANGACH NA BRUISÉILE Please let them know you are coming by reserving your place to claddagh.toastmasters(at)gmail.com. Too many Meetup members are reserving scarce seats and not turning up. From now on we need a double confirm registration by email to guarantee your seat. You are most welcome to join us as a guest at no cost to see how the club works. Guests will be be asked for a short introduction at the start of the meeting and for their feedback at the end of the meeting. During the meeting there is a coffee break where you can network and discuss the training programme with members. Come and experience it for yourself! The ultimate objective of the meeting is to emphasise how communication and planning can play an important role in the home and workplace and how Toastmasters is an ideal organisation to serve all generations to help you plan and enjoy an active life. Last thing (finally !!!): the first part of the meeting will be held as usual with Table Topics and impromptu speeches and second part consists of prepared speeches given by members in accordance with set objectives followed by evaluations to improve .There is no obligation for guests to speak unless they agree to do so. Afterwards guests can decide if you want to become a member or come back again for a second meeting as a guest. Claddagh Toastmaster Members will be able to participate in a new international educational programme tailor made to the needs of the member with the following options. Where else would you get an innovative training programme like this in Brussels?? 1. Presentation Mastery 2. Dynamic Leadership 3. Persuasive Influence 4. Motivational Strategies 5. Engaging Humour 6. Visionary Communication. and much more.... email: claddagh.toastmasters(at)gmail.com, to confirm your place. Claddagh Toastmasters meet at the Mug Co-working & Meeting Rooms Centre, Rue Charles Martel 8, Brussels 1000, on the first and third Thursday of the month. Welcome coffee at 6.45 pm. Meeting starts at 7pm sharp. You ring the Claddagh designated bell to gain entry. We meet on the ground floor. Then it is optional to go after meeting to a local pub with covered terrace for a social and networking drink. http://www.toastmasters.org

**Experience Deep Relaxation & Mental Clarity with Access Bars®** ​Imagine letting go of stress, overthinking, and emotional blocks—effortlessly. Access Bars® is a gentle, hands-on technique that activates 32 points on your head, helping to release stored thoughts, beliefs, and tension, leaving you feeling lighter, clearer, and more at ease. ​ ​Your Session ​🕰️ Duration: 30min or 60min in total ​📍 In-Person Only – Feel the full benefits in a calm and welcoming space. ​ ​💰 Investment in Your Well-being: ​30-min session: 25 EUR or 2 Common Hub Tokens (2 CHT) ​60-min session: 50 EUR or 4 Common Hub Tokens (4 CHT) ​ ​Book your session now and give yourself the gift of relaxation, clarity, and renewed energy! ✨ Booking: [https://koalendar.com/e/access-bars-CHB](https://koalendar.com/e/access-bars-CHB) **About Your Host:** ​​​This experience is guided by Mara [Regina](https://linktr.ee/reginadgaia) D'Gaia, an alchemist, holistic therapist and access bars practitioner. ​​​📧 Contact: [integractiveconnections@gmail.com](http://integractiveconnections@gmail.com) ​​​📸 Follow on Instagram: [@reginadgaia](http://www.instagram.com/reginadgaia)

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

**\*\*\*\* More details and sign up at: https://aifalliance.org/summit-2026/ \*\*\*\*** **What is AI Freedom Alliance?** AI Freedom Alliance promotes the responsible growth of AI guided by practical, commonsense ethics. Our nonprofit is built by professionals from a wide range of industries and is made up entirely of small- and mediumbusiness representatives—never large tech companies. We provide a counterbalance to big corporate influence, focusing instead on how AI can benefit businesses and the world at large. **What’s Happening?** ***The inaugural AI Freedom Alliance Summit.*** This full-day event will explore how we can ensure AI is adopted responsibly through shared ethical standards that empower humanity. The summit will feature interactive and educational sessions led by thought leaders, technologists, policymakers, and advocates who are passionate about making AI fair, transparent, and beneficial for everyone. **Why Attend?** Learn about the legal and technical challenges with implementing AI solutions within your organization. Build better solutions while protecting your organization from legal and compliance risks. And learn how to think strategically about AI as a differentiation tool for your business. This summit is highly recommended for C-Suite leaders to learn as well as interact with each other and our sponsors.

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

OWASP is ending use of Meetup, so I built an eventbrite for the event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-development-risk-case-studies-and-how-agentic-ai-is-the-future-of-appsec-tickets-1981450622150?aff=oddtdtcreator AI is transforming how software is designed, developed, and deployed, dramatically accelerating velocity while introducing new categories of risk. As organizations adopt AI-assisted coding, autonomous agents, and increasingly complex model interactions, traditional application security approaches struggle to keep pace. This talk examines emerging AI-driven risks through real case studies from the field, highlighting issues such as insecure code generation, data-leakage pathways, model manipulation, and evolving supply-chain threats. We will explore how engineering teams must adapt their people, processes, and governance models to secure AI-augmented development workflows effectively. The session will then introduce agentic AI as the next evolution in application security—autonomous systems capable of continuous analysis, multi-step reasoning, and real-time remediation. Attendees will learn how combining agentic AI with modern practices can reduce developer friction, improve coverage, and create a future-ready application security strategy designed for the demands of AI-native software development

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

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.

**People Analytics 101: Making Sense of Compensation Data** Compensation data is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood forms of people analytics. The session will cover where compensation data comes from, including market pricing data, internal payroll data, and benchmarking sources, and how companies think about structuring and analyzing that information. We will explore how compensation data is leveraged to set salary ranges, manage internal equity, support hiring and retention, and align pay with business strategy. A portion of the session will address common data challenges and limitations, such as market noise, inconsistent job matching, and incomplete datasets, while keeping the primary focus on practical use rather than technical depth. The session will also look ahead at where the space is going, including the growing impact of pay transparency laws, expanding pay equity requirements, and emerging regulations in the US and Europe that require organizations to report on gender and pay gaps. The goal is to give attendees a clear mental model for how compensation analytics works today and why getting it right is becoming increasingly critical. (note: we are back at Rev1 this month!) **About Our Speaker** [Alex Moore](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexscottmoore/) is the founder of [Moore Cooperative](https://moorecooperative.com/), where he advises organizations on compensation strategy, pay equity, and people analytics. His work focuses on helping organizations like the Ohio Supreme Court design, analyze, and communicate compensation systems that are data-informed, defensible, and aligned with organizational goals. Alex lives in Granville, Ohio and has three little kiddos. More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)