Artificial Intelligence

**Details** Happy New Year to everyone =). We would like to kickstart this year with a series of talks by AI Scientists from ST Engineering on Physical AI. Starting with an architecture that connects the three pillars of Physical AI (Agentic, Spatial & Robotics), we will explore why successful Agentic AI systems require moving beyond standalone tools to integrate business processes, infrastructure, and ROI-driven strategy for lasting organisational impact. We will also explore the frontiers of Spatial Intelligence and Robotics Intelligence, dissecting the algorithms that allow diverse, heterogeneous robots to coordinate and compete in complex, high-stakes environments. We are moving our events to Luma! **Please subscribe to the DSSG calendar on Luma.** You can find it [here](https://luma.com/datascienceSG?k=c). **​Agenda** 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM Registration & Networking ​7:00 PM – 7:15 PM Introduction to Physical AI @ ST Engineering by Kai Xin ​7:15 PM – 7:35 PM Agentic AI - Why AI Tools Alone Don’t Create Successful AI Systems by Michal ​7:35 PM – 7:55 PM Spatial AI - When World Model Meets Humanoid by Ruofei ​7:55 PM – 8:15 PM Robotics AI - Robust Physical AI by William ​8:15 PM – 8:30 PM Q&A and Closing **Synopsis** Agentic AI - Why AI Tools Alone Don’t Create Successful AI Systems Today, powerful AI tools are everywhere, yet most organisations still struggle to translate them into real business impact. Why is that? In this talk, Michal shares perspectives from consulting business units, evaluating AI startups, and designing end-to-end AI systems. He explains why many widely adopted tools, despite being technically impressive, fail to meaningfully transform organisations—and what needs to change for AI to deliver lasting value. The discussion moves beyond tools into the broader system: business processes, ROI and outcome measurement, software engineering discipline, self-hosting and infrastructure considerations, and model selection strategy. Attendees will leave with practical tips on what it actually takes to move from AI adoption to AI impact. Spatial AI - When World Model Meets Humanoid Dive into the frontier of Spatial Intelligence where generative agent-based simulations meet the reasoning power of LLMs and VLMs. We will discuss the architecture of scalable data factories designed to fuel robust robotics training and bridge the gap between virtual reasoning and physical execution. Join us to explore how these converged technologies are accelerating the development of advanced humanoid applications and embodied AI. Robotics AI - Robust Physical AI Uncover why Physical AI’s upcoming challenge is less about making smarter plans and more about executing reliably in the real world. Learn how coordination breaks down at scale and how NEAR Lab focuses on turning research into deployable autonomy. **Speakers** [Kai Xin Thia](https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiakx/) is VP at ST Engineering Group Technology Office (GTO), heading the AI.DA Strategic Technology Centre (STC). AI.DA STC focuses on the research translation of AI, including Physical (Robotics Intelligence, Spatial Intelligence & Systemic Intelligence with Agents), Quantum, Urban Computing & AI Solutions. Kai Xin works at the intersection of data and product innovation, with over a decade of experience driving innovation across finance (London Stock Exchange, DBS), media (Tech in Asia), eCommerce (Lazada-Alibaba), and healthcare (Khoo Teck Puat Hospital). Kai Xin holds an MSc in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. [Michal Polanowski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/polanowskimichal/) is the Head of Generative AI at AI.DA STC. He builds production-ready AI systems and advises leadership and internal business units on strategic AI adoption. He focuses on transforming cutting-edge research into AI-first workflows that solve real operational problems and deliver tangible, verifiable ROI. With nearly two decades of experience across big data, data mining, data science, deep learning, and now Generative AI, Michal has seen both the hype and the reality of enterprise AI. His approach is deeply pragmatic, grounded in hands-on experience, focused on what works, and uncompromising about measurable outcomes. Michal holds a PhD in Consumer Economics / Market Research from The University of Georgia. [Ruofei Ouyang](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ouyang-ruofei/) is the Head of Applied AI at AI.DA STC, specialising in spatial intelligence & simulation AI. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from NUS. His academic expertise lies in decentralised data fusion and distributed computing. He has established a strong research track record, with publications in top-tier venues in artificial intelligence and robotics, including UAI, AAAI, AAMAS, and Autonomous Robots. His professional profile combines deep theoretical knowledge in probabilistic modelling with practical experience in large-scale data science applications. [William Teo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/willteo/) is the Robotics AI Research Lead at AI.DA STC NEAR Lab, where he directs research in multi-robot systems and embodied AI applications. He is concurrently pursuing a PhD in Robotics at NUS MARMoT Lab, specialising in multi-agent robot learning. His diverse academic background includes a Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and a Master of Engineering in Supply Chain Management from MIT. Currently, he focuses on bridging academia and industry to make robots Smarter Better Faster.

AI is transforming how developers work, and this session will show you how to stay ahead. We’ll explore the transition from coding fundamentals to AI engineering, dive into generative AI and edge computing trends, and discuss how businesses measure the ROI of AI projects. **Guest Speaker: Ho Zi Hao** An AI and machine learning engineer who will share practical insights on both the technical skills and the business impact needed to thrive in AI engineering. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hozihao) Whether you’re a student, a career switcher, or already in tech, this event will give you knowledge and inspiration to grow in the evolving AI landscape.

Craving a midweek reset? Slide into Burgers, Board Games & Chill - our weekly Tuesday night hangout where the buns are toasted, the vibes are relaxed, and the conversation’s always juicy. ​We’ve added **11** new board games — come by, play a few rounds, and help with new ideas! ​Check the latest burger review from Daniel Food Diary > **[https://danielfooddiary.com/2025/05/15/opensourced](https://danielfooddiary.com/2025/05/15/opensourced)** ​ Come solo or bring a friend. It’s low-pressure, good food, and great company — perfect if you’re new in town, working nearby, or just need a breather from the grind. **Venue:** Open Sourced **Website:** [www.opensourced.so](http://www.opensourced.so) **Date:** Tuesday **Time:** 6.30pm-9pm **Location:** 10A Perak Road, Singapore 208131 **Bonus:** Free tatter tots upgrade with every burger

**Discover the Healing Power of Pranic Healing & Twin Hearts Meditation!** Join us for a complimentary introductory talk, meditation, and healing event on every Tuesdays, 7.30pm\~9.30pm. Pranic Healing is a powerful energy healing modality that can help you achieve better physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. It is a non-invasive, non-touch healing technique that uses prana, or life force energy, to cleanse, energise, and balance the energy body. During the introductory talk, you will learn more about Pranic Healing, how it works, and the many benefits it can offer. You will also have the opportunity to experience Pranic Healing for yourself with a complimentary session from our Pranic Healing volunteers. In addition to the introductory talk and healing session, you will also get to experience Meditation on Twin Hearts. This meditation is a simple yet powerful practice that can help you achieve inner peace, harmony, and love. It is also a great way to connect with your higher self and with the divine. This event is open to all ages 16 and above, but registration is required. To secure your seat, please sign-up at the link below. We hope to see you there! **Date:** Every Tuesdays **Time:** 7.30pm-9.30pm **Venue:** Downtown Gallery #02-09/10 Open to All, including public, who are 16 years of age & above. *Complimentary!* [Register your seat](https://form.jotform.com/210080203650438)

## Details **🎉 Geek Out, Stress Out: *Lite Edition* 🎲** Looking for a fun, low-pressure way to get into board games? *Geek Out, Stress Out: Lite* is all about **easy-to-learn, laugh-out-loud fun** with party games, social deduction, and welcoming gateway games. Whether you're brand new to tabletop games or just in the mood for something light and social, this night is designed for **casual gamers, first-timers**, and anyone who wants to enjoy games without the heavy rules or competition. Come hang out, play, and discover games that are as fun to learn as they are to play. No experience needed—just bring your good vibes and maybe a friend or two! **Venue:** Geekster **Time:** 7pm to 11pm (Every Tue) **Address:** 100 Lorong 23 Geylang #03-02 S388398 (Near to Aljunied MRT, take the shorter path at Atrix Bulding) **Fee:** Option A: Roll 2 dice and the sum will be the entry fee Option B: S$8 per entry Both options come with ONE complimentary drink **🎲 Play Arena Rules 🎲** 1️⃣ Max capacity: 30 people (excluding Geekster). RSVP is first come, first served. If you can’t make it, please de-RSVP so others on the waitlist can join. ✅🔄 2️⃣ Be respectful—no excessive noise or aggressive behavior. 🚫🎭 3️⃣ You’re welcome to bring your own games! Just make sure they’re ***clean*** and ***mold-free***. Comment below with what you're bringing. 😊🎲 4️⃣ Handle all games with care. Damage to Geekster’s games may incur a replacement fee. 💸⚠️ 5️⃣ No outside food or drinks (except plain water). Keep food and drinks away from games. 🚱🍔 6️⃣ Feeling unwell? Please stay home. Hosts may deny entry if needed. 🤒❌ 7️⃣ Keep an eye on your belongings; management isn’t responsible for lost items. 🎒👀 8️⃣ Theft = police report + permanent ban. 🚔🚨 Please join our **Telegram** group here for more details/updates: [https://t.me/+6r-3vSQcxwNjZjM1](https://t.me/+6r-3vSQcxwNjZjM1) **CONNECT WITH US!** 📌 Follow us on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/geekster.sg/) 📌 Join our newsletter on our [website](https://www.geekster.sg/)

We start 2026 with an evening that covers a range of topics at the frontier of AI - and please note that the topics below are "subject to change" depending on new model releases, etc... Talks: **"Nested Learning; mHC and Sub-1bit Compression" - Martin Andrews** In his talk, Martin will outline several interesting recent works: (a) Nested Learning from Google (which follows on from their TITANS paper at NeurIPS); (b) mHC from DeepSeek, which may be foreshadowing an upcoming release; and (c) "LittleBit: Ultra Low-Bit Quantization" which had flown under the radar until NeurIPS itself... The goal is to explain a little of both the "why" and the "what" behind this research. **"The Big Shift: From "Bigger Models" to "Smarter Systems"" - Sam Witteveen** In this talk, Sam will go through some of the papers and topics covered at NeurIPS and in general research over the past few months that cover how in the race for AGI, research is moving to Agentic Systems rather than just Big Models **"EmergentDB: What if Your Database Learned Like an LLM?" - Rach Pradhan** In his lightning talk, Rach will describe his highly-rated entry into the recent DeepMind Gemini Hackathon held in Singapore. His "EmergentDB" is a proof-of-concept vector database that uses MAP-Elites (Quality Diversity) to automatically discover optimal index configurations. Instead of hand-tuning HNSW parameters or guessing at partition counts, the idea is that the database evolves configurations specific to your data with impressive speedups over alternatives. **FOOD UPDATE :** Google has told us that **there WILL BE** pizza at the event **ALSO:** Sign-ups are on **MeetUp** this time! Registration here should be FREE - if MeetUp requires you to sign up for a subscription somehow, let us know! (We haven't heard of this happening for registrations via their mobile app, FWIW). \-\-\- Talks will start at 7:10pm (entry at 6:45pm) and end at around 9:00pm, at which point attendees can come up to the front for a bit of a chat with each other, and the speakers. As always, we're actively looking for more speakers - both '30 minutes long-form', and lightning talks. For the lightning talks, we welcome folks to come and talk about something cool they've done with keras, PyTorch, JAX and/or Deep Learning for 5-10mins (so, if you have slides, then #max=10). We believe that the key ingredient for the success of a Lightning Talk is simply the cool/interesting factor. It doesn't matter whether you're an expert or an enthusiastic beginner: Given the responses we have had to previous talks, we're sure there are lots of people who would love to hear what you've been playing with. If you're interested in talking, please just introduce yourself to Martin at one of the events.

Register at [bit.ly/gdgsg-jan26](https://bit.ly/gdgsg-jan26) \-\-\- Join us for an exclusive session with Thorsten Schaeff, Developer Relations Engineer at Google DeepMind. This isn't just another overview; it’s your first look at the next generation of multimodal models and the tools that will redefine your development workflow. What to expect: * Meet Gemini 3: Be among the first to explore the capabilities of the latest Gemini 3 family, including the highly anticipated Nano Banana Pro model. * Defy Gravity: Discover Google Antigravity, the new tool designed to remove friction from your build process. * Master the Studio: A guided walkthrough of Google AI Studio to help you prototype faster and smarter. Whether you are an AI researcher or a mobile developer looking to integrate on-device smarts, this session will equip you with the knowledge to accelerate your work. #GoogleDeepMind #GoogleForDevelopers #GDGSingapore

// **Johor Bahru WordPress Meetup #27** // 🗓️ Date: 17 Jan 2026 (Sat) ⏰ Time: 7.30pm 📍 Venue: **42 Iskandar Puteri** Unit 01-12, Level 1, Sunway GRID, Persiaran Medini 3, Sunway City, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Ta'zim. (view map: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/X1fyNzQJhnUgRW739](https://maps.app.goo.gl/X1fyNzQJhnUgRW739) or [Waze](https://www.waze.com/en/live-map/directions/my/johor-darul-tazim/iskandar-puteri/42-iskandar-puteri?place=ChIJX5bxS2zmjIgReoatlN1b3Iw)) 🎟️ Admission: Free // Movie // **The Thinking Game** by Google Deepmind Have you watched "The Thinking Game" yet? Released by Google DeepMind just one month ago, this documentary has already exploded with over 239 million views! 🤯 It takes you inside the high-stakes race to solve the "Holy Grail" of computing: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Watch the trailer here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5XFYMsczy8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5XFYMsczy8) For our first WordPress Meetup of 2026, we are skipping the coding tutorials to watch this masterpiece together on the big screen! Come for the movie, stay for the discussion on how AI is reshaping our world. // Agenda // 7:30pm \| Arrival and Networking 7:50pm \| Opening Note: Welcome & Introduction to the Documentary 8:00pm \| Screening 9:30pm \| Post\-Movie Discussion & Group Photo 10:00pm \| Event Ends & Disperse // Help Out // Want to be part of our meetups? We're seeking enthusiastic speakers and volunteers. Interested in sponsoring? Reach out! // Contact // 📞 Yves Tan +60 16 - 708 3808 📞 [YL +60 14 - 619 3328](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=60146193328&text=Hi%20YL%2C%20I%20like%20to%20learn%20about%20WordPress%20Meetup%20JB%20%F0%9F%98%8A) Join JB Meetup WhatsApp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CAQuELUZleWAmXawddSJ6u](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CAQuELUZleWAmXawddSJ6u)

#### **Attention:** Ready to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and discover how AI can revolutionize your wellness business—live and in person? #### **Interest:** Join us for this exclusive live meetup where we bring together forward-thinking business owners, wellness advocates, and digital entrepreneurs. You’ll learn how to use AI tools to simplify your marketing, boost your online presence, and grow your income—all while promoting better health and balance in your life and business. #### **Desire:** Picture a vibrant room filled with positive energy, powerful insights, and real collaboration opportunities. You’ll walk away with practical AI strategies, valuable connections and an inspired vision for building a wellness brand that truly works for *you*. #### **Action:** Don’t miss this in-person opportunity to learn, network and elevate your wellness business. RSVP now to secure your seat—spaces are limited for this live meetup!

**Friday is our open co-working day.** ​People come to work on their own projects, take breaks together, and usually stay through the afternoon. It’s quiet, focused, and builder- and founder-led. ​You can arrive anytime from 10AM. Most people show up after lunch and settle in before 1.30pm. Bring your laptop. Grab any open seat. Stay as long as you like. ​At 1.30pm, we pause work briefly for a shared session called **The Stage**, then everyone goes back to working. ​This is how Fridays here work. \-\-\- **The Stage @ 1.30PM** > ​The Stage is a short, open-format session where builders and founders share something they are actively working on. A workflow, a technical breakdown, a lesson learned, or just a topic keeping him/her up at night. > ​The goal is to spark ideas you can try immediately after, during the same afternoon. After the session ends, most people simply open their laptops again and continue working. > ​After the session, we go back to work. **​** **Topic: Pricing Strategy - Finding the Sweet Spot** **​[Mohammed Sebti](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedsebti/)** ​*Co-founder & CEO, SeedS Strategy* *​Revenue Growth Mentor, Block71* *​Former management consultant, Simon-Kucher* ​​Pricing is one of the strongest levers founders have, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Many teams default to cost-plus or copy competitors, then struggle to adjust as their product, customers, and use cases evolve. ​In this session, Sebti will share how he thinks about pricing as a system, not a number. Drawing from his work advising SaaS, AI, and deep tech startups across Europe and APAC, he’ll walk through real pricing decisions founders face as they move from early traction to growth. ​We’ll look at: * ​How to move from cost-plus thinking to value-driven pricing * ​Choosing between pricing models as products and segments evolve * ​Where pricing decisions hurt conversion and retention * ​How to test willingness to pay without overfitting too early ​This session is all about building a pricing model that can adapt as your product and market change. ​The goal is to leave with a clearer way to think about pricing decisions, and a framework you can apply to your own product. ​After the session, we go back to work or hang out to network. \-\-\- ​**RSVP here >** https://luma.com/wystkxon

🎯 Join [Stephan](https://linkedin.com/in/stephan-terhorst/) for a casual lunch to discuss any AI use cases in business and life. ⚠️ No pitch decks, just real operational tactics and ideas. 🍜 Grab something from the Food Garden or bring your own. ⏰ Our table is open from 11:30 am to 2 pm. You join when you join. 💡 Capacity is strictly limited to 4 people. The exact spot is sent to approved guests.

Feeling confused about weight management or tired of starting and stopping diets? **Weight Management Made Easy** is a beginner-friendly sharing session designed to help you understand weight in a clear, practical and sustainable way — without pressure, restriction or extreme methods. This relaxed and easy-to-follow session is perfect for beginners who want to feel healthier, lighter and more confident, one step at a time. **What You’ll Learn:** * Why weight gain happens (explained in simple terms) * What “sustainable habits” really mean for everyday life * Easy nutrition principles you can apply daily * How to support your body for long-term results **Who This Session Is For:** * Beginners who feel overwhelmed by weight-loss information * Anyone tired of strict diets that don’t last * Those looking for a realistic and sustainable approach to health **What This Session Is Not** ✨ No crash diets ✨ No complicated science ✨ No extreme rules Just simple, practical habits that work in real life. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start managing your weight with clarity and confidence, this session is for you. Join us and take your first step toward sustainable results.

Hello everyone! Who doesn't love Pizza! We'll be meeting at Andy's Pizza in Tyson's Galleria and doing some old-fashioned networking, beer-drinking, and pizza-eating. I guarantee a fun time, or else your pizza is free :) **Location:** Andy's Pizza, Tyson's Galleria, 2001 International Dr, McLean, VA 22102 **Overview:** Join us at AI Innovators Network for our upcoming meetup in Tysons dedicated to exploring the latest trends in Artificial Intelligence. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a professional, or someone curious about the intersection of technology and AI, this event is perfect for networking, learning, and sharing insights. Connect with like-minded individuals from DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland as we dive deep into the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation driving innovation and progress in Artificial Intelligence.

**Agenda :** * 4.30 to 4.45 PM ET: Food and Networking * 4.45 to 5.30 PM ET: "Building Smarter Agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio (Jan 2026 Edition)" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our Jan 13th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided.** **Title:** Building Smarter Agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio (Jan 2026 Edition) **Description:** Discover how to design intelligent, task-driven AI agents using **Microsoft Copilot Studio**. Learn how to connect copilots to enterprise data, workflows, and external systems. Explore real-world use cases, best practices, and architecture patterns for scalable agents. Get hands-on insights into what’s new in the Jan 2026 edition and what’s coming next **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

In this talk, Sean Hoar will explore how AI assistants can accelerate different stages of software development. From idea generation and prototyping to coding, testing, and debugging, AI tools are transforming how developers work. He’ll provide practical examples of where AI can save time, reduce errors, and help teams focus on higher-level problem-solving. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI into their workflow and stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape.

## 💻 Reimagine Your Second Half of Life – AI Vision Board Workshop (Ashburn) **Saturday\, January 17\, 2026 \| 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM \| $35** *** ### 🔔 **Important Event Format Notice** To keep this workshop intentional and high-quality: • **5+ participants** → Hosted at a rented facility • **Under 5 participants** → **Private small-group workshop** ✨ *Workshop content, duration, and outcomes remain the same.* *** ## ☀️ **Design What Comes Next** ✨ **A Different Kind of Experience** 👉 **Most people don’t expect this to feel so personal.** The AI doesn’t just generate ideas — it reflects your own thinking back to you in a way that creates real clarity. 👉 **Even people who already use ChatGPT are often pleasantly caught off guard.** When paired with the right prompts and guided reflection, the insights go much deeper than typical goal-setting or vision work. 👉 **There’s often a quiet “oh wow” moment.** Not because it’s flashy — but because something finally clicks into place. You’ve lived enough life to know that success isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters. ### 3-Part Session **1️⃣ Discover & Design** Learn simple AI tools and a practical framework to clarify your 2026 vision and priorities. **2️⃣ Create & Collaborate** Design your personalized AI-powered vision board with guided prompts and small-group reflection. **☕ Short Refreshment Break** Coffee and curated snacks to reset and recharge. **3️⃣ Align & Act** Map your next 3, 6, and 12 months with realistic action steps — individually or with group support. You’ll also learn how to: * Use ChatGPT to clarify goals and affirmations * Turn ideas into effective AI prompts * Create a digital or printable vision board that inspires action * Stay intentional and motivated throughout the year 👉 No AI experience necessary — just bring curiosity, a laptop, and an open mind. *** ## 💻 What to Bring * **Laptop required** (AI tools don’t work well on tablets) * ChatGPT account (free version is fine) 👉 Please set this up before the event. Message me after you RSVP if you need help. *** ## ☕ What’s Included * Guided AI Vision Board workshop (full experience) * Coffee and curated snacks * Small-group collaboration and discussion * All digital tools, prompts, and resources *** ## 💬 Who This Is For * Professionals planning a strong 2026 * Entrepreneurs mapping their next chapter * Anyone navigating life transitions — career, relationships, reinvention * People curious about AI but unsure where to start * Anyone who enjoys learning, connecting, and gaining clarity This community is about learning while having fun — no jargon, no pressure, just real conversation and clarity that lasts. *** ## 📍 Final Details 📍 **Location:** Ashburn area (final location shared after RSVP) 💵 **Fee:** $35 per person 🕐 **Time:** 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 👩‍💻 **Bring:** Laptop + ChatGPT account ready *** 🔗 **RSVP early — space is intentionally limited.** Come reimagine your second half of life — with a little help from AI and a lot of inspiration 🌟 🌐 Explore more at: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)

**Agenda :** * 4.30 to 4.45 PM ET: Food and Networking * 4.45 to 5.30 PM ET: "Building Smarter Agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio (Jan 2026 Edition)" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our Jan 13th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided.** **Title:** Building Smarter Agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio (Jan 2026 Edition) **Description:** Discover how to design intelligent, task-driven AI agents using **Microsoft Copilot Studio**. Learn how to connect copilots to enterprise data, workflows, and external systems. Explore real-world use cases, best practices, and architecture patterns for scalable agents. Get hands-on insights into what’s new in the Jan 2026 edition and what’s coming next **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

Join us for another session of our study group as we dive into the fascinating world of Large Language Models (LLMs) using the book **Build a Large Language Model from Scratch** from Manning. In this session, we will finish **Chapter 7: Fine-tuning to follow instructions**. In the last session, we talked about how to prepare the dataset for instruction fine-tuning and in this session we will perform the fine-tuning and evaluate the model afterwards. This isn't just a lecture! Come ready to ask questions, share insights, and code along. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this is the perfect opportunity to build a strong foundation together. If you plan to work with the code on your own laptop during the session, try and set-up the environment ahead of time (https://github.com/rasbt/LLMs-from-scratch/tree/main/setup). We will be meeting at the North County Governmental Center this time that is across from the Reston public library.

Our guest speaker is Alexander (Sandy) Walker, SPE Distinguished Lecturer, who will deliver his talk, Ten Secrets of Production Optimization Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Production optimization lends itself nicely to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) because computers are very good at monitoring surveillance data, spotting changes in operating parameters, and carrying out boring, repetitive tasks. By combining real-time data, production tests, and nodal analysis with artificial intelligence, it is possible for computers to perform powerful well surveillance to identify problems and opportunities automatically. By capitalizing on AI, engineers can boost well production 6–8%. The use of AI allows engineers to manage many more wells effectively. Case studies will be presented to show how AI has been used to perform simple tasks and even advanced pattern recognition to identify specific well problems. This lecture will provide ten secrets of how to be successful in using AI to optimize your producing wells. **Speaker Bio** Alexander “Sandy” Williams has worked in the petroleum industry for 34 years. He founded Artificial Lift Performance Ltd. (ALP), which is now a part of ChampionX. ALP developed a software application to help operators monitor, analyze, and optimize wells using artificial lift. This software has empowered engineers to make decisions quickly to maximize production of more than 6,000 wells. Sandy began his career at Amoco, then worked at Phoenix Schlumberger Artificial Lift before becoming a consultant focused on artificial lift and production optimization. He has worked and lived in the USA, Oman, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia, so he is fluent in Spanish. He has taught over 200 courses related to production optimization and artificial lift and has authored 15 technical papers on those subjects. **In-person Attendance** Cost $25.00 Members with Reservation/ $35.00 Non-Members/No RSVP **[RSVP For In-Person Attendance](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F4cdpq9hbb.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001ulZaNxfZuL_6GaFN0pdK_Fasr8wMG9oTn_KLJs8M6Rn_-cyV0SC3jBm_gTO-PTX3Y--YFs0Wsj-QXJwGk15_Qq688lYJp3JwEGS5HKR0fVpDEVzSX34xdspwgvnLx4DJO2SNCW8Z1fW8Hdm9sCCrb9vHMScTys-mlQBOukwULRlFWFEg-OPFPqRCLMZJ_D1jp7mGfPBe4X14XvW1fgUj3F8OGB46v6DH%26c%3D1cjcv1_ysUO55_fCcMs4yaWtNMruy697W-fTUltKychmzLVmWcCfRg%3D%3D%26ch%3D2xOVpFSRsvOZ9AXcdioMkgzIR_F2KQcqkG1tFPj4lSxfW_ePCX2Ygw%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cryan.kellogg%40blackknightllc.com%7C820088e0342140cf3af208de47c5cc00%7C2af271cb4333422fb7eb54bc5cd404f0%7C0%7C0%7C639027113520905897%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3oIKLPdWhuCKno5c2QQ6pM81rzgC9PL428wYf8godyI%3D&reserved=0)**