Nanotechnology

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Can Artificial Intelligence ‘See’?”** A look at how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret the visual world in fundamentally different ways, with Arryn Robbins, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and cognitive scientist who researches visual attention, perception, and category learning. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see) .] Artificial intelligence can now identify faces, categorize objects, describe scenes, and outperform humans on certain visual tasks. But does AI actually “see” the world the way that people do? Or does it arrive at correct answers using representations that differ markedly from human perception? Join Arryn Robbins of the University of Richmond for a fascinating exploration of how humans and AI construct meaning from visual information and a look at comparisons between human perception and AI that reveal just how dynamic and context-dependent our own visual systems really are. Dr. Robbins, who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on flaws and biases in human visual perception, will draw from research in cognitive science, visual perception, and AI vision systems. She’ll explain how human perception is not merely a simple recording of the world, but an active process shaped by expectations, context, goals, and recent experience. You’ll learn how humans form flexible mental representations that allow us to recognize objects across changing environments and conditions, and why those representations continuously adapt as we interact with the world. Many AI systems, by contrast, learn visual categories through statistical patterns in data. They can produce impressive results, but sometimes they also produce strange and unexpected failures, and sometimes they classify images in ways that seem strange to us. Dr. Robbins will discuss what these differences reveal about the nature of perception itself, and why the mismatch between human and AI representations matters for technologies like self-driving cars, medical imaging, facial recognition, and automated surveillance. Important for anyone trying to understand the rapidly growing role of AI in daily life, this talk will explore one of the biggest questions in cognitive science and artificial intelligence: What does it actually mean to “see” and understand the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “Eye Farm” by Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons).

Hello piano players: Our next meeting will take place on Sunday, June 21 from 1:00 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the home of Jerry Butters at 5910 Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, just a few blocks from my house. There is ample street parking within a block or two of his house. Thank you for hosting, Jerry! Jerry will open his door at 12:30 if you would like to warm up on his piano. It is a Steinway C, made in Hamburg, Germany. It is in a small music room but adjoins another room where there is overflow seating available. Also, reach out to a friend and work up a duet—they are fun and always welcome. In the past we have had duets with two pianos, with singers and with the clarinet. They bring a nice variety of music to our meetings. It would be nice to expand to string instruments as well. We will have snacks, finger food, and light drinks, but your donations of food and drink are always welcome. We hope you can attend on the 21st. Jerry is looking forward to hosting. Regards, Paul and Jerry

The evening begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark our American debut, followed by a reception bringing together industry leaders, executives, and elected officials from across the region. You'll be among the first to meet our leadership team, hear how Diconium — a Volkswagen company — is bringing the engineering rigor of one of the world's most demanding manufacturers to the US market, and explore where our work might intersect with yours. The evening continues with networking, hospitality, and a few moments we're saving for the night itself. This is a milestone we'll mark only once — it would be our honor to have you there. Warm Regards, Diconium, *a Volkswagen company* Supporting Partners: Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce VW Group of America Porsche Consulting

Jesse & Joy are a Grammy-winning Mexican brother-and-sister duo whose emotionally rich blend of pop and folk has made them one of the most influential acts in Latin music. Since their debut in 2006, Jesse & Joy have built a career defined by heartfelt songwriting, soaring melodies, and an ability to connect deeply with audiences across cultures and generations. On their El Despecho tour, the duo brings songs of love, heartbreak, and emotional release to stages across the United States following a run of sold-out performances throughout Latin America. Audiences can expect fan favorites such as “Dueles,” “3AM,” “Corre,” “La de la Mala Suerte,” and “Me Soltaste,” delivered with the sincerity and warmth that have earned Jesse & Joy six Latin Grammy Awards and more than 12 billion streams worldwide.

**Location:** Strategy HQ 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza Tysons Corner, VA 22182 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWnJA7iWFNLinSjw6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWnJA7iWFNLinSjw6) Join us for BitDevs DC #20, our local Socratic Seminar covering Bitcoin protocol development, security, and governance. This month we'll be discussing Bitcoin bugs, cluster mempool in Core 31.0, Silent Payments adoption, the recent maintainer shakeup, and more. Pizza provided by Strategy. **Timeline:** 5:30pm - 6:00pm : Doors open and social half hour 6:00pm - 8:30pm : BitDevs Socratic Seminar **Parking/Transport:** * 🚆 Silver Line Metro — Tysons Corner Station + walk through Tysons Corner Center mall and over the bridge to the building * 🚗 Parking available in the Tysons Corner Center mall lots adjacent to the building or in front of the building Thank you to **Strategy** for hosting!

Come the whole time or if you just spend 30 minutes. All are welcome. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies but, if you don't have any, I will have plenty and am happy to share! (coloring books, colored pencils, and markers). Part of the mission of this group is to provide us an opportunity to check out AND SUPPORT local businesses. So, please don't bring any outside food/drinks and, while purchasing something isn't at all a REQUIREMENT to participate in the event, I do strongly encourage you to try something from the vendor :) I look forward to seeing and meeting you there! ***\*\*DISCLAIMER*\*\*** Photos may be taken during the event to be shared here on Meetup so feel free to let me know if you'd like to be excluded from them.

## 1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation ### Understanding Loudoun's Commercial Real Estate Landscape: Opportunities for Small Business Growth **Presented by Vanessa Simon, Real Estate Intelligence Manager, Loudoun Economic Development** **Wednesday\, June 24 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for an engaging and informative conversation with **Vanessa Simon**, Real Estate Intelligence Manager for Loudoun Economic Development, as we explore Loudoun County's evolving commercial real estate landscape and what it means for small businesses looking to grow. *** ## About the Presenter Vanessa Simon serves as the **Real Estate Intelligence Manager** for Loudoun Economic Development, where she tracks land and property data, manages the county's commercial property database, and builds relationships with developers, brokers, and industry stakeholders throughout Loudoun County. Prior to joining Loudoun Economic Development, Vanessa served as the Director of Operations for a regional residential real estate team serving Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Her experience includes operations management, contracts, compliance, negotiations, and market analysis. Vanessa holds a bachelor's degree in Biology and Business from Virginia Tech and began her professional career in technical sales before transitioning into real estate and economic development. *** ## About the Session Whether you're considering your first commercial location, expanding your business footprint, evaluating market opportunities, or simply trying to better understand the local business landscape, this session will provide valuable insight into one of the most important factors influencing business growth: commercial real estate. Vanessa will share current market trends, development activity, available commercial space, and economic development initiatives that are shaping the future of Loudoun County. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how real estate data and economic development resources can support strategic business decisions. *** ## What You'll Learn * Current commercial real estate trends across Loudoun County * Available space and development opportunities * Site selection considerations for growing businesses * Workforce accessibility and location planning * Economic development initiatives supporting business growth * Market insights that can help inform expansion strategies * Resources available through Loudoun Economic Development *** ## Who Should Attend This session is ideal for: * Small business owners * Entrepreneurs considering a physical location * Businesses planning expansion * Retail, restaurant, and service-based businesses * Commercial property owners and investors * Startup founders evaluating growth opportunities * Community and economic development professionals *** ## Why Attend? * Gain practical market intelligence from a county expert * Better understand Loudoun's commercial development landscape * Learn how location decisions impact business growth * Discover resources available to support your business * Ask questions directly to a leader involved in shaping Loudoun's economic future *** ## About 1 Million Cups 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **June 24** for coffee, connection, and a valuable conversation about how Loudoun County's commercial real estate market can support your business growth and long-term success. We look forward to seeing you there.