Science & Technology

**​The Test Tribe 11th Toronto Meetup** ​ Agentic, generative, and evocative AI is no longer a passing trend-it’s reshaping how software is built, delivered, and trusted. As AI systems become more autonomous, opaque, and influential, the risks extend far beyond bugs and failures. They reach into ethics, bias, accountability, and societal trust. ​In this powerful and provocative keynote, Robert Sabourin challenges testers to rethink their role in an AI-driven world. Testing is no longer just a technical activity-it is an act of social responsibility. As guardians of risk, uncertainty, and quality, testers are uniquely positioned to protect not just products, but people and institutions. ​This is not a talk about fear-it’s a wake-up call, and an invitation to rise. ## ​Event Details ​📅 Date: 4th February 2026 (Wednesday) 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST 🏢 Location: 125 E Liberty St, Toronto 🗺️ Google Maps:[ https://maps.app.goo.gl/mwJf4zRSkXQa2v9w5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mwJf4zRSkXQa2v9w5) ## ​Session: Test Transcendence and the AI Apocalypse ​Speaker: Robert Sabourin ## ​About the Session ​AI is redefining what we mean by *products*, *services*, and even *decision-making itself*. Its promise of speed and intelligence is intoxicating-but beneath it lies a rapidly growing landscape of risk. ​In this keynote, Robert Sabourin explores how software testing becomes a critical line of defense in an era where autonomy, bias, and opacity threaten trust itself. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Rob brings these ideas to life through compelling stories, case studies, and pragmatic strategies for testing agentic and generative AI systems. ​This is a high-energy, reality-grounded session that goes beyond tools and techniques. It’s about purpose. ​As AI systems grow more powerful, testers must transcend traditional roles. The future demands professionals who can model risk, navigate uncertainty, and communicate value to leaders, regulators, and society at large. ​The apocalypse is not a prophecy-it’s a call to action. ## ​Key Takeaways * ​Understand how AI is redefining risk, quality, and assurance in modern socio-technical systems * ​Recognize the ethical and social responsibility of testing in an AI-driven world * ​Learn concrete strategies for testing agentic and generative AI responsibly * ​Discover how testers can evolve from defect finders to trusted advisors and change agents * ​Leave inspired by decades of practical wisdom-and the belief that testing can truly make a positive impact ## ​About the Speaker ​Robert Sabourin has over four decades of experience in software engineering and testing. A globally respected educator, consultant, and keynote speaker, Rob is known for his energetic, story-driven, and deeply thought-provoking presentations. ​He bridges technical excellence with human insight, helping teams around the world elevate quality, accountability, and trust in the software systems that increasingly shape our lives. His work consistently challenges professionals to think bigger-not just about systems, but about their responsibility to society. ## ​Why You Should Attend * ​Gain a rare, big-picture perspective on AI, risk, and trust * ​Learn how testing intersects with ethics, governance, and societal impact * ​Be inspired to elevate your role in an AI-first world * ​Hear from one of the most respected voices in global testing * ​Connect with Toronto’s QA and tech community at the 11th Toronto Meetup ## ​About The Test Tribe ​The Test Tribe is the world’s largest software testing community, empowering testers globally since 2018. With 700+ events and 150K+ members across 130+ countries, we bring testers together to learn, grow, and connect through meetups, conferences, cohorts, masterclasses, and more. ​By RSVPing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to be contacted by The Test Tribe and our event partners.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Toronto Interdimensional Book Club #2! Tuesday, February 3 2026 TIBC is back for another book club meetup after a brief hiatus for the holidays! We will be discussing Diane Pasulka's book "American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology". More than half of American adults and more than seventy-five percent of young Americans believe in intelligent extraterrestrial life. This level of belief rivals that of belief in God. American Cosmic examines the mechanisms at work behind the thriving belief system in extraterrestrial life, a system that is changing and even supplanting traditional religions. Over the course of a six-year ethnographic study, D.W. Pasulka interviewed successful and influential scientists, professionals, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who believe in extraterrestrial intelligence, thereby disproving the common misconception that only fringe members of society believe in UFOs. She argues that widespread belief in aliens is due to a number of factors including their ubiquity in modern media like The X-Files, which can influence memory, and the believability lent to that media by the search for planets that might support life. American Cosmic explores the intriguing question of how people interpret unexplainable experiences, and argues that the media is replacing religion as a cultural authority that offers believers answers about non-human intelligent life. We will be meeting up at the Amsterdam Brewhouse, 245 Queens Quay West. Max group size of 8 attendees. Please only RSVP if you intend on showing up in person, TIA!

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

SYSTEM HOUSE OPEN DECKS! This Sunday Feb 8th at the Raven we’re giving back to the community with an open decks 2pm to 10pm for our local house artists! With the system label launching soon and our new venture into house curation, we want to find the local house artists that would be a great fit to spin at our house events and the talented house producers who can release on our label! All types of house welcome: progressive house, deep minimal tech, bass house, tech house, deep house, any type of house! Entry will be free for anyone attending and any DJ can apply via the link in our bio to be selected to perform at the Raven for the event. All sets will be recorded, both audio and video, with an option for professional media. Best sets will be posted on system socials(IG, TT, YT, SC etc) with the DJs permission for maximum exposure! Please note that the venue did not come free to us so we’ll have a sign up fee to cover costs. It is time to grow our local jhouse talent and give everyone a chance to spin at our favourite venue with modern equipment: 2 CDJ 3000s, an A9 mixer and a brand new RMX IGNITE! Proud to run this event with our partners [@portfolio.sessions](https://www.instagram.com/portfolio.sessions/) [@bnbhurtspodcast](https://www.instagram.com/bnbhurtspodcast/) [@ravengalleryto](https://www.instagram.com/ravengalleryto/)

**Note:** This is a ticketed event. You need a ticket to attend. **Use promo code MAGIC100 for your free tickets!** **Tickets:** [https://comedybar.ca/shows/disillusioned---singles-night-magic-and-comedy](https://comedybar.ca/shows/disillusioned---singles-night-magic-and-comedy) **Use promo code MAGIC100 for your free tickets!** Mix and mingle at 7pm, along with some walk around magic to warm you up. Show at 8pm. Single and not excited for Valentine's Day? Me neither! Join us, along with a room full of other singles for a fun night of magic, comedy, and even possibly meeting that special someone! The night starts off with a mix and mingle in the lobby area at 7pm. This is your chance to hang out and chat with other single people. We'll even have the magician come around and do some magic tricks for you. Then head into the main showroom for the performance at 8pm, where we will mix magic and comedy, all aimed at single people. After the event, feel free to hang around and mingle some more. See you there!

This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/uvgbxv2c). Continual learning is a core ability behind humans’ ability to perform economically valuable tasks. As frontier AI companies train LLM agents to be increasingly autonomous, they are likely aggressively pursuing approaches to continual learning in LLMs. In this talk, [Rohan Subramani](https://rohansubramani.github.io/home/) and [Rauno Arike](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rauno-arike/) discuss the potential implications of this development on the capabilities and of LLM agents and its effect on AI safety and alignment.

**Presented in partnership with the Brampton Innovation District and Brampton Venture Zone.** This Black History Month, join **Brampton Venture Zone (BVZ) by TMU** at the Library for an inspiring Tech Talk spotlighting Black founders who are turning lived experience into powerful innovation. Moderated by **Marlene Spence**, Founder of *Hope Endoors* and *The CHANCE Centre*, this conversation brings together **Andre Smith**, Founder & CEO of *Flip & Floss*, and **Abdel Ali**, Founder & CEO of *Kiwi Charge* and Director at *BLCK VC Canada*. Together, the speakers will explore how personal challenges — including financial hardship, lack of access, and systemic barriers — became the catalyst for the companies they built. From financial literacy to clean technology and investment access, the speakers will highlight how lived experience can shape meaningful tech solutions and open pathways for the next generation of entrepreneurs. At its core, this session is designed to show youth that **their stories can become their superpower** \- and the spark that shapes the future of innovation\. ### Who Should Attend Designed especially for: * **Black youth** who are curious about tech, entrepreneurship, or innovation * **Aspiring and early-stage founders** seeking relatable guidance * **Students, newcomers, and young professionals** exploring pathways into tech * **Community members** looking to celebrate Black excellence and future-focused leadership ### What You'll Take Away Attendees will learn: * How lived experience can become a foundation for innovative startups * Ways to turn personal challenges into impactful business ideas * Practical pathways into tech — with or without a technical background * How to access mentorship, confidence, and early support * What funding looks like for Black founders and why representation matters You’ll leave with the belief that your story, your struggle, and your perspective can help build the future. ### Agenda * 7:00–7:10 p.m. — Welcome & Opening Remarks * 7:10–7:35 p.m. — Fireside Panel with Andre & Abdel * 7:35 to 7:55 p.m. — Audience Q&A * 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. — Networking ### Featured Speakers #### Andre Smith – Founder & CEO, Flip & Floss Andre Smith is the founder of *Flip & Floss*, a social enterprise focused on improving financial literacy and helping families build generational wealth. After immigrating to Canada and experiencing firsthand the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck, Andre turned his personal journey into a mission-driven platform that has since impacted over **30,000 people**. He has been recognized as one of **Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants (2024)** and received the **BMO Obsidi Entrepreneur of the Year – Technology Award (2024)**. Andre’s work demonstrates how discipline, innovation, and purpose can create meaningful change — even without traditional funding pathways. #### Abdel Ali – Founder & CEO\, Kiwi Charge \| Director\, BLCK VC Canada Abdel Ali is the founder of *Kiwi Charge*, a robotics and AI startup redefining EV charging infrastructure in multi-unit buildings by delivering next-generation solutions at significantly lower cost. With a background in venture building and venture capital, Abdel brings a unique perspective to both startup creation and ecosystem development. He is also a Director at **BLCK VC Canada**, where he works to advance equity, access, and representation for Black founders within Canada’s venture ecosystem. Abdel’s journey reflects the power of combining technical innovation with systemic impact. #### Moderator : Marlene Spence – Founder, Hope Endoors & The CHANCE Centre Marlene Spence is a Brampton-based Neurodiversity & Inclusion Coach and a passionate advocate for youth empowerment. Through *Hope Endoors* and *The CHANCE Centre*, she leads community-driven programs that help young people — particularly neurodivergent and underserved youth — build confidence, life skills, and real pathways to opportunity. With deep roots in Brampton’s youth ecosystem, Marlene brings a grounded, empathetic lens to the conversation, guiding discussions that centre lived experience, resilience, and possibility.

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

Watch the championship game of the National Football League for the 2025 season. It will be played between the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots. Enjoy BEER , food and the BIG screen and the company of members new and old. Tapps is located on the south side of Danforth at Carlaw and is west of the TTC Pape subway station.

### Thursday Evening Discussion Group **In\-Person \| Starts at 8:00 PM \(Doors open at 7:30 PM\) \| Drop\-In** **Starting material:** *[Network of Thought](https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Network-of-Thought-Krishnamurti-ebook.pdf)* by **Jiddu Krishnamurti** This weekly discussion group offers a reflective and open space to explore themes of **mysticism, spirituality, and inner transformation** through selected writings and talks by Jiddu Krishnamurti, Annie Besant, Alice Bailey, and other thinkers whose work invites deep **inquiry into consciousness, freedom, truth,** and **the nature of self-understanding**. Rather than promoting a particular belief system, the group emphasizes **shared reading, thoughtful reflection, and respectful dialogue**. Participants are welcome to engage at their own pace—whether through listening, contemplation, or open discussion. While there is **no requirement to commit before attending**, *the intention is to gradually build a group of participants who are interested in returning regularly and engaging sincerely with the material* and the group process. Newcomers are very welcome, and those who feel drawn to ongoing study are warmly encouraged to continue attending. This is a **drop-in group**, and no prior background or preparation is required. **All are welcome.** Come as you are, reflect together, and take part in a spirit of openness and mutual respect.

Good day everyone, Please join us for our annual **Super Bowl Party!** Big Screen, food and drink specials all night, the games on big screens; and amazing people to enjoy the game with! This event could fill up and sell out fast, so please do your best to arrive between 5:00 pm and 5:45 pm (even come early for board games if you like) **Location:** **SMOKESHOW BBQ and BREW** 744 Mt Pleasant Rd · Toronto, ON [https://www.smokeshowbbqandbrew.com/](https://www.smokeshowbbqandbrew.com/) \*Joined by my other social groups too; so we can anticipate a fabulous turn out with **lots of laughs, new friends, great connections and the Super Bowl!** (Event Details Below) Sincerely, Steve Flemming (Organizer/Host ) Event Details: **SUPER BOWL PARTY with Food and Drink Specials too!** **(Sunday February 8th)** -A great day planned for us so be sure to come to simply the best Super Bowl Party in town! -Big Screens, Surround Sound, Fun Atmosphere, Food/Drink Specials, Prizes, Great People; all in one place! -Come early for Sunday Afternoon Games too if you like (no extra charge) \-\-\- **Event Fee:** 10 dollars (Cash only at the door) (HST included) or by e transfer: steveflemming11@gmail.com (This fee includes reserved seating with the group, Super Bowl Party, drink/food specials, prizes and more!) \-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** -Please do your best to arrive between 5:00 pm and and 5:45 pm (the later you arrive the bigger the risk of not getting a seat) \-\-\-\-\- \*Very nice dinner menu also (one beverage or appetizer minimum to support this wonderful restaurant) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Parking Available:** \*Plenty of street parking on Mt. Pleasant **Close to Subway Station:** \*Also 15 minute walk east from Yonge/Eglinton subway station (Buses running continuously too) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

**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)

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Let's check out a Popular Astronomy and Science Based Film at COSI Science Center on their HUGE 360 Degree 4K Spherical Dome Screen Theater, in which is touring the nation and has already sold over 10,000 tickets! COSI is one of the leading Science Centers in America. Alan Watts was one of the Most Influential Amateur Astronomers of the 20th Century and held fascinating views of the Galaxy. Tickets are only $33 plus a small fee and taxes and can be purchased here: [Trust the Universe: Immersive Dome Show](https://www.sphericalpictures.com/tickets) PLEASE purchase tickets for the 8:15 PM Feature on Friday, February 15. There seem to be at least 10 tickets left, possibly more. We should be able to sit together in the same row or at least in the general section. This is an exciting chance to view actual footage of the Solar System on a Large 4k Resolution Screen plus added in Cosmological and Astronomical Related Philosophy! We will plan on meeting at about 7:50 PM by the Atomic Cafe on the first Floor of COSI, where the Movie Theater is located, in order to give us time before the show starts to purchase refreshments. Parking is available at the COSI Garage and in the area on side streets and adjacent garages. We can also walk somewhere in the area and get food afterwards, if anyone wants to do so. Thanks and hope to see you come out!

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.

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

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