White Hat Hacking

Come and experience the infamous DC4131 hacker meetup vibe! 👾🍻 Please find more event specific info's on our **[webpage](https://www.beerontuesday.ch/)**. If you have any location specific questions, reach out to the local BoT Master, otherwise please don't hesitate to contact the board through our **[website](https://www.defcon-switzerland.org/)**. Did someone say **SWAG?! –** That’s right baby, we are back with our refreshed swag shop, where you can now again purchase the latest and sexiest DC4131 Swag – All options and details are here: **[DC4131 Swag Shop](https://industryink.co.uk/collections/defcon)** We are also on **[Discord](https://discord.gg/Q3KXn5u)**[ ](https://discord.gg/Q3KXn5u):) Come say hi!

Let's meet at the CNC meetup on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, at 15:00 CET. **Location:** VSHN Tower, 8th floor, Neugasse 6, 8005 Zürich **Agenda:** Would you like to speak at this event? Contact us at [https://cnc-meetup.ch](https://cnc-meetup.ch)! Guidelines: * All sessions are held in English. * No product or sales pitches are allowed. * All projects showcased should be open source. * We cannot cover travel costs, but we welcome speakers from other regions. * We're seeking more diversity among our speakers: underrepresented groups are welcome! 14:30 – Door Opening 15:00 – Welcome, Intro, & Announcements 15:05 – TLS Hot Reload, Janne Kataja (SIX) 15:30 – 5 minutes pause 15:35 – Cloud-Native Application Definition and Delivery with OAM and KubeVela, Raffael Klingler (AXA) 16:00 – 5 minutes pause 16:05 – From Problem to Production: DevOps for AI with Kubeflow, Fabrizio Lazzaretti (Wavestone) and Marco Crisafulli (enki) 16:30 – 5 minutes pause 16:35 – Bye-bye Ingress-NGINX, hello Gateway API, Urs Zurbuchen (Airlock) 17:00 – Final words, networking & apéro TLS Hot Reload, Janne Kataja (SIX) Learn how to minimize disruptions caused by TLS certificate rotations by enabling hot reloading in your application. In Kubernetes, TLS certificates are typically stored in Secrets and mounted into pods. When a Secret is updated, for example, due to certificate rotation by cert-manager, Kubernetes updates the projected secret volume. Hot reload mechanisms detect these file changes and reload TLS certificates without restarting the pod. This enables live certificate rotation, maximizes availability, and reduces operational risk associated with restarts. The approach makes shorter-lived TLS certificates operationally viable. Janne is a Cloud Platform Engineer at the SIX Group, where he builds cloud platforms and services for the financial community. Originally from Finland, he now lives in Baar, Zug. Opinions are his own. Cloud-Native Application Definition and Delivery with OAM and KubeVela, Raffael Klingler (AXA) What if developers could focus on their applications instead of the platform beneath them? The Open Application Model (OAM) makes this possible by shifting the focus from containers and orchestrators to applications themselves. Instead of wrangling low-level Kubernetes manifests, developers define applications using modular, reusable building blocks. KubeVela brings this model to life, rendering abstract definitions into deployable resources. In this session, we'll explore how OAM enables application-centric definitions and see KubeVela in action. You'll see an application evolve from a simple definition to a sophisticated setup with cloud-managed services and GitOps integration. Raffael Klingler is a Platform Engineer at AXA Switzerland, where he helps development teams ship software faster and more reliably. He recently completed his Master's thesis on Internal Developer Platforms, diving deep into OAM, KubeVela, and the challenge of making application delivery less painful. When not wrangling Kubernetes manifests, he's probably thinking about how to make developers' lives easier. From Problem to Production: DevOps for AI with Kubeflow, Fabrizio Lazzaretti (Wavestone) and Marco Crisafulli (enki) Despite massive investments in AI, most enterprise AI initiatives fail to reach production — not because of model quality, but because of fragmentation among data science, platform engineering, and business teams. MLOps addresses this challenge by applying DevOps principles to machine learning, and Kubeflow has emerged as a de facto open platform for operationalizing these practices in cloud-native environments. In this talk, we explore how Kubeflow enables collaboration, automation, and repeatability across the entire ML lifecycle, from requirements gathering and experimentation to deployment and continuous improvement. Using a real end-to-end example, we’ll demonstrate how Kubeflow Pipelines, training workflows, and integration with the CNCF ecosystem help teams move beyond ad-hoc experimentation toward production-grade AI systems. Attendees will see how a vendor-neutral Kubeflow-based MLOps architecture supports multi-cloud deployments, enforces operational best practices, and creates continuous feedback loops between stakeholders. Whether you are introducing MLOps for the first time or refining an existing platform, this session provides practical insights into using Kubeflow to turn AI from a research activity into a sustainable business capability. Fabrizio Lazzaretti is a Managing Consultant at Wavestone and CNCF Ambassador who bridges cutting-edge cloud-native technologies with enterprise architecture. As maintainer of the CloudEvents Rust SDK and co-author of "Crafting Great APIs with Domain-Driven Design," he brings deep expertise in event-driven architecture and microservices to complex challenges. With over 10 years of experience in software architecture, development, and DevOps, he currently drives architectural transformation and AI initiatives across sectors, connecting business and IT through collaborative API design. Marco Crisafulli is the co-founder of enki, a Swiss machine learning company focused on training, consulting, and implementing practical ML use cases for Swiss enterprises. With a strong background in enterprise software and cloud-native infrastructure, he specializes in MLOps, Kubernetes, and production-grade ML platforms, and has deep hands-on experience with Kubeflow. He works closely with organizations to bridge the gap between experimentation and reliable ML systems in production, helping teams operationalize ML at scale. Bye-bye Ingress-NGINX, hello Gateway API The Kubernetes ecosystem is undergoing a major transformation as the legacy Ingress model, long dominated by the NGINX Ingress Controller, reaches its limits and faces discontinuation. This talk explores why the Kubernetes Gateway API is emerging as the new standard for security and architecture. We'll dive into the shortcomings of traditional Ingress (including "annotation hell" and recent security vulnerabilities) and highlight the architectural and operational advantages of Gateway API. Finally, we will present a few options on how you can move forward and implement a new solution. Urs Zurbuchen is a Senior Security Consultant at Airlock. As an engineer and consultant for the design and implementation of IT security solutions, he is familiar with the requirements for secure digitalisation processes. Urs has more than 20 years of experience in designing and integrating web application security solutions (web application firewall, authentication, single sign-on, access control) as well as in designing and implementing identity & access management projects (user management, authorisation management, processes, provisioning). Mr Zurbuchen can advise on the conception of non-technical topics such as organisation, guidelines, compliance requirements and regulations, as well as on the implementation of application and system architecture audits. The event will be recorded and made available on VSHN's YouTube channel: [https://vshn.tv](https://vshn.tv). Subscribe to stay notified of updates. We expect all participants to abide by VSHN's Conference Code of Conduct: [https://www.vshn.ch/en/code-of-conduct/](https://www.vshn.ch/en/code-of-conduct/) If you would like to share your cloud-native projects at the CNC Switzerland meetup events or sponsor future events, just send us your talk suggestion here: https://cnc-meetup.ch. We look forward to hearing from you!

Join us for Coffee & Chat and practice your English! Every 2nd Tuesday of the month we meet at Doode Coffee World, Winterthur at 10:00 chat until 12:00. Ana is the organiser of this event. If you do not know her, look for the International Club Postcards on the table. We look forward to seeing you! Non-members are always invited to attend our events! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience what we have to offer and see if our club is the right fit for you. After joining us for 1 or 2 events, you can decide if you’d like to become a member. We look forward to welcoming you! About Us: The International Club Winterthur aims to connect, support and integrate individuals and families who have an international connection or interest. We are a non-political, not-for-profit, English-speaking association, actively fostering friendships and networks in Winterthur and its greater area. Follow us on MeetUp for our upcoming events: https://www.meetup.com/the-international-club-winterthur/ Disclaimer: Please note that the International Club Winterthur is not responsible for any injuries or damages that may occur during the event. Additionally, photos may be taken at the event and shared on the club's social media platforms.

Anybody who wants to practice their programming skills is welcome. We share our ideas, learn from each other, do some exercise, ask questions, etc. This meetup is the best for those who want to improve their skills by programming and learning in a group If you want to learn more about our Co-Learning, please have a look at our website: [https://opentechschool-zurich.github.io/](https://opentechschool-zurich.github.io/) \*\*\* We have a chat group you can join to get more information: [https://app.element.io/#/room/#ots-zh:matrix.org](https://app.element.io/#/room/#ots-zh:matrix.org) (You need to create a free account if you don't already have one) Remote participants are also welcome. You first need to join the Element chat and then get into the video call that we start at around 19:00 (if we forget, pleas ping us in the Element chat!) \*\*\* Our main languages are Python and Javascript, but we welcome every programming languages. Some of the skills we can help you learning: * Python and * ... PyGame (Zero / Play) -.... Flask * ... Jupyter and data science -... PySide2 / PyQt * ... Shoebot * C++ and * ... Qt * ... cmake * ... and modern C++ * Flutter for Apps * PHP and * ... Vue.js * ... Wordpress * JS and React.js We have a few Github repository that can be interesting to browse:: https://github.com/opentechschool-zurich/

This class is a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe, and move mindfully. We will hold the poses a little longer to build strength gradually and support alignment and balance. It’s a great class to begin with if you’re new to yoga or if you’re looking for a slower, more focused way to practice. * The class is in English // Open to levels * Mats & props provided or bring your own Please sign up & purchase a pass via [Yoga Nest Eversports](https://www.eversports.ch/org/widget/6bb2f0f6-b0ff-4d15-84be-5f9229b128f2?venueId=b336fe38-08c9-45ab-a1d8-3255d21ed886)

Start, bag drop and on-after at our favourite Urdorf hang-out, 5 min from Urdorf SBB station.

Let's get together for the next TechTalkThursday to learn new things and share experiences! 17:30 Door opening 18:00 **Intro** – Thomas Hug, CEO & Founder of Nine \~ 18:05 **One Platform, Any Scale: Roche Linux** – Karol Swiderski (Principal Solutions Engineer at Roche) \~ 18:30 **A Few Quirks About MCP** – Thimo Koenig (Co-Founder & CTO at tekkminds) \~ 19:00 **Agentic Engineering: How To Use AI As Peer (DevOps) Programmer With Context, MCP, Prompts, Rules and Workflows** – Jonas Felix (Coach & Co-Founder at letsboot.ch) \~ 19:30 Snacks & Drinks Have we aroused your interest? Then please register! We look forward to meeting you! You can also watch this event's livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9_weIWteGA

We are excited to invite you to join our cyber security breakfast where we share our knowledge and experience in the constantly evolving field of cybersecurity.

Workshop-Details Wo: Zürich Hauptbahnhof Meeting Point (Big Clock) Zeit: 19:00 – 21:45 Uhr Was du lernen wirst – Fotografieren bei wenig Licht – Echte und ungestellte Augenblicke des Nachtlebens festhalten – Die Schönheit der Schwarzweiss-Strassenfotografie entdecken (natürlich kannst du auch in Farbe fotografieren!) Wir beginnen den Abend mit einem Drink in einem nahegelegenen Café — natürlich auf meine Einladung! Dies ist die perfekte Gelegenheit, sich kennenzulernen, Erwartungen auszutauschen und individuelle Wünsche für den Workshop zu besprechen. Deine Teilnahme kostet 150 CHF. Bitte melde dich direkt über meine Website an und sichere dir deinen Platz: www.katjabouwman.com/workshops Workshop Details Where: Zurich Hauptbahnhof Meeting Point Time: 7:00 — 09:45 PM What you’ll Learn – Shooting in low light – Capturing candid nightlife moments with confidence – Exploring the beauty of black and white street photography (of course, you can shoot in color too!) We’ll kick off the evening with a quick drink at a nearby café — my treat! This is a great chance to get to know each other, share expectations and discuss any specific wishes you might have for the workshop. Your participation costs 150 CHF. Please register directly through my website to secure your spot: www.katjabouwman.com/workshops More info on www.katjabouwman.com/workshops or visit my Instagram account katja_zuerich

We are excited to invite you to join our cyber security breakfast where we share our knowledge and experience in the constantly evolving field of cybersecurity.

Ohne Vorkenntnisse / Solo-Anmeldung möglich Kursstart: Sonntag 01. März 2026 Kursdauer: 01. März - 12. April 26 (6 MAL) Kurszeit: 17:30 - 19h Leitung: Cathrin & Elior Kurskosten pro Person: CHF 180.- / 9h Anmeldung unter: [https://salsarica.ch/kurse/bachata-kizomba.html](https://salsarica.ch/kurse/bachata-kizomba.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwYUtJTHdWekhnWnViZGJ3QnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7EkyDD8-VB_n5_50dBgEtB8SKqxKnRyqqyeFIloAmi2Zsy-ewHTqTdehheDg_aem_vYwcPKLplVlRpiBISt_nEw) Wir freuen uns auf euch! Ergänzende Infos: Möchtest du in die leidenschaftliche Welt des Bachata eintauchen? Dieser Kurs lädt dich ein, die romantische und sinnliche Seite des Tanzes kennenzulernen – ganz ohne Vorkenntnisse! Gemeinsam entdecken wir die Grundschritte, fließende Bewegungen und den Ausdruck, der Bachata so besonders macht. Du brauchst keinen Partner – Soloanmeldung ist möglich, und wir sorgen für eine angenehme, offene Atmosphäre, in der du dich wohlfühlst und Spaß hast. Lass dich von der Musik mitreißen, entwickle ein Gefühl für Rhythmus und lerne, deine Emotionen durch Tanz zu zeigen. Dieser Workshop ist perfekt für alle, die den Tanz der Liebe entdecken möchten – egal, ob du Anfänger bist oder einfach nur Spaß an sinnlicher Bewegung hast

Hare (someone to set the route) is Granny Muff. Come join us! Car bag drop A to B - your bag will be at B along with some of the best Pizza in town, not far from A. **Where**: See location. ‘Hard’bridge station - car park of Restaurant Rosso. Look for English speakers wearing running gear. **When:** We'll meet at 6:50 pm to start at 7:00 pm. There's a charge of CHF 5 for participating, which covers all you can drink beer/cider (and non-alcoholic alternatives) plus snacks afterwards. **All Welcome:** If you are new, curious, and want to get out of the house, stretch your legs, talk shit, enjoy a drink, and hopefully a laugh, then here's what you need to know: • We are a social running/walking group, physical fitness is not required, but a sense of humour is useful. • The aim is to find the '*Beer Stop*' at the end of the '*trail*' and have fun. • 'True Trail' is typically 4-7 km. Some will go less (especially those walking or walk/running), and some over-achieving fast runners will go further. • The '*Hare*', which changes each event (along with location), cleverly lays the trail (typically with flour marks) so that everyone reaches the end at the same time. • There is always a place to deposit your bag and sometimes a place to change. • **After Trail**, we group for \~20-40 minutes for drinks, snacks, and some fun. This '*Circle*' is typically outside, so leave something warm in your bag in winter (and bring a flashlight when it's dark). If you don't want to stand around drinking afterwards, you can head home. We occasionally all go to a restaurant afterwards. **Why bother leaving your warm & dry sofa?** If you enjoy getting outside, being around people, and doing something a bit different, you will probably enjoy hashing. Exercise is important, and this is probably the least boring way to get it. 'Hashing' and the idea of some physical activity to work up a thirst, have been around for almost 90 years and there are groups (*Hashes*) in most major cities. Its humor and 'traditions' can be explored on the internet - **or you can just come along and find out.** *See you there.* We are of many nationalities, all ages, full of misfits and idiots (at least there is no one taking themselves seriously!) and always welcome newbies 'Virgin Hashers' and visitors from other groups. For more about Zürich Hash House Harriers, check out [www.zh3.ch](http://www.zh3.ch/) ( [http://www.zh3.ch/](http://www.zh3.ch/) )

Hares are the 100% Prime Irish Beefy Hashers -Just Beggin’ For Holy Guinness - Cumming Out of a Holy Bush & Prosecco Potato Popper. Join us on our annual mad gallivant around Zürich city in search of the precious pots of Golden Beer. Rumour has it our national Saint will make an appearance this year to lead us on a merry Riverdance around Zürich. There‘ll be rainbows, golden treats and hot chocolate Baileys. Plus the best in Irish souvenirs from BallyBeijing as prizes for the best dressed. So come dressed in your finest green outfits as we spread some Irish cheer - you‘ve 40 shades to choose from - so no excuses. This being a Sunday trail it will coincide with the first Horrors Hash of the year. There’s a playground next to circle location to keep your Horror occupied while we engage in circle shenanigans. **Where**: See location. Typically within Zurich Zone 10. Look for English speakers wearing running gear. **When:** There's a charge of CHF 5 for participating, which covers all you can drink beer/cider (and non-alcoholic alternatives) plus snacks afterwards. **All Welcome:** If you are new, curious, and want to get out of the house, stretch your legs, talk shit, enjoy a drink, and hopefully a laugh, then here's what you need to know: • We are a social running/walking group, physical fitness is not required, but a sense of humour is useful. • The aim is to find the '*Beer Stop*' at the end of the '*trail*' and have fun. • 'True Trail' is typically 4-7 km. Some will go less (especially those walking or walk/running), and some over-achieving fast runners will go further. • The '*Hare*', which changes each event (along with location), cleverly lays the trail (typically with flour marks) so that everyone reaches the end at the same time. • There is always a place to deposit your bag and sometimes a place to change. • **After Trail**, we group for \~20-40 minutes for drinks, snacks, and some fun. This '*Circle*' is typically outside, so leave something warm in your bag in winter (and bring a flashlight when it's dark). If you don't want to stand around drinking afterwards, you can head home. We occasionally all go to a restaurant afterwards. **Why bother leaving your warm & dry sofa?** If you enjoy getting outside, being around people, and doing something a bit different, you will probably enjoy hashing. Exercise is important, and this is probably the least boring way to get it. 'Hashing' and the idea of some physical activity to work up a thirst, have been around for almost 90 years and there are groups (*Hashes*) in most major cities. Its humor and 'traditions' can be explored on the internet - **or you can just come along and find out.** *See you there.* We are of many nationalities, all ages, full of misfits and idiots (at least there is no one taking themselves seriously!) and always welcome newbies 'Virgin Hashers' and visitors from other groups. For more about Zürich Hash House Harriers, check out [www.zh3.ch](http://www.zh3.ch/) ( [http://www.zh3.ch/](http://www.zh3.ch/) )

**[⚠️ >>Ticket needed (click here)<<](https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/eating-drinking/digital-detox-cafe-7434519759062868655.html) or** **[www.social-circle.ch](www.social-circle.ch)** **Unplug & Create: Digital Detox Café at Paint it Easy** Take a break from screens and reconnect with yourself and others at our Digital Detox event in Zürich’s most inviting creative space, Paint it Easy. We’ll kick off the evening with a relaxed atmosphere, setting the tone for a mindful and inspiring night. Join our craft group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JPIASNUJGwD23UUweSe0s3) Choose your path for the evening (workshops are first come, first served): **Connection, Play, Learn** **Workshop:** Reducing your screen time ✨ **Want to continue your digital detox after the event?** For those who feel inspired to go deeper, you’ll have the option to join a **30-Day Unplug Challenge** A gentle, playful program with small weekly offline challenges, reflection prompts, and an accountability buddy — designed to help you reduce screen time and build healthier habits, without going extreme. Details will be shared during the event **Deep Talk with Question Cards:** Dive into meaningful conversations and connect with fellow participants on a deeper level. **Boardgames:** Just for fun or to meet new people. **Creative Activities:** * **Drawing** (included) * **Canvas Painting** (CHF 10/hour + canvas, e.g., 30x40 cm: CHF 9) * **Pottery Painting** (CHF 20–45 per piece) * **Jewellery Making with Beads** (CHF 10/hour + materials, avg. CHF 20–30) * **Linocut Printmaking** (CHF 25–35 per piece) **Location:** Paint it Easy, Zürich **Early Bird Ticket:** CHF 15 (standard CHF 18) **Includes :** Welcome drink\*, drawing material, notebook, games, workshop **Doesn't include** : optional creative activity fees (depending on your choice) \*Warm drink, homemade iced tea, or lemonade Want more events like this? Join our community! [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hmm9DZP3wzaL8cXrtAAafw](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hmm9DZP3wzaL8cXrtAAafw) No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and an open mind! Whether you're painting, reflecting, or connecting, this is your space to recharge, express, and enjoy. Please note that pictures might be taken and used, if you don't want to be on them please let the host know. Tickets are not refundable. #digitaldetox

Drake Lundstrom is presenting: Code Anywhere by Talking to your Phone Abstract: Have you heard the trend of people deploying code anywhere from checkout lines to doctors' offices? In this talk, you will learn how to talk to your phone and have an app on Azure to show your friend 5 minutes later. The basic DevOps tools you already know, plus a little bit of AI magic, are all you need! If you want to follow along, the demo will be in Azure with GitHub Actions and GitHub Copilot, and you can have it set up on your phone by the end of the session. Just come in with an Azure account and a GitHub repo. Join us for pizza, drinks, and networking @ Improving's office. Doors open at 5:45.

Do you feel introverted when you are in a group setting? Are you shy? Do other people have more fun than you do? There are simple life hacks you can use to improve your connection to others and improve your social life. Talking is one thing. Truly connecting is altogether another. It's the whole experience of connecting with people and forming relationships. It includes the joy, understanding, and love formed among people. * In our meetings, you will learn: * A simple life hack to increase your liking and tolerance of other people, or even of yourself! * How to become more interested and enjoy conversations with people. * How to be comfortable in social settings. * How to be yourself * How to become more extroverted and, * How to make connections with people. Feeling lonely, isolated, or bored? This local meeting is exactly what you need! Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to the local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**Hello Columbus!** **The community is buzzing and growing well.** **We are thrilled to bring our third BrowserStack QA Meetup on March 12th!** We are creating a space for deeper insights, meaningful connections, and a vibe you won't want to miss. **What to expect:** * **Connect:** Network with Columbus' top engineering and QA minds. * **Learn:** Real-world tactics and trends you can use immediately. * **Enjoy:** Food, drinks, and great community spirit. **Agenda** * **[Sam Gomez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samueljgomez/)** is presenting "AI is more than LLMs: Choosing the right AI for your needs." **RSVP Essential:** Space is limited, and we want to ensure a great experience for everyone. **RSVP now to secure your spot!** 📍 **Venue:** Leading EDJE, 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 📍 **Free Parking:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017 📅 **Date & Time:** March 12, 6:00 PM **Stay Connected!** Want to continue the conversation beyond the meetup? Join our **BrowserStack Discord Server** to get updates, connect with fellow QA professionals, and be part of an ongoing discussion. **Don’t miss out—click below to join!** 🔗 [\[](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[Join the BrowserStack Discord Server](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[\]](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW) **A Few Notes:** ✅ This is an **in-person event** ✅ **RSVP does not guarantee a seat** – A confirmation email will be sent one day before the event. **TALK ABSTRACT:** AI is all the hype these days; however, despite (or maybe because of) the excitement around it, a high percentage of AI projects fail. Projects that are over budget, delayed, or that fail to scale past the POC phase are very common. In many of these scenarios, choosing the right approach can be as critical as the solution itself. Should you build a tailored machine learning model, leverage the power of large language models (LLMs), or integrate with AI copilots? Each option has unique strengths, trade-offs, and resource requirements, and the key to success lies in aligning your choice with your business goals and technical constraints. In this talk, we will go beyond the basic concepts and definitions to provide a practical guide that allows attendees to navigate these decisions through real-world case studies. We will examine scenarios in which different AI paradigms were chosen, discuss the factors that influenced those decisions, and outline the process for evaluating needs, constraints, and outcomes. From assessing data availability and team expertise to balancing cost and scalability, you'll gain insights into the critical considerations that guide the selection process. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear process for determining whether machine learning, LLMs, or copilots are best suited to your AI challenges and understand the resources and strategies needed to bring your chosen solution to life. This talk is ideal for decision-makers, technical leads, and innovators seeking to demystify AI implementation and maximize the impact of their investments.

Window functions have nothing to do with the Windows operating system but provide a “window” to a result set when used in SQL queries. They are powerful, set-based methods to view data in unexpected ways. Window functions provide easy, set-based solutions to solve some common problems: * Using running totals * Performing operations in intervals * Identifying data gaps and islands * Performing aggregates without losing detail Many people are confused by window functions and do not know how to use them properly. This session will explore window functions, how they work, and how to use them. Demonstrations with several examples will solidify how window functions can simplify queries and make them more powerful.