Season of AI

In some parts of the world, the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air which can only mean one thing – it’s time for the next “Season of AI”! Over the summer, the inaugural “Season of AI” was a big hit, with over 250 user groups and meetups participating around the world using talks provided on Microsoft AI topics. Beginners and seasoned pros alike shared in a global conversation about AI and learned new things to help navigate this era of AI. 

In fact, here’s what a few attendees had to say about the first season:

“The presentation was well explained and engaging. It cleared up some AI concepts that I was unsure of, and I enjoyed seeing the demo with the connections to LLMs on Azure. Thanks!” 
“I learnt much information about generative AI models that gives me a proper way to develop an AI application.”  
“Well done. I like the code example written live.”

To follow up, the new “Season of AI” is shifting the conversation to “copilots.” From developer tools like GitHub Copilot and Copilot Studio to extending and using things like Copilot for Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft 365 Copilot to building your own copilot on Azure, there is lots to talk about when it comes to copilots, and we’ve prepared seven new talks to support this season! These talks cover a variety of topics and are perfect for anyone looking to expand their AI knowledge or get hands-on with the latest tools. As before, all content is published for anyone to use on GitHub at aka.ms/CommunityContentRepo.  

This season will run from October 1 through December 30, 2024, and the first 150 speakers with confirmed events will receive a special swag gift pack! 

So, if you’re a speaker or user group organizer: we need your help and expertise! Review the available sessions on GitHub and schedule an event this season that is appropriate for your user group, meetup, or local community event. All content provided on GitHub comes complete with slides, demos, and train-the-trainer material help make it easy for you to bring some fresh new content to developers in your area.  When you’re ready, register your event at aka.ms/RegisterSeasonOfAI and be part of this global conversation. (Again, the swag packs are only available to the first 150 confirmed events, so don’t delay!) To help boost attendance at your events, we are also promoting Season of AI Copilots talks on developer.microsoft.com and in the Microsoft Source newsletter.  

For everyone else, look for a “Season of AI” event near you. Whether you prefer in-person meetups or online gatherings, there are plenty of options to choose from. Visit developer.microsoft.com/community to find user groups in your area and join the fun. These events are a great way to network with fellow developers, learn new skills, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI technology. 

We’re excited to continue supporting local meetups and user groups. In fact, if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines thinking about starting a group, now is a great time! We’ve even compiled some tips and tricks to help you navigate the process of starting a meetup. It’s easier than you think, and it can be a very rewarding way to engage and network with developers around you. 

However you choose to engage with this Season of AI, we hope that you learn something new and grow your understanding of how copilots (in their many forms) play an important role in this era of AI. We can’t wait to hear your feedback and see pictures from your meetups. And we want to know: what topic would you like to see featured in future “Seasons of AI”? Comment below! 

Enjoy this Season of AI! And come back for the next season in 2025! 

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