Hey Vancouver AI Enthusiasts,

Kris Krüg here, your friendly neighborhood chaos agent in the AI revolution. If you missed our August meetup, you missed a glimpse into the beautiful mess we're creating at the intersection of human creativity and machine intelligence. But don't worry, I'm here to catch you up and drag you into our next adventure.

August Rundown: When Nerds Collide

Prajwal Prashanth, our resident wunderkind, unveiled an AI assistant that doesn't just answer questions - it practically reads your mind. Sorry, Siri, might be time to update that resume.

Ed Kennedy took us on a journey through the uncharted territories of tech manipulation, from circuit bending to quantum computing. He showed how coaxing chaos from discarded electronics can lead to unexpected breakthroughs, emphasizing that in this new frontier, anyone could stumble upon the next big discovery.

Ed's explorations went beyond hardware, touching on data bending, AI personalities, and even the "soul of AI," reminding us that true innovation often lies in embracing the unconventional and seeing the emergent properties in the noise.

Ashley Conery introduced CubeCommons, a Canada Arts Council-funded project that's rethinking digital media sharing. It's not just another platform; it's a deliberate step away from big tech's grip on creative expression.

CubeCommons offers indie creators a space to share work that aligns with their values, turning media consumption into a thoughtful, almost political act. In a world of likes and algorithms, Ashley's project asks: what if your digital footprint actually stood for something?

Dean Shev from Fraser Valley Health painted a picture of healthcare in 2045 that was part sci-fi, part wake-up call. Memo to self: Start that AI-powered yoga routine ASAP.

Kevin Friel, our resident Mister Pixel Wizard, transformed the meetup into a multi-sensory spectacle. His AI DMX lighting kit wasn't just a demo – it was the backbone of a full-blown performance art piece. Holy Mother of the Void, DJ Sasha, and Shyang each took turns in the spotlight, their performances amplified by Kevin's responsive lighting.

The big screens gave us a peek behind the digital curtain, showing Kevin's real-time manipulations. It was a masterclass in collaborative digital art, blurring the lines between performer, tech, and audience. Who knew an AI meetup could double as an avant-garde rave?

Conversations ranged from "wait, is that even possible?" to "oh god, what have we done?" - you know, the usual when you get a bunch of AI nerds in a room.

For those who prefer their FOMO in high-res: [Photo Gallery Link]

2024: A Year of Questionable Decisions and Occasional Brilliance

January: We kicked off this wild ride, proving that mixing AI discourse with libations wasn't just a good idea—it was a stroke of genius. Who knew "neural network" could be such a great drinking game phrase?

February: Jonny Williams from Squamish Nation graced us with songs and stories, reminding us that true intelligence isn't measured in teraflops. AI, meet Indigenous wisdom—your ancestral upgrade is calling.

March: "Spaceport Vancouver" blasted off. Imagine if NASA and Burning Man had a love child, then raised it on a strict diet of sci-fi and energy drinks. Yeah, it was that epic.

May: We took a deep dive into the murky waters of AI ethics. Turns out, teaching machines right from wrong is harder than getting your cat to understand personal space. But hey, at least we're trying.

June: Ove Holmqvist revolutionized the dance floor, turning your awkward shuffles into symphonies. Finally, a compelling reason to bust out those moves you've been hiding since '99.

July: Our sticker swap turned into a masterclass in nerd economics. "I'll trade you two GPTs for a vintage neural net" became the hottest phrase of the night. Silicon Valley, eat your heart out.

Bonus Round: Throughout the year, we've had more "aha!" moments than a science fair on steroids, and enough facepalms to make even AI cringe. But that's the beauty of this community—we're all in this chaotic, innovative, slightly terrifying future together.

New Course: AI Upgrade for Creative Pros

Look, we all know AI is eating the world faster than you can say "singularity" So UC Berkeley’s Peter Bittner and I decided to create a 6-week AI course that's equal parts AI survival guide and mad scientist's cookbook. It's for those of you who want to do more than just nod along when someone mentions "machine learning" in a meeting.

But wait, there's more! (Goddess, I love saying that)…

NEW: The Upgrade Community Coaching Calls

Every Friday, we're hosting a digital campfire for the AI-curious:

• Coaching: Get personalized guidance on integrating AI into your workflow. We're like your personal AI sherpas, minus the mountain climbing.

• Coworking: Bring your real-world projects and watch them transform. It's like a hackathon, but you get to keep your sleep schedule.

• Community: Connect with fellow creatives who speak fluent 'future'. Network, collaborate, and geek out over the latest AI breakthroughs.

Intrigued? Terrified? Perfect. Sign up here: https://kriskrug.co/ai-upgrade-community-coaching-w-kris-krug-peter-bittner/

Next Vancouver AI Community Meetup is September 26th and earlyworm tickets are on sale as of right now. Come if you want to see what happens when ambition meets caffeine meets questionable use of GPUs.

​Three ways to plug in:

​1. Early Bird (CA$35): For the quick-draw innovators. Limited spots, so move fast.

​2. Standard (CA$50): Full access, full experience. Fuel for body and mind included.

​3. Pay-it-forward (CA$100): Supercharge the collective. Your contribution opens doors for others.

Stay curious, stay weird, and for the love of glitch and grace, keep asking "but why?"

Kris Krüg - 778.898.3076
Just Another Human Trying to Keep Up with the Machines

P.S. If you're not slightly uncomfortable with the pace of AI progress, you're not paying attention. Let's be uncomfortable together.