Hey friends, makers, misfits & machine whisperers—

I've been digging into what's happening in the Vancouver AI community and BC + AI ecosystem recently, and thought I'd share some updates about the the growth we’re seeing. There's so much incredible activity happening right now that it's hard to keep up, but that's exactly why community matters more than ever.

Last week, I co-published research in BC Studies Journal about grassroots AI communities, examining what we've collectively built in British Columbia.

It's a strange meta-experience being both researcher and research subject, but that's the kind of weird, boundary-blurring territory we're all navigating now.

Over the past year, we've hosted 15 meetups with more than 2,800 total attendees.

The numbers themselves are impressive, but what truly matters is the wild diversity the ecosystem: entrepreneurs, researchers, professional creatives, artist, fashionistas, coders, lawyers, accountants, educators - people who'd typically never cross paths are suddenly collaborating on projects that blow traditional boundaries apart.

Our research in BC Studies Journal revealed something critical: successful technology communities aren't built on hype cycles or corporate sponsorship.

They thrive on tension and authentic engagement.

What sets Vancouver's AI scene apart is that we've created space for critical voices alongside enthusiastic adopters.

The community includes folks building with public models alongside others exclusively using private, narrow AI systems due to concerns about "inherent biases, ethical violations, unauthorized content use, and unsustainable energy consumption."

This tension isn't hidden away - it's deliberately surfaced. Our community "serves as a platform for critical discussion, debate, and collaborative problem solving" where people develop guidelines for responsible AI use and share strategies for mitigating bias.

We've got folks building open-source alternatives next to others exclusively using private, narrow AI systems because they refuse to participate in "inherent biases, unauthorized content scraping, and unsustainable energy consumption."

• Regular monthly gatherings create rhythm and expectation

• Obsessive documentation (photos, videos, blogging) creates artifacts that celebrate achievements and attract new blood

• Open-mic sharing breaks down hierarchies and sparks unlikely collaborations

• Group chat bridges the gap between physical gatherings

• Physical space dedication provides a reliable home base

• Zero gatekeeping generates an atmosphere where everyone belongs

The experiments emerging from our community would make William Gibson proud: AI-generated beef bourguignon recipes, ritualistic dance performances with generative visuals, hacked VR headsets that "read the room" with ChatGPT. This isn't polished corporate innovation - it's messy, weird, boundary-pushing work happening at the intersection of art, technology, and human experience.

Most exciting of all, we're watching this single community fracture into beautiful specialized groups: Surrey AI, Womxn's AI, Squamish AI, Mind AI & Consciousness meetups - all inspired by the original model but adapted to specific contexts and interests. This wasn't planned or orchestrated. It happened naturally as participants recognized the value of our approach and adapted it to their own communities.

We're building a de facto grassroots BC + AI ecosystem from the bottom up, not imposed from above by industry initiatives or corporate takeover.

COME PLAY WITH US

Drop into our next gathering. Bring your strangest questions, your half-baked experiments, your ethical concerns, and your creative spark. This isn't about being an expert – it's about being present and curious as we navigate this weird tech moment together.

See you in meatspace,
KK

P.S. For the documentation obsessives among you, check our growing video archive: www.youtube.com/@van_ai