Software Engineering Events in Potsdam

AI Workshop | Introduction to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Do you spend too much time searching for information in PDFs, folder structures or internal documentation? Traditional AI chatbots quickly reach their limits here, either because they do not have access to your data or because sensitive content would have to be passed on to external providers.

In part I of this four-part workshop series, you will learn how to set up a local, data-secure system on your laptop. This system enables you to retrieve specific information from your own documents and generate context-related, comprehensible answers from it, without sharing your data with third-party providers.

Typical applications include internal knowledge databases, guidelines, and project documentation.

A retrieval-augmented generation system (RAG system) can generate answers based on your data. In this workshop you will learn the fundamental building blocks: local large language models (LLM), embeddings, and vector databases. By the end, you will understand how RAG works, its advantages over pure LLM queries, and how to evaluate whether RAG is suitable for your own data and use cases.

In the practical part of this workshop, you will install a complete minimal version of a RAG system:

· Local LLM (CPU- or GPU-accelerated), hosted with vLLM

· Simple vector database based on Qdrant

· Example documents indexed using different embedding models

· Retrieval using various semantic search techniques

· Generating answers based on relevant information and your own prompts

You will learn the basics of semantic vectors (e.g., distance metrics such as cosine similarity) and explore various open-source models. Advanced concepts such as Graph RAG or HNSW are introduced conceptually but not yet covered in depth.

👉 This workshop lays the foundation for all other parts of the series.
After the workshop, you will have a working local RAG system and know how to transfer it to your own data.

Requirements

Experience with Python, GitHub, and Docker.
or completion of our Getting Started Guide
or participation in our basic workshop ‘First steps towards your own AI application’.

Registration & participation

Registration is binding. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket in good time to allow other participants to take your place.

Important Information

Photographs, audio recordings and films will be made during the event. By participating in the event, you agree that photos, audio and video recordings in which you are recognizable may be published as part of the public relations work of the AI Service Center Berlin-Brandenburg and the HPI.

The AI Service Centre Berlin-Brandenburg is a project of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Its aim is to lower the barriers for using AI in business and society.

Are you interested in our free workshops and other events that we offer? Then sign up for our newsletter.

Programm
19:00 | Thema " WordPress Agentur / Selbstständige – Do’s and Dont’s worauf es im Business ankommt"
20:00 | Allgemeine Fragerunde oder Vertiefung des Themas.

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Das Meetup für Online Business & Online Marketing – mit WordPress als Fundament.

Details zum Thema folgen.
Weg von Bits & Bytes. Hin zu Reichweite, Leads und Wachstum.
Weniger Technik-Diskussionen. Mehr Sichtbarkeit, Conversion und Umsatz.
Es wird ein Brainstorming-Meetup.... Sei herzlich willkommen oder empfehle uns weiter

Nach dem Thema und vor dem Netzwerken und einem regen Erfahrungsaustauschgibt gibt es Zeit für eure allgemeinen Fragen über alles was ihr wissen wollt. Wir sind für Support da um die eine oder andere technische Frage rund um WordPress zu lösen.

Weitere Informationen zum Meetup, der Location und Rückblicke auf vergangene Veranstaltungen findet ihr in unserem Blog unter https://wpmeetup-potsdam.de

AI Workshop | Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback for RAG

A RAG system may produce good results – but how can it be optimised to meet the exact requirements and quality standards of a specific application?

In Part III of the workshop series, you will learn how to systematically improve RAG systems with the help of human feedback. The goal is to create a system that is more accurate, robust and better adapted to real-world usage scenarios.

Key topics:

· Core principles of Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF) in the context of RAG

· Creating and evaluating feedback datasets

· Adjusting retrieval parameters based on human judgments

· Retrieval optimisation vs. generation optimisation

· Practical tools for feedback loops and logging

You will evaluate real RAG answers, run small optimisation cycles and observe how the system measurably improves.

👉 Part III bridges the gap between technical RAG design (Parts I & II) and productive assistance systems (Part IV).
After the workshop, you will know how to optimise RAG systems with the help of human feedback.

Requirements:
Participation in Part I & II of the workshop series
or equivalent experience with programming and RAG systems.

Registration & participation

Registration is binding. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket in good time to allow other participants to take your place.

Important Information

Photographs, audio recordings and films will be made during the event. By participating in the event, you agree that photos, audio and video recordings in which you are recognizable may be published as part of the public relations work of the AI Service Center Berlin-Brandenburg and the HPI.

The AI Service Centre Berlin-Brandenburg is a project of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Its aim is to lower the barriers for using AI in business and society.

Are you interested in our free workshops and other events that we offer? Then sign up for our newsletter.

AI Workshop | AI Assistants for Office Work

Do you spend a lot of time every day researching, documenting and summarising? Modern RAG systems are more than just question-and-answer systems – they can actively support you in completing tasks.

In part IV of the workshop series, you will learn how to use agentic RAG systems as productive, local and secure AI assistants. These systems combine knowledge access with the ability to execute specific tasks: from document updates to workflow support.

Key topics:

· Architecture of agentic RAG systems

· Tools for agentic actions (file operations, search, planning, extraction etc.)

· Combining retrieval, reasoning, and action (“RAG + Agent”)

· Error control and safety for agents (guardrails, policy layers)

· Example use cases: document generators, research assistants, workflow automation

In the workshop, you will configure a RAG agent, define tools, and test realistic office workflows.

👉 Part IV concludes the workshops series and shows how RAG prototypes can be turned into productive AI assistants.
After the workshop, you will understand how such systems can be used productively in organisations.

Requirements:
Participation in Parts I–III of the workshop series
or equivalent experience with programming and RAG systems.

Registration & participation

Registration is binding. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket in good time to allow other participants to take your place.

Important Information

Photographs, audio recordings and films will be made during the event. By participating in the event, you agree that photos, audio and video recordings in which you are recognizable may be published as part of the public relations work of the AI Service Center Berlin-Brandenburg and the HPI.

The AI Service Centre Berlin-Brandenburg is a project of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Its aim is to lower the barriers for using AI in business and society.

Are you interested in our free workshops and other events that we offer? Then sign up for our newsletter.