Tech Events in Bristol

Our monthly deep-dive into what is hot and happening in the world of AI automations right now!

18:00 - arrive and mingle
18:15 - intro
18:20 - Using voice agents part 1
18:50 - break
19:00 - Using voice agents part 2
19:30 - Q&A
19:50 - close
20:00 - networking, until we get kicked out the building

NOTE: there are other tech groups meeting in Desklodge House on the same night, so remember to ask for the AI Automations meetup!

For our final meetup of the year we will be doing lightning talks (ideally around 10 minutes)

If you have anything to share drop us a message and we'll add you to the schedule? Ideas for talks include:

- Maybe you have an interesting story about Wednesday?
- An interesting AI product you're using.
- Or anything related to PHP and the wider ecosystem.

They'll be pizzas and post talk drinks too. See you there!

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Lamp Bristol and Temple Studios are kindly helping us host this evening. Thanks to them!
Your first time coming to PHPSW? Welcome!
Here's how the evening tends to run:

• Feel free to turn up from 6:30pm.
• We'll have a selection of food available from about 6:30pm, all free of charge thanks to our sponsors. It's a great chance to speak to people (we're a friendly bunch!) and do a bit of networking. Just speak to an organiser if you'd like an introduction to people, or just dive in and say "hello!".
• At 7pm, we'll do a quick welcome talk and some community announcements
• At ~7:05pm we'll start the talks
• We finish at 8:30. We always stay for a drink afterwards to discuss the talks and anything else that takes your fancy. 🐘

Practical 1 hour lunchtime workshop for sole traders, start-ups and small businesses on how to better use AI to succeed and grow.

Is There an AI for That? (And Should There Be?)

Can AI run your business, replace your team or make all your difficult decisions? And would you really want it to?

AI promises to save us time, transform our businesses and revolutionise the way we work. But between the breathless headlines, the endless new tools and the occasional six-fingered AI-generated human, it's getting harder to tell what's genuinely useful and what's complete nonsense.

So, let's put AI under the microscope.

Join us at Brazen Festival for a lively, interactive hour exploring what AI can really do, what it can't, and what we probably shouldn't be asking it to do in the first place.

No jargon. No complicated technology. No expectation that you're already an AI expert.

Just some good questions, surprising examples, healthy scepticism and plenty of opportunities to join the conversation.

AI Mythbusters: Fact, fiction or somewhere in between?

Will AI take everyone's jobs? Can it really run your marketing? Does it know more than you do? We'll put some of the biggest claims about AI to the test, and you get to decide what's believable.

Is there an AI for that? And should there be?

From responding to angry customers to making decisions about employees, we'll explore some everyday business situations. Could AI handle them? Should we let it? You might be surprised by the answers.

Spot the AI nonsense

Impossible images, invented facts and confidently incorrect answers. Can you spot where AI has gone spectacularly wrong? We'll bring some of our favourite examples and challenge you to find the flaws.

Ask the consultants

Got a burning question about AI? Heard something that sounds too good to be true? This is your chance to put business technology consultants Tim and Alex on the spot and get some practical, straight-talking answers.

Business owners, founders, managers, freelancers and anyone curious about how AI might change the way we work.

Whether you've never opened ChatGPT or you're already experimenting with AI, you'll find something to challenge your thinking.

You don't need to bring a laptop, prepare anything or understand the technology. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to question the hype.

A better understanding of what AI is actually capable of, where its limitations lie and why human judgement still matters.

You'll leave with a clearer sense of the difference between an impressive AI trick and something genuinely useful in a business.

This session is also an introduction to Tech Adoption for Growth., a fully funded business support programme delivered with Business West.

If you're interested in exploring how AI and other technologies could genuinely benefit your business, the programme offers eligible businesses access to expert guidance, practical workshops or individual consultancy support.

We'll explain how to find out more and register your interest during the session.

By registering for this event, you consent to the organiser sharing your registration details, including your name, email address, company information and dietary requirements, with Business West. You can view their privacy notice here.

This information will be used solely for the administration and delivery of the event, and to provide relevant information relating to the Tech Adoption for Growth programme.

Welcome to the next instalment of the Bristol User Group, with two 45-minute speaker slots talking about everything AI, Dynamics 365 & Power Platform. We will be providing food and refreshments and for those that wish, we will carry on for a social afterwards.

New venue: Changing Social, St Bartholomew's House, Lewins Mead, Bristol BS1 2NH (around the corner from Bristol Beacon and Hippodrome)

Dylan Hayes: From Chatbots to Agents: The Modern Copilot Studio
Copilot Studio has changed significantly over the last few years. What started as a way to build conversational bots has evolved into a broader platform for creating agents that can use enterprise knowledge, structured data, tools, workflows, reusable skills, MCP servers and even computer use.

In this session, we’ll look at what modern Copilot Studio can do, where it fits into the wider Microsoft AI ecosystem, and how to decide which capabilities make sense for a given problem.

We'll have fun practical demonstrations of using knowledge and structured data through different integration points including tools, skills, MCP and computer use.

We'll look at the cost implications of Copilot Studio, and consider how it compares to other AI tools and deterministic methods in terms of cost, capabilities and governance.

David Reid (Hitachi UK) & Sumit Kumar (Accenture):
Building Autonomous AI Agents That Transform Customer Service in D365

SouthWest@d365ppug.com

We’re back for another Bristol Databricks Meetup on 17 November, with Databricks MVP Alex Cole joining us to share what he’s learnt from a year of tracking Databricks releases.
Massive thanks again to iO Associates for hosting and supporting the group locally, and to Advancing Analytics and Databricks for backing the meetup. A thank you, too, to Data Bristol and the other local groups that make Bristol such a welcoming place for the data community.
Expect a relaxed evening of practical Databricks discussion, good company and time to meet other data folks. Whether you’re working with Databricks every day, evaluating it for your organisation or simply curious, you’re very welcome.
The talk
A year ago, Alex launched Databricks Release Hub to help himself and others keep up with how fast the platform moves. Since then, he has tracked hundreds of releases, watched features go from preview to general availability, and gained a front-row seat to how Databricks ships software.
In this session, Alex will explore how product tags and focus areas have shifted over time, the spike in beta and preview features in the run-up to Data + AI Summit, and what the pace of change means for data and platform teams trying to stay current.
Whether you use Databricks daily or are watching from the outside, expect concrete data, lessons and predictions from a year spent watching every release land.
What to expect

• A friendly, community-first meetup. No sales pitches, no nonsense.
• A quick welcome from the organisers.
• A featured talk from Databricks MVP Alex Cole.
• Drinks, pizza and plenty of time to chat.

Agenda
5.30pm - Arrival and networking drinks
6.00pm - Welcome from the organisers
6.10pm - Alex Cole: lessons from a year of tracking Databricks releases
7.00pm - Drinks, pizza and networking
Venue
Hosted at iO Associates, Bristol.
St Bartholomew’s House, Bristol BS1 2NH.
RSVP
Spaces are limited, so please RSVP to reserve your place. If you can no longer make it, please update your RSVP so someone else can take your spot.
Who should come?

• Data engineers, analysts, data scientists, platform teams and architects.
• People building on Databricks or considering it.
• Anyone interested in data and AI who wants to learn from others and meet the local community.

November 2026

Come and join us for an evening of talks and discussions around the Ethical (or lack thereof) use of Artificial Intelligence 🤖

The evening will be:
- 6pm: arrival and networking
- 6:30pm: Monthly News Roundup
- 6:50pm: Hugh Williams talking about how the deployment of AI into the care sector brings with it responsibility gaps: when harm occurs, who or what do we blame? He will look at what a responsibility gap is, why it exists, the possibility of bridging the gap, and why robots are doomed to a chasm that design cannot remove them from.
- 7:20pm: Q&A + Discussion
- 7:35pm: Grab a drink
- 7:50pm: Positive Actions

The evening will wrap up by 8pm, and there is the option for more discussions and networking until we have to vacate the building by 8:30pm 🙌🏻

Venue

The w3w for Torchbox is:
https://what3words.com/parade.rear.gosh

There is a short ramp up to the front door. Press the buzzer for Torchbox to be let in. Then take the lift or stairs up to the 3rd Floor.

Save the date! Final details to be confirmed soon!

Location: Runway east, 1 Victoria St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6AA

Presentations by Snap Analytics - snapanalytics.co.uk - an enterprise partner to help connect data, technology and teams to deliver exceptional business outcomes.

AGENDA

18.00 – 18:25 Meet & Greet
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18:25 - 18:30 Introduction & Welcome
Welcome, and thanks to our sponsors
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18:30 - 19:15 Talk: AI governance in practice in an SME - Dr Elena Hensinger Schien

Description TBC

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19:15 - 19:45 Pizza and Networking
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19:45 - 20:30 Talk: TBC

Description TBC

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20:30 - Social/Pub

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Speaker Bios

TBC

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Photos
We ask that you do NOT take photos at this meetup.

We will invite people to be included in a group photo/s during the event. Speakers will let you know if it's okay to photograph their presentation (excluding other attendees).

You may see organisers taking photos during the talks. These will be of speakers, if they have agreed to this, and will not include faces of attendees.

Welcome to the most electrifying and ground-breaking AI Meetup in Bristol!

Join us once a month as we delve into the world of artificial intelligence, explore its cutting-edge practical applications, and marvel at the astonishing projects that are shaping our future.

Why should you attend?
• Get up close and personal with the AI projects that are redefining the boundaries of technology and human potential.
• Learn from the brightest minds in the field and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving AI landscape.
• Unleash your curiosity, fuel your creativity, and expand your network as you connect with fellow AI aficionados and pioneers.

What you can expect?
Mindstone events consist of three talks covering different aspects:

• What I Learned Building With LLMs: A technical demo breaking down the process for building a product using AI with real-life learnings and insights.
• How To Be More Productive Using AI: A practical demo and step-by-step guide on how to use AI to speed up and improve tasks.
• What Does The Future Look Like With AI?: A theoretical talk on the impact of AI on work, life and society.

After the talks we'll have pizza, drinks, and networking.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the AI revolution in action. It's time to embark on a thrilling journey into the future and discover the endless possibilities that lie within the realm of artificial intelligence.

Reserve your spot today for the ultimate AI experience! 💡✨ (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-bristol-november-ai-meetup-2026)

Want a quicker check-in on the day? Set up your Mindstone profile in advance at https://identity.mindstone.com/signup and keep your login details handy when you arrive.

Welcome to our first-ever meetup as the Bristol Data & AI Community! It's open to professionals in the Bristol area. Snacks and drinks will be provided from 5:30 pm. We have two talks to look forward to, and we'll aim to keep everything as impactful and succinct as possible.

As spaces are limited, please register your interest here, and we'll confirm your attendance: Register here!

Schedule:
17:30 to 18:00: Refreshments and networking

18:00 to 18:20: Speaker 1 - Obiye Ada-Ibrama

Obiye Ada-Ibrama is a Research Specialist in AI and Data Science at BT Group, specialising in applied AI, multi-agent large language models (LLMs) and cybersecurity. Her work focuses on developing intelligent systems that enable AI agents to collaborate, optimise resource usage and improve the quality of complex problem-solving, particularly in threat intelligence.

With an MSc in Data Science and a background in Cyber Security Science, Obiye has experience spanning AI research, machine learning, digital twins and data-driven innovation across industry and academia. She has contributed to AI intellectual property development, research publications and industry discussions on emerging technologies. Passionate about making AI practical, accessible and impactful, she is particularly interested in exploring how emerging AI technologies can solve real-world problems.

Topic: From AI Assistants to AI Teams: Understanding the World of Multi-Agent Systems

18:20 to 18:25: Intermission

18:25 to 18:45: Speaker 2 (to be announced)

18:45 to 17:00: Announcements.

Please get in touch if you have any questions at seembie@gmail.com!

🎉 Join us for our end-of-year product social! 🎉

We’re excited to wrap up an incredible year of meetups with a special end-of-year social!

Expect an evening of food, drinks, and networking, all generously sponsored by Jouma.

Whether you've attended every event or this is your first, we’d love to see you there! 🥂

Sponsor: Jouma
Jouma is a Bristol based recruitment consultancy, providing permanent and interim staff to technology, financial and professional services operations across the UK; our mission – to make recruitment great again.
https://jouma.uk · hello@jouma.uk

Season sponsor: Pilot Works
Pilot Works is a product and service design consultancy based in Bristol.
We use research and prototyping techniques to help our clients visualise and align on what they need to deliver, in order meet the needs of their users and achieve their organisation’s goals.
As well as hands-on consultancy we also provide training and coaching for individuals and teams.
Find out more at https://pilot.works

Additional Information
Photography and/or recording equipment will be used throughout the event, with images shared on social channels during and after the event.

By attending, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct

AI coding agents are changing how software is built, promising faster delivery, greater productivity and new ways of working. But as teams increasingly adopt these tools, an important question remains: How do we move faster without compromising software quality?

Join us for our next Software Crafters Bristol meetup, on Wednesday 25th November (6-8pm), hosted at Accenture's offices, for an engaging panel discussion exploring the practical realities of using AI coding agents in modern software development.

Our panel, featuring senior engineering leaders from Accenture and Codurance will share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned from working with coding agents, discussing where they genuinely add value, where human expertise remains essential and how teams can balance speed with maintainability, security and sound engineering practices.

What we'll explore:

• How coding agents are changing everyday software development
• Where AI genuinely improves developer productivity
• Maintaining code quality, security and long-term maintainability
• The evolving role of developers in an AI-assisted world
• Practical lessons from adopting coding agents in real-world projects

Whether you're already experimenting with coding agents or exploring how they might fit into your development workflow, this session offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and learn from fellow software professionals.

Pizza, Drinks & Networking
As always, there'll be plenty of opportunities to connect with the Bristol software craftsmanship community over pizza and drinks.

Pizza will be sponsored by Codurance, with Accenture kindly providing the event space and drinks.

Accessibility
We're committed to making our events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements, please let us know in advance by emailing uk-marketing@codurance.com, and we'll do our best to accommodate your needs.

Objective: Learn how to build a multi-agent architecture with Strands Agents, by creating your own AI Game Master.

> DURATION: About 3 hours
> LEVEL: 300 (Advanced)
> FORMAT: Hands-on workshop
> TECH: Strands Agents, MCP, A2A, Bedrock

> Skills unlocked
[✓] Agent fundamentals: create, configure and deploy AI agents
[✓] Tool mastery: use vended tools and create custom ones
[✓] External integration: connect agents to external services via MCP
[✓] Multi-agent systems: build complex applications with multiple cooperating agents
[✓] Strands harness: rebuild the same system in a few lines with the pre-assembled agent
[✓] Real-world applications: create practical, production-ready agent systems

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON EVENT IN BRISTOL
"A show and tell session about how to use dynamic arrays in the real world. See how Lynne uses dynamic arrays in her day to day modelling and reporting.

Lynne will cover a variety of dynamic array functions such as SEQUENCE, V/HSTACK, BYROW/BYCOL and LET, but will also show how powerful it can be to switch to using an array approach with the most simple of legacy functions. Even the humble '+' becomes supercharged when you break that copy and paste habit!

About the Speaker:
Lynne Titley, Award-winning accountancy & finance process improvement & efficiency specialist | Modern Excel, Power BI, SharePoint & Power Automate solutions"

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnecartwright/

Welcome, Bristol Data Intelligence Network!

Bristol Data Intelligence Network is a community-based networking event bringing people together to meet peers, share stories, and build meaningful relationships around data intelligence.

Hosted by Datacove, award-winning Brighton-based R, Python and Shiny experts, these events also offer inspiring talks, hands-on sessions, and open knowledge sharing, all in a friendly, inclusive environment. Whether you’re just starting out in data or a seasoned expert, there’s always something new to discover, spark your curiosity, and take back to the office.

We run four events each year in Bristol, offering fresh insights, lively discussions, and opportunities to connect with the wider Data Intelligence Network, anchored by the EARL Data Intelligence Conference, our flagship event held in Brighton each October.

The events are supported by the generous team at DeskLodge Bristol.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to get involved as a speaker, contact us at admin@datacove.co.uk or visit https://datacove.co.uk

--- Talk Information ---

We’re delighted to be joined by Sriram Nambudri, Senior Solutions Architect, and Masoumeh Parhizkar, Finance Data Expert at Lloyds Banking Group.

Powering Agentic AI Through Data and Knowledge: From Comprehension to Control

In this talk, we explore how data and knowledge truly power modern Al systems, with a particular focus on agentic Al. Rather than treating large language models as black boxes, we break down how Al systems are trained, how they consume data at runtime, and why comprehension. not raw information, is the missing link between data and safe, effective action.

We will examine:

• The difference between data and knowledge, and why databases alone do not create intelligence
• How Al learns during training, fine-tuning, and what actually happens during inference
• The different ways agents consume data — including instructions, guardrails, examples, and domain data
• Why signal-to-noise ratio matters more than data volume, especially in regulated environments
• How agent responsibilities, constraints, and data sources must be carefully separated to avoid confusion, risk, and unintended behaviour
• The evolution from traditional software to fully autonomous agents, and how responsibility and risk shift along the way

--- Schedule & Refreshments ---

Now, refreshments! Drinks and nibbles will be served from 6pm. Talks will commence at 6:30pm/6:45pm and the event will conclude at 8pm. The conversation will continue after the event at a local pub.

--- Sponsorship Information ---

Our event relies heavily on sponsorship from companies that attend. Please contact the organisers or admin@datacove.co.uk to get involved.

--- Arrival Instructions ---

Please arrive at DeskLodge House on Redcliffe way. Once reporting to reception, they will escort you upstairs to the event room.

If requiring assistance, the reception at DeskLodge and our organisers will aid you.

What3Words: ///boss.apron.jams

--- Registration Etiquette ---

At our meetups, the event is sometimes capped by the space. We’re committed to keeping these events accessible for everyone, but to make that possible, we need your help. Please ensure your registration is kept up to date. If your plans change, simply update your RSVP to reflect your availability. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please feel free to spread the word. We look forward to seeing you all again!

Machine Learning (ML) conference in Bristol, United Kingdom

Event for networking with the companies recruiting cyber security talent