NEXT AI - | Vancouver Open House!
- Date
- 2024-11-07
- Location
- This event will be hosted at UBC Robson Square in the Innovation UBC Space (room #1900), directly opposite the front doors by the skating rink. Walk across the lobby directly to the french doors to get to room 1900. https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/contact-directions/, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Host
- Personal
About this event
Curious about where AI is actually heading, and who is building what in Vancouver? NEXT AI - | Vancouver Open House! is a chance to step into the room, meet the community in person, and get a clearer view of the people, ideas, and conversations shaping applied AI and autonomy locally. Whether you are actively building, exploring your next move, or looking to reconnect with the ecosystem, this open house is designed to make that easy. It is informal enough to start real conversations and focused enough to leave you with a better sense of what this community is about. About the Event This event is an in-person open house hosted in Vancouver for people interested in AI, autonomy, community, networking, and meetups. The format is intentionally accessible: come by, meet others in the room, and spend time with people who care about the future of intelligent systems and the practical work around them. At its core, this is a community-oriented gathering. Rather than a highly scripted conference format, an open house creates space for direct conversation, casual introductions, and the kind of exchanges that often lead to useful connections. If you have been wanting a lower-friction way to plug into Vancouver's AI scene, this is a strong place to start. You should expect an environment that welcomes a mix of backgrounds and levels of experience. Some people may be deeply technical. Others may be operators, founders, students, researchers, or professionals trying to better understand how AI and autonomy are changing their field. What matters most is that you are interested, engaged, and ready to talk. What to Expect The emphasis here is on meeting people and learning through conversation. Because this is an open house, the value comes from being present in the room: introducing yourself, asking questions, hearing what others are working on, and getting a feel for the community firsthand. You can expect a flow that likely includes: Arrival and informal mingling Time to meet other attendees interested in AI and autonomy Conversations about current projects, ideas, and challenges A chance to learn more about the local community around NEXT AI Organic networking with people across technical, startup, academic, and professional backgrounds This kind of format is especially useful if you prefer events where you can move at your own pace. You do not need to commit to a full-day program or navigate a packed schedule. Instead, you can spend your time where it is most valuable: in direct discussion with the people you came to meet. It is also a practical setting for follow-up conversations. If you have been looking for collaborators, peers, mentors, or simply people who understand the space you work in, an open house offers more room for that than a tightly timed panel or lecture. Bring your curiosity, a quick way to introduce what you do, and a few thoughtful questions. Why Attend If you work in or around AI, one of the hardest things to get from online channels alone is context. In-person events help you understand who is active, what topics are gaining momentum, and where the real energy is in the local ecosystem. This event gives you that view in a direct, efficient way. You may come away with: New professional connections in Vancouver's AI and autonomy community Better awareness of who is building, researching, or exploring in the space A stronger sense of where you fit in and how you might get involved Useful conversations that spark partnerships, hiring leads, collaboration, or future meetups Fresh perspective on how others are approaching AI in practice There is also value in attending even if you are still figuring out your place in the field. Not every worthwhile event requires you to arrive with a polished pitch or a finished product. Sometimes the most useful next step is simply showing up, listening carefully, and starting a few strong conversations with the right people. For those already active in the ecosystem, this is a chance to stay connected. Community grows through repeated in-person interactions, and open house formats are often where relationships become more real, more useful, and easier to maintain over time. Practical Details When: Wednesday, November 6 at 4:00 PM PST Where: In person at UBC Robson Square, in the Innovation UBC Space (room #1900), Vancouver, Canada. To find the room: it is directly opposite the front doors by the skating rink. Walk across the lobby directly to the French doors to get to room 1900. If you want to review the venue in advance, directions are available here: https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/contact-directions/ A few useful notes before you come: This is an in-person event, so plan your travel time accordingly. The venue directions are specific, which should make arrival straightforward once you enter the building. Because the event centers on networking and community, it helps to arrive ready to introduce yourself and talk about what brings you to AI or autonomy. If there is someone you have been meaning to meet in the local ecosystem, this is the kind of event where making that introduction can feel natural. If you are looking for a smart, approachable entry point into Vancouver's AI community, or simply want to spend time around people thinking seriously about what comes next, this open house is a worthwhile place to be.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want meaningful, in-person connection around AI in Vancouver without the formality of a big conference. - You are a **founder, builder, or operator** working on AI-enabled products and want to meet others navigating similar technical or business questions. - You are a **researcher, student, or academically connected attendee** interested in how AI and autonomy are showing up beyond the classroom or lab. - You work in a **technical role** and want to expand your local network with people who are actively engaged in the AI ecosystem. - You are **AI-curious but not yet deeply embedded** in the community and want an approachable way to learn who is doing what in Vancouver. - You are looking for **collaborators, peers, mentors, or future teammates** and prefer real conversation over transactional networking. - You already know the space and want to **stay plugged into the local community**, strengthen relationships, and keep up with the people and ideas worth watching.