QBS Business Breakfast: The AI Adoption Dilemma

⌖ Belfast · Entrepreneurs Unleashed

Hosted by Entrepreneurs Unleashed

A one-day, in-person AI bootcamp in Belfast for business owners who want to build a practical AI toolkit and improve business and marketing workflows. Build a smarter way of working Hosted by Entrepreneurs Unleashed, this focused seven-hour bootcamp explores how AI can help make business and marketing faster, smarter and less stressful. The aim is to give attendees a clearer understanding of practical AI tools and how they can support day-to-day work, providing a concentrated alternative to trying to navigate the technology alone. The event takes place on Thursday 29 October 2026, from 9:30am to 4:30pm. It is an entirely in-person experience, giving participants a full day dedicated to developing their AI toolkit and considering where automation could make a meaningful difference in their business. What to expect The bootcamp focuses on using AI as a shortcut to more efficient business and marketing. Although the event page does not name individual platforms or publish a detailed session-by-session agenda, its core themes include: - Building a useful toolkit of AI-powered resources - Finding smarter and faster approaches to business tasks - Applying AI within marketing workflows - Reducing stress and friction in everyday operations - Exploring how automation can support business growth This is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs, business owners and marketers who want to move beyond general discussion of AI and spend a dedicated day examining its practical business value. No specific experience level or technical prerequisites are listed, making the event worth considering whether you are beginning to investigate AI or looking to organise your existing approach more effectively. Venue and practical details The bootcamp will be held at Entrepreneurs Unleashed, North Derby Street, Belfast BT15 3HN, in Belfast. The listing includes directions for driving, public transport, cycling and walking. View the event and registration details

⌖ Belfast · Ulster University

Hosted by Centre for Legal Technology

Explore how AI will reshape legal practice, education, justice and service delivery at this free two-day event at Ulster University in Belfast. Hosted by the Centre for Legal Technology with the International Future of Law Association and LawTech Ireland, the programme brings together the judiciary, legal professionals, technologists, policymakers, academics and students. Day 1, Vibeathon/Hackathon Thursday 5 November 2026, 1:30pm–5pm Student and industry teams will tackle a real-world AI and legal technology challenge, combining legal knowledge and technical ideas to develop and pitch a practical solution. Teams can include up to four people, with a £500 prize for the winner. The session concludes with pizza and beer. Registered teams must email clt@ulster.ac.uk with their team name, members and nominated contact. Day 2, Conference Friday 6 November 2026, 9am–5:30pm The conference will look beyond AI hype through keynotes, expert panels, practical technology demonstrations and audience discussion. Topics include: - The future of legal technology - AI-era skills and the law school of the future - New law firm and legal service delivery models - Judicial AI and appropriate-use boundaries - AI and access to justice - Risk, opportunity and governance The conference will be officially opened by a senior government figure. Lunch is included, followed by a drinks reception and networking. CPD is available. The Vibeathon and conference require separate tickets, so select the correct free ticket when booking. The event takes place at Ulster University’s Belfast Campus on York Street, BT15 1ED. Register for this event

Sponsors: Thomson Reuters · Allstate +2

⌖ Belfast · Ormeau Labs

Hosted by NI Fraud Forum

Explore how AI is reshaping fraud at this free, in-person NI Fraud Forum conference in Belfast on 18 November 2026. Artificial intelligence is creating challenges and opportunities for organisations tackling fraud. Criminals can use it to produce convincing deepfakes, clone voices and operate scams at unprecedented scale, while businesses and law enforcement are adopting AI to detect, prevent and investigate fraudulent activity. What to expect - Insight into how AI is shaping today’s fraud threat, and how that threat may develop - Short talks from local technology companies working with AI - A panel discussion examining AI’s real-world impact on businesses - Networking with colleagues from the public, private and voluntary sectors This three-hour conference takes place at Ormeau Labs, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS. Tea, coffee and croissants will be served from 8:30am, with the main programme beginning at 9am and the event ending at 11:30am. Speaker details and the full agenda have not yet been published. Attendance is free, but advance booking is required to reserve a place. The event is organised by NI Fraud Forum. Reserve your free ticket

⌖ Belfast · Assembly Buildings Conference Centre

Hosted by EPIC Futures NI

Explore how evidence, innovation and AI can support fairer, more inclusive employment in Northern Ireland at this free full-day showcase in Belfast. Taking place on Thursday 19 November 2026, from 9:00am to 4:30pm GMT, the EPIC Futures NI Final Showcase brings together policymakers, researchers, businesses, delivery organisations and community partners at the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre. Registration, refreshments and networking begin at 9:00am, followed by the formal programme at 9:30am. What to expect The programme features 12 research and innovation presentations across four sessions, including findings from eight projects supported by EPIC Futures NI’s £440,000 Phase 2 Policy Commissioning Call. Topics include: - Economic inactivity and place-based interventions - Measuring progression through employment support - Inclusive recruitment for autistic jobseekers - Supported employment for under-represented groups - Youth work’s contribution to education, employment and training - Migrant entrepreneurship and inclusive enterprise support - Green skills and Northern Ireland labour-market intelligence - Three AI-powered resources: the Green Skills Navigator, Employer Skills Compass and Labour Market Observatory Professor Kristel Miller, Principal Investigator of EPIC Futures NI, will open the day with reflections on the programme and the role of place-based partnerships. A keynote address and presentations from academic, policy, business and community partners will follow, with an interactive Q&A during each session. A dedicated exhibition area will also feature research posters, reports, policy briefings, digital tools and other outputs developed across the programme. This English-language event is designed for anyone involved in creating a more inclusive, evidence-informed labour market in Northern Ireland. Free tickets are available. Register for the EPIC Futures NI Showcase

⌖ Belfast · International Convention Centre (ICC Belfast)

Hosted by Practitioners

NIDC 2026 brings Northern Ireland’s developer community to ICC Belfast on 21 November for a full day of technical talks, workshops and hands-on villages. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Northern Ireland Developer Conference is designed to broaden your technical knowledge while connecting you with people working across the technology industry. Organised by Practitioners and run by volunteers, NIDC combines serious learning with the welcoming community atmosphere summed up by its theme: “Technical talks, great craic, tech community.” What to expect The conference takes over the International Convention Centre in Belfast, with sessions spread across two halls, two rooms and a dedicated workshop space. The programme covers seven broad tracks: - Engineering - Product - Design and UX - Security - AI - Data - Wildcard topics That wide remit also extends to software, cloud, games, infrastructure and open source. It makes NIDC relevant to enthusiasts, students and experienced professionals alike, whether you want practical insight for your current role, exposure to adjacent disciplines or ideas to take back to your team. The day begins with registration at 08:30, followed by coffee and an opening session. Talks run in 30-minute slots across several parallel stages, while longer, one-hour workshops offer space for deeper exploration. Lunch and an afternoon break are built into the schedule, before closing remarks and prizes at 16:15. A four-hour after-party begins at 18:00, extending the opportunity to meet speakers, volunteers and fellow attendees. The full session agenda is due to be published in September. Community-led, hands-on and open to new voices NIDC’s community villages set it apart from a conventional multi-track conference. These themed, hands-on spaces are run by local community members and may focus on making, children’s coding, cyber, games and more. Anyone with an idea can propose a village. The event is also inviting practitioners to share work that broadens the community’s collective knowledge. Proposals can cover any technology-industry subject, with options for both talks and workshops. Prospective contributors can submit a session.… Register for this event

⌖ San Francisco · Hyatt Regency Burlingame

Hosted by Open Data Science Conference (ODSC)

Learn to build production-ready AI systems in just seven weeks with the AI Engineering Accelerator bootcamp, a hands-on training program that bridges the gap between using AI and building it. Running from June 9 through October 29, 2026, this intensive program combines virtual instruction with a multi-day in-person capstone at the Hyatt Regency Burlingame during ODSC AI West 2026. Designed for professionals ready to move beyond tutorials, the Accelerator provides comprehensive training in the core disciplines of modern AI engineering: large language models (LLMs), agentic AI systems, and production deployment. You'll gain practical experience with the latest tools and frameworks used by leading AI teams, learning not just how to use AI, but how to architect, build, and ship AI-powered applications. Program Structure The bootcamp follows a hybrid learning model that maximizes flexibility while ensuring hands-on engagement. Starting with the Summer Cohort on June 9, you'll participate in virtual training sessions led by experienced AI practitioners. The program culminates in an intensive in-person segment from October 27-29, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame, California, integrated with the main ODSC AI West conference. This dual-format approach allows you to build foundational knowledge remotely while maintaining your current work commitments, then apply those skills in collaborative, hands-on projects during the in-person sessions. You'll also gain full access to ODSC AI West's conference tracks, expo, and networking events. What You'll Learn The curriculum focuses on production-grade AI engineering, covering: - LLM development and deployment — Fine-tuning, prompt engineering, and optimization techniques - Agentic AI systems — Building autonomous agents and workflow automation - AI Engineering fundamentals — MLOps, model serving, monitoring, and scaling - Real-world implementation — Moving from prototype to production with confidence Organized by Open Data Science Conference, which has spent 11 years training thousands of AI engineers and data scientists, the Accelerator draws on ODSC's deep expertise in practical AI education. The program features specialization tracks tailored to different AI engineering domains, allowing you to focus on the areas most relevant to your career goals. Who Should Attend This bootcamp is designed for professionals who already work with AI tools and are rea