TechTalks Edinburgh #7 - AI Agents, MCP & Threat Intelligence

⌖ Edinburgh · Playfair Library Hall

Hosted by PauseAI UK

A Scotland-focused panel on AI responsibility brings politicians and technical and policy experts to Edinburgh on 1 November 2026. Hosted by PauseAI Scotland at the University of Edinburgh’s Playfair Library Hall, this structured discussion will examine a pressing question: who is responsible when AI goes wrong? Panellists will consider how Scotland’s political, technical and policy communities are modelling AI’s threats, uncertainties, opportunities and possible responses. The event description contrasts AI governance with tightly regulated fields such as aviation, pharmaceuticals and nuclear technology. It cites a 2026 UN report on AI, warnings from frontier AI professionals and a reported AI model evaluation security incident as context for the debate. Schedule - 13:30: Doors open - 14:00: Welcome and keynote - 14:30: Panel discussion - 15:30: Planned break - 15:45: Audience Q&A - 16:00: Closing and networking, with light refreshments The second half of the discussion is dedicated to audience questions, followed by informal conversation between attendees and panellists. The event is suited to anyone interested in AI safety, public policy and accountability; no specific experience level is stated. Individual panellists have not yet been published on the event page. The event takes place at Playfair Library Hall, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, from 1:30pm–4:30pm GMT. Learn more about the organiser at PauseAI UK. Register for the panel discussion

⌖ Edinburgh · Stansted House, 3rd Floor, 12-14 Long Lane, London EC1A 9PN, UK

Hosted by The Investment Association (IA)

IA Conference Scotland 2026 brings investment leaders, policymakers and innovators to Edinburgh on 5 November for debate on AI, regulation and sustainable growth. Taking place at The Exchange, EH3 8EE, this flagship one-day conference from The Investment Association will examine how Scotland can strengthen its position as a global centre for investment management. More than 330 attendees from 110+ organisations are expected, including senior decision-makers, regulators and policymakers. What to expect The programme combines keynote speeches, leadership panels, fireside chats, presentations, interactive sessions and networking. Across 20+ thought-leadership sessions and more than eight hours of content, delegates will explore: - AI, digital transformation and technological disruption in asset management - Regulatory change, political developments and global market dynamics - Changing client expectations and the future of retail investing - Operational resilience amid cyber threats, geopolitical tension and supply-chain disruption - Talent, competitiveness and Scotland’s role in attracting capital - Sustainable growth and the investment industry’s contribution to UK prosperity An AI-focused debate featuring Dr Sonia Schulenburg of Level E Research will ask whether artificial intelligence is an incremental development or a fundamental shift for asset management, and consider how it is already reshaping the industry. Speakers and sessions The day begins with breakfast and networking from 08:00, followed by the main conference programme. John Owen, CEO of The Investment Association, will deliver his first address at the Scottish conference before moderating a leadership panel with Xavier Meyer of Aberdeen, Kirstie MacGillivray of Aegon, Sandra Boss of BlackRock and Scott Wallace of Aberforth Partners. Further highlights include: - A conversation with Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, on Scotland’s economic priorities and investment-led growth - A resilience fireside chat with Kenneth MacKay of M&G Asset Management - Miranda Seath’s launch of new IA analysis into boutique asset management in 2026, with a focus on Scotland - A discussion about how demographics, technology and changing attitudes to risk are transforming investing for individuals… Register for this event

Sponsors: FundGuard

⌖ Edinburgh · Codebase

Hosted by TechTalks Edinburgh

Learn how to judge whether AI-written code makes a codebase safer or riskier at TechTalks Edinburgh 10, taking place at CodeBase in Edinburgh on 10 November 2026. Legacy in Months, Not Years Lead Software Engineer Dmitriy Fedoryshchev will share lessons from modernising a 600-table, 21 TB legacy core into microservices after four previous attempts. His squad adopted a custom multi-agent system while following one central doctrine: only merge code that can be understood and explained. The talk explores how to assess agent-written code, identify the rules AI agents repeatedly break, and turn those rules into automated checks that agents cannot skip. Dmitriy brings experience spanning startups and enterprises, plus more than 100 merged open-source pull requests across 20 projects, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Microsoft. This meetup is relevant to software engineers, technical leads and anyone interested in AI-assisted development, maintainability and open-source tooling. Both experienced professionals and people earlier in their tech careers are welcome. Agenda - 6:00–6:30pm: Drinks, pizza and introductions - 6:30–6:40pm: Opening talk - 6:40–7:30pm: Main talk - 7:30–7:45pm: Q&A - 7:45–8:00pm: Networking and close - From 8:00pm: Afterparty at a nearby pub The event takes place at CodeBase, 38 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH3 9DZ. Partners include CodeBase, Dougray, Scottish Technology Club, Beyond Tech and Lyxonn. Photography and video will be captured for social media; notify the organisers if you prefer not to appear. Register for TechTalks Edinburgh 10.

Sponsors: CodeBase · Dougray +3

⌖ Edinburgh · A&DS:SpACE (access via Middle Meadow Walk)

Hosted by Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS)

Explore how generative AI is reshaping architectural practice at this in-person event in Edinburgh on 12 November 2026. Hosted by Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS), the afternoon brings academics and practitioners together to examine how emerging AI tools are being adopted across architectural and urban design workflows. The discussion will cover AI’s potential to enhance innovation and productivity, particularly for small and medium-sized practices in Scotland, alongside its practical limitations. Speakers and topics Headline contributors include Dr Juliana Martins, Bahar Durmaz-Drinkwater, Kathryn Firth and Pei-Chin Lin. Attendees will hear perspectives from UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment and Arup, followed by a panel featuring Graham Ross of Austin-Smith:Lord and other contributors. Topics include: - The changing role of designers and the future job market - Integrating generative AI into professional workflows - Intellectual property, authorship and accountability - Environmental, social and ethical implications - Opportunities and challenges specific to Scottish practice The event runs 12:30–17:00 at A&DS:SpACE, 1 Lauriston Place, accessed via Middle Meadow Walk. Registration opens at 12:30 with tea, coffee and water, followed by headline presentations from 13:00, a break and panel discussion. A&DS:SpACE is a collaborative venue focused on the built environment. Get tickets for Demystifying AI in Architectural Design

⌖ New York

Hosted by IQT

IQT’s Quantum + AI 3.0 conference in New York City (October 25–27, 2026) brings together researchers, engineers, startup founders, corporate leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. This three-day, multi-track event showcases how quantum technologies can accelerate AI innovations and how AI can drive practical use of quantum hardware, with a strong emphasis on real-world impact across multiple industries. What to expect: - 3 days of talks, panels, and case studies with 80+ speakers from academia and industry - A broad program covering the quantum stack and AI applications, plus dedicated coverage of post-quantum cryptography through the PQC+IQT track on Oct 26 - Daily mentoring sessions to help attendees advance research, product ideas, or business development - An enhanced networking experience designed to connect researchers, startup founders, corporate executives, investors, and policymakers - An informal greeting & Meet event on Oct 25: New York Harbor Dinner Cruise, offering a relaxed setting to connect with peers while taking in the city views - A focus on tangible use cases across pharma, supply chain, defense, cryptography, finance, and other industries - A look at how quantum-enabled AI can unlock new capabilities and how AI strategies influence quantum research and deployment Why this matters: - IQT’s flagship Q+AI conference is a leading global gathering for the AI + quantum community, expanding each year with more exhibitors, speakers, and networking opportunities - Attendees will gain insight into both AI up, down, and around the quantum stack and how quantum computing can enable AI breakthroughs - The event includes a post-quantum cryptography focus, highlighting security considerations as quantum capabilities grow Audience and format: - Target audience includes researchers, engineers, startup founders, corporate executives, investors, and policymakers - In-person conference with multiple tracks, plus dedicated mentoring and networking components - The program is designed to foster collaboration, partnerships, and practical knowledge transfer that attendees can apply in their own projects Key speakers and leadership: - Program coordinated by Bob Sutor and Brian Siegelwax, with a displayed roster including leaders such as Yonatan Cohen, Russ Fein, Isaiah Hull, Mike Jennings, Troy Jensen, and many others from academia, industry, and legal/venture backgrounds Logistics

⌖ Da Nang · Webe Coffee

Hosted by AI Fusion Labs Da Nang

Explore AI and deep learning projects with developers, data scientists and creatives at this informal weekly meetup in Da Nang. Hosted by Lya and AI Fusion Labs Da Nang, the session takes place at Webe Coffee on Sunday, 25 October 2026, from 11:00am to 1:00pm ICT. The venue is at 14–16 Nguyễn Hữu Thông, An Hải, Sơn Trà, Da Nang; view it on Google Maps. The gathering is designed for AI enthusiasts, developers, data scientists, hobbyists and creatives at any experience level. It offers a relaxed setting to: - Discuss current AI and deep learning trends - Share LLM, art and design projects - Swap practical lessons and project stories - Present demos or volunteer a short, hands-on AI tools workshop Bring a laptop if you would like to show what you are building. There is no fixed agenda published on the event page: weekly talk, demo and community-led AI news details are shared through the Telegram group. The meetup is free, with a suggested donation of 100k. It runs every Sunday, with the listing stating that the series continues until 18 February 2027. Learn more about the organiser at AI Fusion Labs. Register for this event