Posts by Marcus Irmscher
Why 2025 is the Year of the Agent (or Is It?) | Gert Marx & Ulysses Maclaren | NDC Melbourne 2025
In this discussion from NDC Melbourne, Ulysses Maclaren sits down with Gert Marx to unpack one of the hottest topics in AI: agents. Are we truly in the “Year of the Agent,” or is the tech world just riding another buzzword wave? Ulysses shares what makes a real agent, contrasting them with rule-based systems, AI workflows, and generative models. With concrete examples and industry insights, he explains when it’s best to use an agent, when a workflow will suffice, and why so many companies are marketing non-agents as agents. If you’re building AI-powered solutions and unsure what tools are best suited to your problem space, this talk is a must-watch.
Read MoreThe Hidden Cost of AI | Ulysses Maclaren & Richard Campbell | NDC Melbourne 2025
What does artificial intelligence have to do with nuclear reactors, brownouts, and humanity’s last exam? At NDC, SSW’s Ulysses Maclaren sits down with tech veteran Richard Campbell to explore the energy demands of AI, Microsoft’s nuclear strategy, and how our increasing data needs are impacting global infrastructure. They also examine whether artificial general intelligence is truly within reach or still a distant goal. From understanding the environmental cost of AI to dissecting the realities behind AGI, this conversation offers practical insights into where technology is heading and how it’s reshaping our world.
Read MoreHealth Check Infrastructure | Toby Churches | SSW Rules
One broken API can bring your entire application down — and you might not know until your users are already impacted. In this video, Tony Churches from SSW shows how to proactively monitor your application’s health using infrastructure health checks in ASP.NET Core. Learn why hope is not a strategy, and how you can build confidence in your system’s reliability.
Read MoreMCP : Ensuring our tools are ready for the Robot Overlords | Anton Polkanov | SSW User Groups
Learn everything you need to know about MCP (Model Context Protocol) — the new standard for integrating tools, resources, and prompts into AI applications. In this talk, Anton explores the architecture, SDKs, transports, server features, and the future of MCP, including real-world demos in GitHub Copilot and Cloud Desktop.
Whether you’re new to MCP or looking to go deeper, this session covers it all — with tips, pitfalls, and even how to debug with Inspector.
Read MoreChoosing the Right AI Model? GitHub Models Makes It Easy! | Isaac Lombard & Caleb Williams | SSW Rules
Isaac Lombard and Caleb Williams from SSW show you how to quickly test different AI models using GitHub Models. No more configuring separate APIs—just tweak the settings and try multiple providers like OpenAI’s GPT-4, Meta’s Llama, and more, all in one place!.
Read MoreIf you think AI is cheating, you’re doing it wrong | Ulysses Maclaren | SSW Rules
AI is the tool of this generation, but are we using it responsibly? Ulysses Maclaren dives into the best practices for AI use—covering transparency, critical thinking, data privacy, and how to leverage AI to boost productivity. Learn why using AI intelligently is the key to staying ahead in your career.
Read MoreDo you take Penetration Testing seriously? | Rob Thomlinson & Oliver Judson | SSW Rules
Penetration testing (or “pen testing”) is a crucial step in securing networks, applications, and devices from cyber threats. In this video, Oliver Judson, a principal penetration tester from Mercury ISS, joins Rob from SSW to discuss what penetration testing is, why businesses should care, common vulnerabilities, and essential tools for sysadmins and developers.
Read MoreCreating Multi-Language AI-Powered Apps w/ Rust, Python & Blazor | TJ Gokken | SSW User Groups
Let’s do some polyglot programming. We’ll create a modern system diagnostics tool called HAL (Hardware Assistant that Learns). We’ll combine Rust’s system-level performance, Python’s AI capabilities with AutoGen, a multi-agent framework, and Blazor’s modern web interface into a cohesive application.
Key Takeaways:
Inter-process communication between Rust, Python, and .NET
Understand when and why to use different languages in AI applications
Learn to implement Microsoft’s AutoGen for multi-agent AI systems
Tech News # 43 | When AI Lies: OpenAI’s scariest update | Eve Cogan
This month in SSW Tech News, The rise of Devin, the first AI software, Microsoft and Google invest in renewable energy, Microsoft is going passwordless, ChatGPT’s integration into Apple devices, Google’s Astra and some eyebrow-raising behavior from OpenAI’s latest AI model.
Read MoreHow to maximize your Superannuation | Stephan Fako | SSW Rules
Discover how small adjustments to your superannuation strategy can lead to significant gains in your retirement balance. Stephan walks you through essential tips like the power of compounding, the benefits of salary sacrifice, and choosing the right fund for optimal growth. Don’t miss this guide to securing a stress-free retirement!
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