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.

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The 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.

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Creating 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

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AI 2 Day Workshop | Calum Simpson

SSW is exploring the evolving field of AI for software development, and actively encourages employees to integrate use AI into their work. Since Generative AI has become widely adopted, our developers have been taking advantage of it, and are building better software faster and significantly boosting SSW’s productivity. This workshop aims to share the knowledge of these great modern tools to help others.
Available both in-person and online.

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AI Security Fundamentals | Ulysses Maclaren & Sarah Young | NDC Sydney 2024

Join us for an insightful discussion on AI and security fundamentals. Ulysses Maclaren from SSW TV and Sarah Young, Senior Cloud Security Advocate at Microsoft delve into the importance of maintaining traditional security measures alongside advancements in AI, covering topics such as model poisoning, data privacy concerns, and the role of AI in organizational security. Gain valuable insights for navigating the complex landscape of AI-enabled applications and safeguarding data integrity. Don’t miss this engaging conversation packed with expert advice and practical tips!

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