Build your own AI sidekick with .NET 8, Semantic Kernel, and Azure AI

Are you a budding super hero or super villain* but you feel like you're lacking that AI companion to help you reach that next level? Have you ever wanted to see what AI can do to help your daily life? Do you have an interesting application that would just be so much better with a little artificial intelligence? Don't fear, because of course there's an app for that.
In this short session we'll tour a digital assistant architecture that combines large language models, external data sources, and Azure AI Services for speech, language, and vision. We'll also discuss the role of planners in digital assistants and the planners baked into Semantic Kernel.
By the time we're done, you'll have a better understanding of what AI can do and see how easy it is to integrate it into your applications. You'll also be that much closer to super hero / super villain* status with a starter architecture for a modular personal AI companion of your very own.
* Global AI Conference does not endorse acts of villainy including but not limited to taking over the world or using light themes
Matt Eland
Microsoft MVP & AI Specialist at Leading EDJE
Matt Eland is a software engineering leader and data scientist who has served as a senior engineer, software engineering manager, professional programming instructor, and has helped build enterprise-level software at a variety of organizations before distinguishing himself as a Microsoft MVP in Artificial Intelligence by using technology to accomplish ridiculous things in the name of science and teaching others.
Matt makes it his job to learn new things and share them with others through articles, videos, and talks at user groups and conferences covering a wide range of topics from software architecture to programming topics to artificial intelligence and data science.
Matt is a current data analytics master's student, an AI Specialist at Leading EDJE, is the author of "Refactoring with C#" and is creating a LinkedIn course and book on Computer Vision on Azure. Matt occasionally sleeps as well.