Practically AI Launch Event

Practically AI launches in Leeds on 30 September 2026, bringing software engineers together for practical talks on AI agents, engineering and governance. Hosted by iOMeetups at Apsley House in partnership with Leeds Digital Festival, this first gathering marks the arrival of the popular Manchester-born Practically AI community in Leeds. It is designed for engineers who want to understand how AI can improve real software development and operations, not as a data science exercise, but through production-ready tools, automation and reliable engineering systems. ## What to expect Doors open at 17:30 for pizza, informal conversation and the chance to meet other members of Leeds’ technology community. At 18:30, the main programme begins with an AI spotlight followed by two talks, with the evening expected to finish at around 20:00. ### Prompt > Context > Harness > Loop > Graph In “The Evolution of Agentic Software Engineering,” Phil Whittaker will chart the journey engineering teams often take from simple prompting to context management, effective agent harnesses and reliable autonomous development loops. The session will demystify currently popular ideas such as loop and graph engineering while showing why established software engineering practices still matter. Expect a grounded look at faster feedback loops, increasing automation and the discipline required to design, validate and operate dependable agentic systems. The central argument is clear: AI is changing the tools and workflows, but it is not replacing software engineering. ### The gap between AI capability and governance Avu Harvey will examine why the ability to control, trust and govern autonomous AI has not kept pace with its technical capability. The talk will explore governance through three practical lenses: - Access: what AI systems are permitted to reach and change - Oversight: how autonomous activity is monitored and reviewed - Accountability: how responsibility is maintained when agents act Rather than treating governance as a set of static policies, the session will consider the practical controls and oversight needed for increasingly autonomous systems. Avu will also share resources for attendees who want to explore AI governance further. ## Who should attend?… Register for this event