Call for Speakers
in 3 months
Applied AI Conference 2026
event date
13 Jun 2026
location
Online
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
This Applied AI Conference brings together Google Developer Experts, practitioners, and builders working with generative and applied AI systems in production.
This isn't about theory or research papers. We're showcasing real AI systems, lessons learned from production deployments, and practical patterns for building with AI.
open, 31 days left
Call for Speakers
Call opens at 12:00 AM
04 Mar 2026
Call closes at 11:59 PM
05 Apr 2026
Call closes in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00) timezone.
Closing time in your timezone () is .
WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Practitioners building with AI:
• Engineers deploying generative AI systems
• Developers building AI agent applications
• Teams integrating LLMs into production software
• Creators using AI tools to build products
• Anyone with hands-on experience and real stories to share
Topics We Want to Hear About:
• Production AI systems and architectures
• AI agents and autonomous systems
• LLM application patterns and antipatterns
• GenAI tooling and developer experience
• Real-world case studies and lessons learned
• Novel uses of AI APIs (OpenAI, Google AI, Anthropic, etc.)
• Multi-modal AI applications
• AI for creative tools and workflows
• Performance, cost, and reliability challenges
• Ethical considerations in applied AI
What We're NOT Looking For:
• Pure research or academic papers
• Sales pitches or product demos
• Introductory "What is AI?" talks
• Theoretical frameworks without implementation
SESSION FORMATS
Lightning Talks (10 minutes)
• Quick insights, single idea, practical takeaway
• Perfect for showing one specific pattern or lesson
Technical Sessions (25 minutes)
• Deep dive into a system, architecture, or challenge
• Include code, architecture diagrams, or live demos
• Time for 2-3 questions at the end
Live Build/Demo (30 minutes)
• Build something live or walk through existing code
• Show the messy parts, not just the polished result
• Interactive, attendees can ask questions throughout
Panel Discussion (40 minutes)
• 3-4 speakers discussing a theme or challenge
• Moderated conversation with audience Q&A
• Submit as a group
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Your Proposal Should Include:
1. Session Title - Clear and descriptive
2. Abstract (250 words max) - What will attendees learn?
3. Key Takeaways (3-5 bullet points) - Specific, actionable insights
4. Session Format - Which format fits your content best?
5. Technical Level - Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
About You:
• Brief bio (100 words max)
• Links to previous talks, blog posts, or projects (optional)
• Social/GitHub handles (optional)
Tips for Strong Proposals:
• Be specific about what you built and what you learned
• Include numbers, metrics, or results when possible
• Tell us what went wrong, not just what went right
• Show code or architecture, not just slides
• Make it clear why this matters to other builders
TIMELINE
CFP Opens: March 4, 2026
CFP Closes: April 5, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Speaker Notifications: April 10, 2026
Speaker Prep Period: April 10 - May 1
Conference Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
WHAT SPEAKERS GET
Access & Recognition:
• Speaking slot at a curated, intimate conference
• Recording of your session shared with the community
• Promotion across GDG Chapel Hill channels (Discord, social media)
• Direct connection to other practitioners and GDEs
Community:
• Private speaker Discord channel
• Networking with Google Developer Experts
• Early access to future GDG Chapel Hill events
• Opportunity to mentor or advise on future workshops
Materials:
• Conference slide template (optional)
• Digital speaker badge for LinkedIn/social (conferred once the conference ends)
IMPORTANT NOTES
This is a Virtual-Only Event:
• No in-person component
• No travel required or sponsored
• All sessions delivered remotely
• We'll provide technical support for streaming
Conference Philosophy:
• Small, curated lineup (5-10 sessions total)
• Focus on quality over quantity
• Interactive, not broadcast-style
• Build connections, not just content
Who Should Apply:
• Google Developer Experts in any domain (ML, Cloud, Web, Mobile, etc.) with something to share in the Applied AI space
• Practitioners building production AI systems
• Open source maintainers of AI tools
• Anyone with a story worth sharing about applied AI
Don't worry if your idea isn't fully polished! Submit a concept, and we can work together to refine it. We value authentic, practical content over perfect presentations.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We'll prioritize proposals that:
• Show real systems, not toy examples
• Include specific learnings and takeaways
• Come from hands-on experience
• Offer practical value to builders
• Represent diverse perspectives and use cases
We aim for a balanced program covering different aspects of applied AI, various tech stacks, and a mix of session formats.
DISCLAIMER
GDG Chapel Hill is an independent group; our activities and the opinions expressed here should in no way be linked to Google, the corporation. To learn more about the GDG program, visit https://developers.google.com/community/gdg/
Ready to Share Your Story?
Submit your proposal and help us showcase what's really happening with AI in production.
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