AI is already in the hallways, homework tabs, and makerspaces. Let’s gather to trade what works, laugh at what didn’t, and shape a BC‑rooted path…

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Vancouver Art Gallery has limited seating capacity, so please do not register if you cannot commit to being present. If you have regist...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Vancouver Art Gallery has limited seating capacity, so please do not register if you cannot commit to being present. If you have regist...

SIGGRAPH Vancouver mini report: generative VFX spoof and a no‑code game engine that builds worlds in one click. Which demo surprised you more—the Stable Diffusion/Nuke fake TV spot or the AI‑assisted…

Lionel Ringenbach just exposed something at Vancouver AI that'll make you rethink every ChatGPT query you've ever made: 55% of AI requests in code editors are completely wasted. Not inefficient. Not…

The Vancouver AI scene was fragmented. Corporate events. Academic silos. No place for creators. So I started hosting AI meetups in my studio. 15 months later: - 1000+ attendees - Industry association forming - Indigenous partnerships - Real jobs, real projects, real change ----- Hey internet—it’s Kris Krüg here, founder and host of the Vancouver AI Community and the BC AI Ecosystem project. AI is rewriting the rules of creativity, industry, and society—and over the past 18 months, we’ve been at the center of it, building one of Canada’s most vibrant grassroots tech communities. What makes us different? We’re not chasing AI hype. We’re building human-centered, inclusive, and regenerative futures—with artists, developers, researchers, and Indigenous leaders all around the same fire. This video tells the story of how we: Grew a 1000+ member community through DIY meetups Sparked the creation of a new BC AI Industry Association Formed deep partnerships with Indigenous nations (Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and the Indigenomics Institute) Launched real jobs, projects, and ethical AI initiatives Turned uncertainty into collaborative power and creative possibility If you're curious about AI, building community, or where this technology is actually headed, you're in the right place. Let’s build the future we actually want—together. ----- 🤝 JOIN THE MOVEMENT: 📆 Next Vancouver AI Meetup: https://lu.ma/vancouver-ai 🌐 Learn More: https://kriskrug.co 🎞️ Chapters 0:00 – Intro: AI on Our Own Terms 0:12 – Why I Started the Vancouver AI Community 2:15 – Building a Grassroots AI Movement That Includes Everyone 4:11 – How Generative AI is Changing Creative Industries 5:13 – Real Growth: From Studio Meetups to Full-on Ecosystem 6:09 – What’s Next for BC’s AI Future (And How to Get Involved) 🔖 Tags #VancouverAI #CreativeTech #GenerativeAI #CommunityFirst #ResponsibleAI #AIandSociety #IndigenousAI #GrassrootsTech

TL;DR What happens when a 500‑million‑dollar Indian footwear dynasty crashes our grassroots meetup? You get Vippal  Kansel—CEO of Vijanta & founder of Impakto Labs—dropping wisdom on building AI‑powered sensor shoes with heart. 🗺️ Chapters 00:00 – Kris intro & why AI hardware needs soul 00:02 – Incoming transmission from the future 00:05 – Vancouver AI Community meetup 00:06 – [Music] 00:09 – Udas intro: Bringing family and community together 00:29 – Meet Vippal: 17-hour flight, Mount Pleasant stage 01:34 – Airport welcome & global connections 02:01 – “Earth is one”: On boundaries, belonging, and breakfast 02:14 – What is a soul? Shoe tech, empathy & emotion 03:08 – Story: Tier 2 India, elephants, and the illuminated store 04:35 – Three generations, one family business 05:40 – Sustainability flex: solar roofs, water harvesting, coffee-waste soles 06:42 – Loyalty, heritage, and empathy in business 07:24 – Community: success barometers and supporting families 08:42 – Passing the mic: Chris on Vipple, Udas, and hardware innovation in Vancouver 09:43 – Credits & applause 🌱 Why this story matters to BC • Hardware‑meets‑Care → Public research shows British Columbians care more about responsible AI than raw hype  • Global‑Local Bridge → Aligns with BC’s push for whole‑ecosystem AI collabs • Regenerative Manufacturing → Mirrors BC+AI’s JEDI stance on open, sustainable innovation BC 💥 Get Involved Comment: What feature would your dream AI shoe have? Share: Tag a hardware hacker who needs this inspo. Join: Upcoming Vancouver AI events → https://lu.ma/vancouver‑ai Credits Director: Kevin Friel Host/Producer: Kris Krüg Guest: Vipple Kzel (Vaganta / Impacto) Music: “Lo‑Fi Cascadia Beats” by Binary Salmon Filmed on unceded Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil‑Waututh territory This episode is part of BC +AI Industry Association’s Community Spotlight series—amplifying humans who build tech that serves people & planet. #EthicalAI #SensorShoes #BCAI #AssistiveTech #HardwareHacks #SustainableManufacturing