Join us for our first FOSS United Coimbatore Chapter meetup!
Don’t miss out, RSVP Now.
5:00 pm - 5:05 pm | Welcome & Introduction
5:05 pm - 5:35 pm | Foss Everywhere by Venkatesh
5:35 pm - 6:20 pm | Open Weights ≠ Open Source: A Guide to True AI Freedom by Raju Kandaswamy
6:20 pm - 7:00 pm | The Open Source AI Revolution: Democratizing Innovation and Fostering Responsible Development by Navaneeth Malingan
7:00 pm onwards | Closing and Networking
Fifteen years ago, proprietary software was the norm for software development and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) was the exception. In recent years, this equation has flipped and FOSS has become the norm for software development. Almost all emerging technologies like cloud computing, IOT, AI/ML are built as FOSS. Driving this change is the Collaborative Innovation Model (CIM) of FOSS based on collaboration, community and the shared ownership of knowledge. This CIM has led to FOSS being the driving force for a vast spectrum of software--from small IOT devices to the ubiquitous smartphones to the largest of supercomputers and even the Mars Rover. This session unpacks the reasons why FOSS has become a powerful force in democratizing access to technology.
Speaker Bio:
Venkatesh Hariharan (Venky) is the India Representative of the Open Invention Network (OIN), an organization that protects the FOSS community from patent litigation.
Hariharan has 34 years of experience in journalism and public policy with organizations like Indian Express, IIIT Bangalore, Red Hat, Google, iSPIRT, the Data Governance Network at IDFC Institute and FOSS United. In these roles, he has been involved in key policy issues like open source in government, open standards, software patents, Indian Language Computing, free speech on the Internet, privacy, building and evangelizing Digital Public Goods, and many others. His long term interest is in democratizing access to technology and knowledge.
Hariharan was Executive Editor of Express Computer, a publication from the Indian Express Group and the first Indian to be selected for Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Knight Science Journalism Fellowship in 1998-99. At MIT, Hariharan looked at technologies that can be used to advance India’s development. Open Source Software stood out as the most powerful at a time when expensive proprietary software was the norm. On returning to India, Hariharan co-founded a non-profit called IndLinux.org and wrote an article titled, “Why Linux Makes Sense for India.” IndLinux worked with linguistic groups in India and abroad and is partly responsible for the fact that Linux desktops are now available in 17 Indian languages. Hariharan was awarded the Indian Open Source Personality of the Year award in 2006 by the organizers of the Linux Asia conference. Hariharan went on to serve as Corporate Affairs Director of Red Hat (Asia Pacific) from 2004 to 2011 and as head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for Google India from 2011-2012. He also served as Director Fintech for iSPIRT and set up the Omidyar funded Data Governance Network at IDFC Institute. He has extensive connections across industry, academia and government in India and abroad.
Hariharan’s writings on technology and open source can be seen at the following links:
www.venkytech.medium.com
https://opensource.com/users/venky
www.osindia.blogspot.com
As Generative AI revolutionizes technology, organizations face critical decisions about AI model adoption that go far beyond technical capabilities. This talk demystifies the crucial distinction between 'open weights' and genuinely open-source AI models, a difference that could significantly impact your project's future.
We'll explore:
The emerging landscape of AI model licensing and why "open weights" doesn't always mean "open source"
Critical factors in model selection, including new specialized licenses and their implications
Regulatory compliance challenges across different jurisdictions and how model choice affects global deployment
The often-overlooked importance of training data licenses and their downstream effects
A practical framework for evaluating AI models based on compliance, sustainability, and performance
Speaker Bio:
Innovative tech enthusiast and strategist with experience in Generative AI, XR, Digital Twins and industrial robotics. Vast experience in building and upscaling autonomous teams, setting up practices and product management. Tech innovator with 2 US patents granted in XR, 4 more patents filed. Built a tech start-up from the ground up and successfully handled assignments in setting up new product development teams. Skilled in real-time high-transaction rate enterprise systems and managing development teams. Specialized in setting up products and product teams from scratch and scaling them up.
This talk will explore the transformative impact of open-source practices on artificial intelligence, tracing its historical roots and examining how it's reshaping the AI landscape today. We'll delve into how open-source AI is democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies, fostering diversity in AI development, and driving innovation at an unprecedented pace. The presentation will also address the critical role of open-source in promoting responsible AI practices, discuss the challenges and risks inherent in open AI development, and examine the delicate balance between open-source contributions and commercial interests in the AI ecosystem.
Speaker Bio:
Navaneeth is a versatile technology leader with over 9 years of experience in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Perception &
Navigation, Internet of Things, and Enterprise Software Development. He specializes in researching and developing end-to-end AI,
ML, and IoT solutions, integrating edge computing and cloud technologies to harness the power of data and connectivity.
As the Founder, CEO, and Head of AI at Nunnari Labs, Navaneeth focuses on Enterprise AI, AI Research, AI Governance, and
fostering Responsible and Trustworthy AI practices. Previously, as Director of Innovation at KG Educational Institutions, he
spearheaded innovation, entrepreneurship, and community-building initiatives, establishing key partnerships and innovation
centres like the KGXperience Innovation Cell and the Future Mobility Technology Centre. In his earlier role as Director and CTO at
Antpod, he developed precision agriculture solutions using GIS and Robotics.
Navaneeth is passionate about driving cutting-edge AI innovations and mentoring the next generation of technologists. As the
Head of AI Tamil Nadu Community (formerly AI Coimbatore) and TensorFlow User Group Coimbatore, he leads a team dedicated
to educating students about AI’s transformative potential. His mission is to empower students to leverage AI for positive global
impact, whether through their careers or entrepreneurial ventures.
He has conducted Faculty Development Programs, led Corporate Training and Workshops, and provided research mentorship. As
a member of the Board of Studies at various colleges, Navaneeth contributes to advancing AI education.
Navaneeth’s strong background in AI and IoT is further demonstrated by his role as a Mentor at OpenMined, where he contributed
to developing secure, privacy-preserving AI tools, and as a Lead Course Instructor at Femtech Poland, where he developed AI
content focused on women’s empowerment through technical education. As an R&D Consultant with WAVVY IoT, he built a
LoRaWAN SaaS platform from scratch, and at Krish Tec, he collaborated on LPWAN technologies and LoRaWAN-based products,
exploring advancements in IoT hardware, sensors, software, and networking. He has also conducted IoT workshops at leading
institutions in Coimbatore.
“I firmly believe that Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Knowledge Not Shared is Wasted.”
