AI is hot right now and Microsoft are one of the key players with a full range of technologies ranging from simple AI-based APIs to Bots, Machine Learning and Deep Neural Network software.

In this hands on workshop, Microsoft experts will take you through the full range of services within Microsoft’s AI platform. This workshop is aimed at regular developers (web, mobile, full stack, back end etc) who are keen to learn how they can use Cognitive Services, Bot Framework and Azure Machine Learning to create amazing applications and services.

The day will be split into several sessions which comprise part presentation and part guided lab. The idea is that you can follow along on your own laptop and get hands-on, working experience with Microsoft’s AI services.

The labs will be focussed on JavaScript/Node, but don’t worry if you don’t know those languages as the code samples are very simple and there will be people to help on the day, also many of the labs involve using online portals and systems rather than coding.

At the end of this workshop, you’ll have working knowledge and your own set of samples for how to build Microsoft AI services into your applications.

(Breakfast, lunch and unlimited refreshments will be provided on the day)

** 20% Discount for students please purchase tickets directly with the Fusion Team

For employer paid bookings invoices can be provided if required. Please contact Hannah at Team@fusionmeetup.com

WHATS COVERED IN THE WORKSHOP?

The Microsoft AI Platform

There is an arms race in the world of artificial intelligence. Microsoft, IBM, Amazon and Google are the players and the prize is the next big technology revolution. Mainstream AI is here and in this session, we'll start to look at the broad range of AI technology Microsoft has to offer.

Computer Vision Services

There is a wealth of information contained in images. Microsoft’s computer vision services help us to understand that visual data as text, by providing captions, recognizing handwritten text, and identifying emotions. In this session we’ll explore what is possible with the vision based APIs, and see how they’re used in real-world applications.

Key services include:

• Face API with Black Radley
• Computer Vision API
• Custom Vision API with Makaton

Knowledge Services

In this session we'll look at the knowledge-based cognitive services. These services help you use data and knowledge to do things like recommendations, personalized content and natural language based search and FAQs. After this session you will have working knowledge of how to configure and call the knowledge APIs as well as some tips and best practices.

This session will be part presentation and part lab.

Key services include:

• Cortana Recommendations Solution with JD Sports
• Q&A Maker with Innocent drinks
• Custom Decision Service

Speech Services

Users are becoming used to the idea of speaking to a device via services like Alexa, Siri and Cortana, but how do you make sure your app (website, bot, mobile app) can join in the fun? In this session we'll explore a set of Microsoft Cognitive Services which enable voice-to-text and text-to-voice services which can make sure your app understand what your user is saying, even when they are actually saying it.

This session will be presentation only, no lab.

Key services include:

• Bing Speech
• Custom Speech

Language Services

Cognitive services has a language offering which can be integrated into applications, websites and tools, allowing real-time translation of 60+ supported languages, analysis of sentiment, key phrase extraction, and much more. We’ll also look at an example of how we can add language understanding with LUIS to make our bots and applications smarter.

This session will be part presentation and part lab.

Key services include:

• LUIS with GigSeekr
• Translator
• Text Analytics

Bots

Bots are a new type of App. One which fundamentally changes we the way we interact with our devices. Bots will lead to a world where we are using natural language to interact with device and services. Microsoft are investing heavily in bots with the Microsoft Bot Framework and Azure Bot Service. In this talk we'll look at what a bot is, design patterns for bots and the Microsoft Bot Framework which lets you write a single bot that is published to multiple social channels such as Skype, Facebook and Slack.

This session will be part presentation and part lab.

Key services include:

• Bot Framework
• Azure Bot Service
• LUIS

Machine Learning

All of the AI services covered int the workshop to this point will have been built using machine learning. In this session we'll cover some of the core principles of machine learning and looks at some of the tools and technologies we have to enable your own machine learning experiments with your own data.

In the lab we'll work through a machine learning problem using the high-level ML Studio GUI.

This session will be part presentation and part lab

Key services include:

• Azure Machine Learning with ML Studio