Leeds AI Mini Unconference

Software Crafters Leeds is running a mini unconference on Wednesday 8 July 2026, 6–8pm, at Platform on New Station Street. The theme is AI and its effect on the software industry: what's changed, what's working, what isn't, and what developers should be doing about it.

The format is deliberately informal. It opens with a short introduction, then attendees write topics on post-its and vote on what to discuss. The group splits into smaller circles to work through those topics. Suggested starting points include adapting to AI tooling, what happens to code quality and job satisfaction when AI is doing more of the work, what has actually shifted in the last twelve months, and war stories about things going wrong. The organisers note, with some self-awareness, that AI wrote several of those suggestions.

This replaces the group's usual Coding Dojo format for July. Pizza and drinks are provided, with vegetarian and vegan options. There is no ticket price.

Software Crafters Leeds is hosted under the broader Software Crafters community umbrella. Codurance, the consultancy behind much of the group's recent activity, has opened a Leeds office and is using the meetup as a way to engage with the local development scene. Platform, the venue, is a regular home for Leeds tech events and sits directly above Leeds railway station.

The unconference model suits a topic like AI well. Nobody has settled answers yet, and a structured panel talk would likely produce less useful conversation than a room of working developers comparing notes. If you want to talk to people who are actually shipping software with — or despite — AI tools, this is a reasonable place to do it.

Why attend

You will get two hours of structured-but-informal conversation with Leeds developers about AI in practice. Not keynotes, not vendor pitches — post-it notes and small group discussion led by whoever turns up.

The suggested topics cover the things most working engineers are actually thinking about: whether AI tooling is improving or eroding the quality of their work, what the last year has genuinely changed, and how to avoid the obvious mistakes. Pizza and drinks are included. The organiser is also looking for people willing to give a short 10–15 minute talk at a future meetup, so it is worth going if you have something to say.

Agenda

• 6:00 PM — Doors open, drinks and pizza available
• 6:00–6:15 PM — Short introduction from the host
• 6:15 PM — Topic selection via post-it notes
• 6:30 PM — Small group discussions on chosen topics
• 8:00 PM — Close