Start Building in 2026: A Live AI Project Kickoff

About this event

Build Something in 2026: A Live AI Project Kickoff

Every January, hordes of people resolve to “learn AI.”

But by February, most of them are watching tutorials alone, unsure what to build—or whether they’re making any real progress.

This event is designed to help change that. Instead of another talk or demo, we’ll kick off collaborative AI projects live and form small teams that continue working together after the event — supported by shared infrastructure and light coordination.

What this event is about

This session is a hands-on project launch for people who want to:

• Move beyond courses and demos
• Build something concrete they can point to
• Learn AI by doing alongside others
• Stay accountable through community and shared momentum

By the end of the event, you won’t just feel motivated—you’ll be part of a project team with a clear next step.

This is a project kickoff and team formation session, not a lecture and not a coding workshop. You’ll be joining a real project under the NYC AI from Scratch umbrella, with just enough structure to keep things moving — without anyone being over-committed or micromanaged.

What will happen at the event

1. Project Overviews
We’ll present several real-world, portfolio-worthy AI project ideas (e.g. research tools, decision-support systems, civic or health-focused tools, applied data products).
Each project is designed to:

• Be feasible for mixed-experience teams
• Teach practical AI skills through application
• Produce something demonstrable (not toy demos)

Projects may span areas like applied research tools, decision support, civic or health-adjacent applications, or data-driven products.

2. Live Team Formation
You’ll join a small project team based on:

• Your interests
• Your background (technical, research, product, domain, or exploratory)
• What you want to learn this year

No pressure to be “advanced.” Curiosity and commitment matter more.

3. Clear Next Steps
Each team will leave with:

• A defined project goal
• A rough timeline (weeks, not months)
• Communication channels and onboarding instructions

You’ll know exactly what happens after the event.

Who this event is for

This event is a good fit if you are:

• Curious about AI but overwhelmed by where to start
• A professional who wants hands-on experience, not just theory
• A researcher, analyst, engineer, designer, or domain expert
• Someone who values accountability and collaboration

You do not need:

• A computer science degree
• Prior AI project experience
• To already “know what you’re doing”

Curiosity, reliability, and willingness to collaborate matter more.

What you’ll walk away with

• A real project you’re contributing to
• A small team to learn and build with
• A credible portfolio artifact in progress
• Momentum that lasts beyond February

Many past participants have used similar projects to clarify career direction, build confidence working with AI, and create work they can publicly point to.

Logistics & expectations

• Format: Virtual (highly participatory)
• RSVPs are capped to keep teams small and interactive
• A short optional survey will be sent beforehand to help balance teams
• Please RSVP only if you plan to attend and participate actively

About the group

NYC AI from Scratch is a learn-by-building community focused on understanding AI from first principles and applying it thoughtfully to real problems. We emphasize collaboration, clarity, and depth over hype.

If you’ve been waiting for “the right moment” to finally build something with AI, here it is.
👉 Space is limited to keep teams manageable. RSVP early.