Women Building AI: What Holds Up in 2026 - A Roundtable Discussion (side event of World Summit AI during World AI Week 2026)
About the Event:
AI systems are rapidly transitioning from experimentation to integral components of technical operations. With models being deployed and code continuously refined with AI, the landscape is evolving fast. Skills that were once specialized are now becoming essential in team dynamics.
The big question for 2026 is: How do we navigate these changes?
This second edition of Women Building AI is a curated, invite-only gathering for those involved in building, deploying, and operating AI systems. Expect a collaborative environment with less emphasis on the stage and more focus on peer interactions.
Event Highlights:
- One keynote address
- Five guided roundtables for practical exchanges
Who Should Attend:
This gathering is designed for:
- Engineers
- ML Researchers
- Product Builders
- Founders
- Architects
- Technical PMs
- AI Infrastructure Teams
- Semiconductor Specialists
Whether you're engaged in building AI systems or technical products employing AI, this roundtable provides a platform to exchange real decisions and pose sharper questions with peers.
Roundtable Themes:
- Engineering Judgment - Assessing the impact of AI-generated code on senior technical judgment.
- Architecture of Agency - Deciding when to use agents, skills, workflows, or more constrained methods.
- Agents in Production - Exploring failure modes, oversight, tooling, and operational patterns.
- Measuring After Launch - Evaluating observability, drift, and feedback loops post-deployment.
- The Silicon Layer - Understanding how chips, memory, latency, and energy influence AI system design.
Final framing and moderators will be announced closer to the event.
Agenda:
- 15 mins: Arrival & Check-in
- 15 mins: Welcome by Women in AI Benelux and Sponsors
- 30 mins: Spark Talks: 5 short talks of 5 minutes each setting the stage for roundtable themes.
- 10 mins: Roundtable Briefing & Table Setup
- 50 mins: Roundtable Discussions (small-group discussions at assigned tables)
- 15-20 mins: Topic Group Synthesis (tables coming together for key takeaways)
- 15 mins: Break
- 30 mins: Cross-table Sharing (sharing insights with the full room)
- 45 mins: Networking & Drinks
Total Duration: ~ 4 hours
In Town for World Summit AI?
Join us while in Amsterdam for the World Summit AI 2026! This is an intimate setting to:
- Connect with peers early in the week
- Meet women actively working with AI in Benelux
- Kickstart conversations that extend into the summit
Informal Community Moments:
- Women in AI Lunch Networking: Network in a casual setting.
- Women in AI Stranger Dinner: Join solo, meet others, and foster connections during AI Week.
Stay Updated: Details will be shared on LinkedIn and in the World Summit AI app.
About Women in AI Benelux:
Women in AI Benelux is part of a global nonprofit do-tank aimed at increasing female representation in AI through community initiatives, events, and partnerships throughout the Benelux region and beyond. We strive to create intentional, relevant spaces that focus on not just discussing AI, but actively participating in its development and application.
To Join:
Spaces are limited! Click Request to Join and complete the short form to express your interest. We'll confirm your spot shortly!
AI House
Get directions
