![September 10th Meetup: AI Safety Awareness Project [Nerds Like Me]](https://images.aitinkerers.org/blog_images/website-header-png-aZHB.png)
![(Photo) An indoor evening photo shows a speaker presenting on 'How do LLMs work?' to an audience gathered in a dimly lit room with brick walls and string lights. The speaker stands to the left of a large projection screen, gesturing as he talks, while the audience sits at tables, mostly facing the screen. Text: Quick Review: How do LLMs work? Predicting the next word, one token at a time Input: "The man jumped into the [unreadable]" - Output: "The man jumped into the big, blue, pool." How this works: The man jumped into the [unreadable] -> "big." The man jumped into the big [unreadable] -> "blue." The man jumped into the big, blue [unreadable] -> "pool." [unreadable] people, presentation, indoor event | indoor, dimly lit room with brick walls and string lights | speaker, audience, projection screen, secondary monitor, exposed brick, string lights | candid, event photography | Colors: #332B25, #F0F0F0, #FFC107, #7A7A7A Note: The image is a direct photographic capture of a real-world event, featuring people, a room, and a presentation.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/blog_images/img-5719-jpeg-x1Rp.jpg)
Welcome to our next gathering of AI, data, and product enthusiasts. Expect lively conversation, practical insights, and plenty of opportunities to meet people building interesting things in the real world.![(Photo) The image shows an indoor event where a group of people are attending a presentation. Two individuals are standing at the front, one speaking into a microphone while another gestures towards a large projector screen displaying a software interface with text and a list of project types. Text: New Chat How do I make a pylon handle? New Chat New Chat How do I make a pylon handle? How do I make a pylon handle? A pylon handle is a device that allows people to easily and safely carry a pylon. Pylon handles are typically made of durable materials such as plastic or metal, and they are designed to be comfortable to grip. Some pylon handles also have features such as a non-slip grip or a reflective strip for increased visibility. To make a pylon handle, you will need the following materials: A piece of PVC pipe or other durable tubing A hacksaw or other cutting tool Sandpaper A drill Screws or rivets A handle grip (optional) Instructions: 1. Cut the PVC pipe to the desired length. The length of the handle will depend on the size of the pylon and your personal preference. 2. Sand the edges of the PVC pipe to remove any sharp edges or burrs. 3. Drill holes in the PVC pipe for the screws or rivets. The holes should be evenly spaced and large enough to accommodate the screws or rivets. 4. Attach the handle grip to the PVC pipe, if desired. 5. Attach the pylon handle to the pylon using the screws or rivets. Tips: Use a strong, durable material for the pylon handle to ensure that it will last. Make sure that the pylon handle is securely attached to the pylon so that it does not come loose. If you are using a handle grip, make sure that it is comfortable to grip and that it provides a good grip. You can also add a reflective strip to the pylon handle for increased visibility. This information is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should consult with a qualified professional for any specific advice or assistance. Type a message... Send Project Type Project Title Project Description API API Client API Gateway API Proxy API Service API Spec API Template API Version Application Auth Auth Client Auth Server Auth Token Auth User Automated Test Azure AD Azure Blob Azure Cosmos DB Azure Event Hub Azure Function Azure Key Vault Azure Logic App Azure Service Bus Azure SQL Azure Storage Azure Web App Backend Backend Service Batch Job Bot Build Build Agent Build Pipeline CI/CD Cloud Cloud Function Container Container App Container Image Container Registry Data Database Database Migration Deployment Deployment Pipeline DevOps DevOps Pipeline DevOps Tool Docker Docker Image Docker Registry Event Event Hub Event Stream Feature Feature Flag Frontend Frontend Service Function Function App Git GitHub GitLab GraphQL GraphQL API Helm Helm Chart Identity Identity Server Integration Integration Test IoT IoT Device IoT Hub Kubernetes Kubernetes Cluster Lambda Load Balancer Logging Machine Learning Managed Service Messaging Microservice Mobile App Monitoring Network OAuth OAuth Client OAuth Server OpenAPI OpenAPI Spec OpenID Connect Orchestration Platform PostgreSQL PowerShell Product Project Queue RabbitMQ React Redis REST API SaaS Security Serverless Service Service Bus Service Mesh SQL SQL Database Storage Stream Streaming Test Testing Tool UI Unit Test User User Interface Web App Web Service Workflow Xamarin XML YAML You can ask for helpful context. [unreadable] (from smaller screen on left) Group of people attending a presentation or talk. | Indoor, likely an event space or bar with exposed brick walls, industrial-style lighting, and a casual atmosphere. | Large projector screen displaying software/documentation, two presenters at the front, an audience seated in chairs, and ambient lighting. | Candid, event photography. | Colors: #8B4513, #1A1A1A, #333333, #F0D44F, #FFD700 Note: The image is a direct photographic capture of a real-world event, documenting people, a specific setting, and a presentation screen, which aligns with the definition of a 'photo'.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/blog_images/img-5724-jpeg-zD-U.jpg)
![(Photo) An indoor photo captures a group of people attending a presentation in a dimly lit venue with brick walls and string lights. A presenter stands near a large projector screen displaying text content, while the audience is seated at tables, mostly viewed from behind. Text: S p [unreadable text on screen] people attending a presentation/event | indoor, bar/restaurant event space with brick walls | multiple people, projector screen, presenter, string lights, industrial decor | candid, event photography | Colors: #4A3C32, #1A1A1A, #C0C0C0, #3366FF Note: The image is a realistic capture of an event, showing people and a scene, which clearly falls under the 'photo' category.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/blog_images/img-5722-jpeg-aGjP.jpg)
September 10th Meetup: AI Safety Awareness Project
Nerds Like Me – September 10th Meetup
![(Photo) An indoor evening photo shows a speaker presenting on 'How do LLMs work?' to an audience gathered in a dimly lit room with brick walls and string lights. The speaker stands to the left of a large projection screen, gesturing as he talks, while the audience sits at tables, mostly facing the screen. Text: Quick Review: How do LLMs work? Predicting the next word, one token at a time Input: "The man jumped into the [unreadable]" - Output: "The man jumped into the big, blue, pool." How this works: The man jumped into the [unreadable] -> "big." The man jumped into the big [unreadable] -> "blue." The man jumped into the big, blue [unreadable] -> "pool." [unreadable] people, presentation, indoor event | indoor, dimly lit room with brick walls and string lights | speaker, audience, projection screen, secondary monitor, exposed brick, string lights | candid, event photography | Colors: #332B25, #F0F0F0, #FFC107, #7A7A7A Note: The image is a direct photographic capture of a real-world event, featuring people, a room, and a presentation.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=1400,format=auto,quality=85/blog_images/img-5719-jpeg-x1Rp.jpg)
Welcome to our next gathering of AI, data, and product enthusiasts. Expect lively conversation, practical insights, and plenty of opportunities to meet people building interesting things in the real world.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, September 10th
- Time: 7:15 PM to 9:15 PM
- Location: Chicago North Shore (exact venue shared after you RSVP)
![(Photo) The image shows an indoor event where a group of people are attending a presentation. Two individuals are standing at the front, one speaking into a microphone while another gestures towards a large projector screen displaying a software interface with text and a list of project types. Text: New Chat How do I make a pylon handle? New Chat New Chat How do I make a pylon handle? How do I make a pylon handle? A pylon handle is a device that allows people to easily and safely carry a pylon. Pylon handles are typically made of durable materials such as plastic or metal, and they are designed to be comfortable to grip. Some pylon handles also have features such as a non-slip grip or a reflective strip for increased visibility. To make a pylon handle, you will need the following materials: A piece of PVC pipe or other durable tubing A hacksaw or other cutting tool Sandpaper A drill Screws or rivets A handle grip (optional) Instructions: 1. Cut the PVC pipe to the desired length. The length of the handle will depend on the size of the pylon and your personal preference. 2. Sand the edges of the PVC pipe to remove any sharp edges or burrs. 3. Drill holes in the PVC pipe for the screws or rivets. The holes should be evenly spaced and large enough to accommodate the screws or rivets. 4. Attach the handle grip to the PVC pipe, if desired. 5. Attach the pylon handle to the pylon using the screws or rivets. Tips: Use a strong, durable material for the pylon handle to ensure that it will last. Make sure that the pylon handle is securely attached to the pylon so that it does not come loose. If you are using a handle grip, make sure that it is comfortable to grip and that it provides a good grip. You can also add a reflective strip to the pylon handle for increased visibility. This information is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should consult with a qualified professional for any specific advice or assistance. Type a message... Send Project Type Project Title Project Description API API Client API Gateway API Proxy API Service API Spec API Template API Version Application Auth Auth Client Auth Server Auth Token Auth User Automated Test Azure AD Azure Blob Azure Cosmos DB Azure Event Hub Azure Function Azure Key Vault Azure Logic App Azure Service Bus Azure SQL Azure Storage Azure Web App Backend Backend Service Batch Job Bot Build Build Agent Build Pipeline CI/CD Cloud Cloud Function Container Container App Container Image Container Registry Data Database Database Migration Deployment Deployment Pipeline DevOps DevOps Pipeline DevOps Tool Docker Docker Image Docker Registry Event Event Hub Event Stream Feature Feature Flag Frontend Frontend Service Function Function App Git GitHub GitLab GraphQL GraphQL API Helm Helm Chart Identity Identity Server Integration Integration Test IoT IoT Device IoT Hub Kubernetes Kubernetes Cluster Lambda Load Balancer Logging Machine Learning Managed Service Messaging Microservice Mobile App Monitoring Network OAuth OAuth Client OAuth Server OpenAPI OpenAPI Spec OpenID Connect Orchestration Platform PostgreSQL PowerShell Product Project Queue RabbitMQ React Redis REST API SaaS Security Serverless Service Service Bus Service Mesh SQL SQL Database Storage Stream Streaming Test Testing Tool UI Unit Test User User Interface Web App Web Service Workflow Xamarin XML YAML You can ask for helpful context. [unreadable] (from smaller screen on left) Group of people attending a presentation or talk. | Indoor, likely an event space or bar with exposed brick walls, industrial-style lighting, and a casual atmosphere. | Large projector screen displaying software/documentation, two presenters at the front, an audience seated in chairs, and ambient lighting. | Candid, event photography. | Colors: #8B4513, #1A1A1A, #333333, #F0D44F, #FFD700 Note: The image is a direct photographic capture of a real-world event, documenting people, a specific setting, and a presentation screen, which aligns with the definition of a 'photo'.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=1400,format=auto,quality=85/blog_images/img-5724-jpeg-zD-U.jpg)
AI Safety Awareness Project
The AI Safety Awareness Project (https://aisafetyawarenessproject.org) joins us to discuss critical topics in AI safety, alignment, and responsible AI development.
About the Organization:
The AI Safety Awareness Project is dedicated to helping the public understand the rapid advances in artificial intelligence and their implications for society. Their work focuses on raising awareness about both the opportunities and risks of powerful AI systems in order to foster a well-informed public and intelligent public discourse.
About the speaker: Nate Nichols
As VP of Product Management at Tableau/Salesforce, Nate owns the Agentic Analytics strategy and works with product development teams across Tableau to define and communicate that vision. Nate was previously Chief Scientist at Narrative Science (acquired by Tableau in 2021) and has over 40 patents related to text generation and rhetorical modeling. He earned his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Northwestern University in 2010, with a thesis titled “Machine-generated Content.” Since 2025, Nate has become passionate about AI safety, leading a half-dozen public workshops in Chicago, delivering a commencement address, and soon launching a podcast in that space.
Hands-On Demo: Jailbreaking LLMs
We’ll get hands-on with frontier large language models, using basic techniques to jailbreak them and bypass their safety guardrails. We’ll discuss questions such as:
- What barriers make today’s most capable AI models difficult to jailbreak?
- What could bad actors do with a jailbroken AI model?
- As AI capabilities continue to advance, what effects might we begin to see across society?
No technical background is required—just curiosity about the future of AI.
What You Can Do Now
- RSVP – reserve your seat (location revealed after RSVP)
- Subscribe for updates: https://nerdslikeme.dream.page
- Complete your profile – we’ll use it in an upcoming session to spark deeper conversation.
-
Whitelist us – add
[email protected]to your contacts so you never miss an invite. - Help spread the word – share this event with someone who’d be interested in AI safety and responsible development.
![(Photo) An indoor photo captures a group of people attending a presentation in a dimly lit venue with brick walls and string lights. A presenter stands near a large projector screen displaying text content, while the audience is seated at tables, mostly viewed from behind. Text: S p [unreadable text on screen] people attending a presentation/event | indoor, bar/restaurant event space with brick walls | multiple people, projector screen, presenter, string lights, industrial decor | candid, event photography | Colors: #4A3C32, #1A1A1A, #C0C0C0, #3366FF Note: The image is a realistic capture of an event, showing people and a scene, which clearly falls under the 'photo' category.](https://images.aitinkerers.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=1400,format=auto,quality=85/blog_images/img-5722-jpeg-aGjP.jpg)
See you soon, both familiar faces and first-timers alike.
Jonathan Shertok
Organizer, Nerds Like Me