Have an idea for a panel discussion for IndiaFOSS 2024?
If you have a compelling topic in mind and are interested in hosting a panel, we invite you to propose your idea. Once approved, you can start reaching out to potential panelists and shape a discussion that could be the highlight of the event!
To propose a panel discussion, reply to this thread with the following details:
Title of the panel
Objective
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points
Format (Q&A, a debate, or a roundtable discussion)
Let’s make IndiaFOSS a hub of meaningful conversations and collaborations. We can’t wait to hear your ideas!
Title: Understanding Commercial Open Source Software
Objective: To get founders of commercial open source software (venture-backed and bootstrapped) to share about their journeys and choices made while building their companies
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points:
I am coming from the background here that not many founders/devs understand COSS well, and it might be good to talk more about it during IndiaF(reedom)OSS as a possible path for OSS enthusiasts. I expect some pushback from the audience - but a little spice is mostly nice.
Can open source and commercial software co-exist?
What are the best ways to commercialise - hosting/open-core/support - and what has worked/not worked for you?
What help has the open source journey provided to you as a product? Contributions? Distribution? Trust? Brand? Flexibility?
Do VCs like the open source route? Or does it deter VCs from investing? Is the answer different for Domestic vs Foreign VCs?
Why did you choose your specific license - permissive/non-permissive?
Why have so many companies rolled back on their permissive licenses recently and do you foresee this happening for your projects?
In hindsight, would you reverse your choice of being open source?
Should all kinds of tools and projects consider taking the open source route even while building a commercial venture?
Format (Q&A, a debate, or a roundtable discussion)
Panel + Q&A - panelists of venture-backed (example Hasura, Appsmith, Signoz etc) and bootstrapped (Frappe, Bruno etc) founders
Title of the Panel: Harnessing Knowledge Graphs for Enhanced AI Accuracy and Reasoning
Objective: To explore the transformative potential of integrating knowledge graphs with large language models (LLMs) to improve factual accuracy, reasoning capabilities, and handling of complex information in AI applications.
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points: In the realm of artificial intelligence, achieving high levels of factual accuracy and reasoning remains a significant challenge. Traditional large language models (LLMs) often fall short in these areas, limiting their effectiveness in real-world applications. This panel discussion will delve into how knowledge graphs can bridge these gaps, specifically through techniques like GraphRAG.
Key discussion points will include:
The current limitations of LLMs in terms of factual accuracy and reasoning.
An introduction to knowledge graphs and their integration with LLMs.
The concept and advantages of GraphRAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation using Graphs).
Challenges and best practices in implementing knowledge graphs with LLMs.
Title of the panel:
Do open source and DPGs need each other?
Objective:
To understand how people in the two communities understand these terms, to what extent are the goals of the two additive, and how/when, if at all, are the goals of open source and DPGs incompatible?
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points:
Defining DPGs and identifying projects that qualify as successful open source projects and DPGs.
The need for DPGs as a category of projects, distinct from open source
Are DPGs and open source interchangeable?
When, if at all, is the use of one to describe the other misleading/ harmful? What is the harm?
Way forward for the two communities to productively engage with each other.
Churning and Turning Away: Why Do Contributors Lose Steam?
Key focus: To explore the challenges faced by open source projects in retaining contributors and maintaining project momentum, identifying key factors leading to contributor churn, and proposing strategies to foster a sustainable open source community.
Brief: Open source software has become the backbone of countless industries, yet the communities that power these projects often struggle with retention. This panel will delve into the complex issues surrounding contributor churn and the decline in project momentum. We will examine the factors that drive new contributors away, the challenges faced by long-term maintainers, and the toxic behaviors that can poison a community. By understanding these issues, we aim to identify strategies for fostering healthier, more sustainable open source ecosystems. This panel will feature experienced maintainers, community builders, and researchers who will share their insights and experiences.
Join us as we explore how to revitalize open source projects, create inclusive and welcoming communities, and ensure the long-term success of open source software.
Talking points:
The New Contributor Dilemma: Why do so many people express interest in contributing but never follow through?
Burnout and Overwhelm: The challenges faced by long-term maintainers and how to prevent burnout.
Toxic Community Dynamics: The role of negativity, gatekeeping, and lack of inclusivity in driving away contributors.
Sustainability and Recognition: Exploring models for sustaining open source projects and recognizing contributors’ efforts.
Reinvigorating Projects: Strategies for re-engaging dormant contributors and attracting new talent.
The Future of Open Source: How can we create healthier, more sustainable open source ecosystems?
Title: Open Source & AI: Understanding the Urgency of Data Activation
Objective:
Discuss importance of data in AI/ML development and explore effective strategies for leveraging open-source ecosystems to activate and utilize AI results in business applications.
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points:
As AI and model development advances rapidly, the availability and quality data have become crucial factors in determining the success and effectiveness of AI models. This panel will examine the intricate relationship between open source, data availability, and AI applications.
Key Discussion Points:
How does data availability impact AI model development?
What role does open-source play in accelerating data availability for AI/ML model development?
Challenges in creating, maintaining, and sharing high-quality datasets for AI
Future trends in data-centric AI and the potential of open source to address data scarcity issues.
Format: Q&A/Roundtable Discussion
Panelists: The discussion will feature a diverse group of experts, including:
Objective: To explore whether OSPOs are necessary, when they should be established, and which types of organizations benefit most from them, guidelines and best practices for implementation and management of an OSPO.
Discussion Points:
Assessing the Need for OSPOs
Challenges and risks organizations may face without an OSPO
Which types of organizations can benefit the most from an OSPO. Which organisations may not require one at all?
How to tailor an OSPO to the needs of your organisation
Objective: To share inspiring personal stories of individuals who have built successful careers in open source, highlighting their journeys, challenges, and the impact of open source on their professional growth.
Discussion Points:
Sharing individual journeys
Key projects and contributions
Challenges faced
Improving communication
Open Source etiquette. How not to ask for help
Advice for newcomers
Format: unmoderated panel discussion followed by interactive Q&A
Spaces of Trust: Designing Community Spaces as Public Good for Hackers and Changemakers
Objective
To explore the challenges and opportunities in creating and sustaining offline community spaces as public goods, and to share strategies for building trust and fostering inclusive, effective environments for hackers and changemakers.
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points
Description:
This panel will discuss the concept of community spaces as public goods, focusing on the unique challenges these spaces face, particularly when open to the public. It will cover the importance of building trust, ensuring psychological safety, and practical solutions from various perspectives including established hacker spaces, change maker communities, funders, and aspiring founders.
Key Discussion Points:
The Need for Community Spaces as Public Goods:
Why are open, offline community spaces essential for hackers and changemakers?
The unique benefits of physical spaces in fostering collaboration and innovation.
Challenges in Creating Public Community Spaces:
Awareness and Engagement: How to attract and retain community members.
Inclusivity: Ensuring the space is welcoming and accessible to diverse groups.
Resource Management: Securing funding, managing resources, and maintaining sustainability.
Safety and Security: Addressing concerns around physical and psychological safety.
Logistics: Managing the day-to-day operations and upkeep of the space.
Building Trust and Psychological Safety:
The role of trust in creating effective community spaces.
Defining psychological safety and its impact on participation and collaboration.
Role of Funding and Support:
Insights from funders on funding initiatives that support community spaces.
Strategies for securing and effectively utilizing financial resources.
Solutions and Best Practices:
Case studies and successful strategies from TinkerHub, Aikyam, and a new founder.
Practical steps for overcoming the identified challenges.
Future Perspectives:
Adapting to the evolving needs of the community.
Long-term vision for sustainable and impactful community spaces.
Format
Panel Discussion:
Introduction (5 minutes)
Moderator’s opening remarks and panelist introductions.
Discussion (30 minutes)
Structured questions from the moderator, with each panelist providing their insights on the key discussion points.
Panelist 1 (TinkerHub): Addressing challenges in hacker spaces.
Panelist 2 (Aikyam): Overcoming obstacles in changemaker spaces.
Panelist 3 (Funder): Funding perspectives and solutions.
Panelist 4 (New Founder): Personal experiences and strategies in creating a new space.
Q&A Session (7 minutes)
Audience questions directed to the panelists, facilitated by the moderator.
Closing Remarks (3 minutes)
Summary of key takeaways by the moderator and final thoughts from the panelists.
Title: Envisaging An Open Source Bridge Across Nvidia’s AI Moat
Objective
To get members of the public policy, industry/startup, and open-source communities to discuss the technical, economic, and geopolitical barriers to creating an open-source alternative to NVIDIA’s dominant CUDA platform, which is now ubiquitous for scientific computing and AI workloads.
Brief Description
NVIDIA’s proprietary CUDA software, architecture, and programming platform has become the de facto standard for developing and running AI workloads on GPUs, creating a significant moat that entrenches NVIDIA’s dominance in AI hardware. As AI becomes an increasingly critical technology, this raises concerns around vendor lock-in, reduction in competition, and troubling geopolitical implications for countries seeking to build resiliency for their nascent AI industries. Efforts to create open-source translation layers (such as ZLUDA) or drop-in replacements like AMD’s ROCm have either been stymied or haven’t found purchase.
Discussion Points
The technical and ecosystem advantages that have made CUDA so dominant, and why is this a cause of concern for industry and nation-states alike?
Prospects and limitations of open source alternatives like ROCm, ZLUDA, and OpenCL.
Building the “CUDA killer”: What would it take to create an open-source ecosystem that rivals CUDA?
Can policy interventions help balance this need for openness with incentives for innovation in an extremely fast-paced field like AI?
Should governments, therefore, help build and champion an “open” AI technology stack?
Title of the panel: Leveraging FOSS for AI Risk Mitigation
Objective: This session will be a panel discussion on how FOSS principles can be leveraged for mitigating common risks in AI use cases. It will conclude with a short presentation on Hasgeek’s AI and Risk Mitigation report which will be launched in August.
Brief Description and Key Discussion Points:
As AI continues to revolutionize various sectors, it brings both unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. In India, sectors such as Agritech, Fintech, Edtech, public services, and Healthtech are rapidly adopting AI technologies. However, the lack of robust risk mitigation strategies can lead to unintended consequences, including data breaches, algorithmic biases, and systemic vulnerabilities.
Developments in FOSS can help mitigate some of these risks and contribute to not only building responsible AI, but also creating a culture around it.
The discussion will cover the following topics -
Role of FOSS principles and methods in mitigating risks like bias, lack of transparency and accountability in AI systems, privacy, etc.
Role of FOSS communities in fostering collaboration and conducting peer reviews to improve the security and reliability of AI technologies.
Impact of FOSS on shaping legal and policy frameworks around AI, including licensing models and regulations to promote responsible AI deployment.
Challenges faced in implementing FOSS-based mitigation strategies for AI risks, as well as opportunities for innovation and improvement in AI governance through FOSS collaboration.
Format:
Panel discussion followed by a short presentation, ending with audience Q/A. The discussion will include 4-5 panelists and 1 moderator, and I will be the presenter.
Hi @ansh and organizers,
By when do we know if the panel proposals are selected for the conference? If selected, will need some time to coordinate with panelists as well.
Understanding Commercial Open Source Software - Moderated by @Nikhil_Kapur
Churning and Turning Away: Why Do Contributors Lose Steam? - Moderated by @Ram_Iyengar
Open Source & AI: Understanding the Urgency of Data Activation - With more emphasis on the Open Source AI aspect. The format is subject to a few edits here and there on the discretion of other panelists/moderator.
Moderated by @Anwesha_Sen1
OSPOs and Organisations has been converted to a BoF and will be evaluated against the other BoF proposals.
Have an idea for a panel discussion for IndiaFOSS 2024?