Large‑language‑model agents are only as useful as the context and tools they can reach.

Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) proposes a universal, bidirectional interface that turns every external system—SQL databases, Slack, Git, web browsers, even your local file‑system—into first‑class “context providers.”

In just 30 minutes we’ll step from high‑level buzzwords to hands‑on engineering details:

• How MCP’s JSON‑RPC message format, streaming channels, and version‑negotiation work under the hood.
• Why per‑tool sandboxing via isolated client processes hardens security (and what happens when an LLM tries rm ‑rf /).
• Techniques for hierarchical context retrieval that stretch a model’s effective window beyond token limits.
• Real‑world patterns for accessing multiple tools—Postgres, Slack, GitHub—and plugging MCP into GenAI applications.

Expect code snippets and lessons from early adoption.

You’ll leave ready to wire your own services into any MCP‑aware model and level‑up your GenAI applications—without the N×M integration nightmare.

This talk dives into the challenge of measuring the causal impact of app installs on customer loyalty and value, a question at the heart of data-driven marketing. While randomized controlled trials are the gold standard, they’re rarely feasible in this context. Instead, we’ll explore how observational causal inference methods can be thoughtfully applied to estimate incremental value with careful consideration of confounding, selection, and measurement biases. This session is designed for data scientists, marketing analysts, and applied researchers with a working knowledge of statistics and causal inference concepts. We’ll keep the tone practical and informative, focusing on real-world challenges and solutions rather than heavy mathematical derivations.

Attendees will learn: * How to design robust observational studies for business impact * Strategies for covariate selection and bias mitigation * The use of multiple statistical and design-based causal inference approaches * Methods for validating and refuting causal claims in the absence of true randomization We’ll share actionable insights, code snippets, and a GitHub repository with example workflows so you can apply these techniques in your own organization. By the end of the talk, you’ll be equipped to design more transparent and credible causal studies-and make better decisions about where to invest your marketing dollars.

Requirements:
A basic understanding of causal inference and Python is recommended. Materials and relevant links will be shared during the session

As AI systems evolve, the need for robust infrastructure increases. Enter Dapr Agents: an open-source framework for creating production-grade AI agent systems. Built on top of the Dapr framework, Dapr Agents empowers developers to build intelligent agents capable of collaborating in complex workflows - leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), durable state, built-in observability, and resilient execution patterns. This workshop will walk through the framework’s core components and through practical examples demonstrate how it solves real-world challenges.