GitHub Universe 2023: A Curated Track for AI-Era Developers

GitHub Universe is introducing curated agendas for the 2023 event for the first time, with session lists compiled by product experts, speakers, and GitHub Stars. These agendas group talks around specific products, career paths, and topics. One notable track, built by GitHub’s Senior Director of Developer Advocacy, focuses on how AI intersects with the human side of software development. The sessions in this path target developers who want to understand their shifting role in an AI-assisted world, refine how they use tools like GitHub Copilot, and navigate the ethical landscape of the technology.

The Changing Role of the Developer

Several sessions address the immediate question of professional relevance. With code generation becoming commoditized, "How to do what AI just CAN’T: Proving your value when code is commoditized" examines how developers can lean into uniquely human skills. Along similar lines, "Generative AI and the future of development" offers practical context on where Copilot fits into realistic workflows. A session pitched as "AI: Superhero or super villain?" aims to cut through the hype and focus on how these models solve real problems rather than tech’s flashier possibilities.

Getting Practical with AI Tools and Prompts

The curated list spends significant time on hands-on usage. Two sessions dive into getting the most out of GitHub Copilot:

  • "How intentional prompts create game-changing suggestions" — tackles the frustrations common with AI coding assistants and moves toward practical prompt-writing techniques.
  • "Coding with an AI pair programmer: Getting started with GitHub Copilot" — explains how to use the tool to offload syntax-heavy grunt work and stay focused on higher-level problems.
  • "Take your command line skills to the next level with GitHub Copilot for CLI" — addresses common command-line syntax struggles and demonstrates a smoother approach to terminal workflows.

For anyone looking to build applications with generative models rather than just use AI features inside an editor, "Quickly build and deploy OpenAI apps on Azure, infused with your own data" provides a start-to-finish guide for creating AI-infused applications.

Ethics, Accessibility, and Team Workflows

Beyond individual tooling, the agenda covers collective responsibilities. Accessibility is the focus of "AI for accessibility and beyond," which highlights how AI can help developers build more inclusive technology. Open-source developers have their own set of concerns, addressed in "Unlocking the power of AI in open source, the ethical way."

Finally, two sessions examine process and team dynamics. On the individual level, "GitHub productivity via VS Code for rapid-context-switchers like me" offers concrete strategies for organizing workflows around constant multitasking. At the organizational level, "How GitHub operationalizes AI for teamwide collaboration and productivity" looks at GitHub’s internal adoption of AI and where the company sees the practice heading.

Attendees can pick and choose from these tracks or build their own schedules using the full curated agenda catalog, which includes paths for security professionals, engineering leaders, and other specialty groups. Other agendas cover additional GitHub products and disciplines. Virtual registration is free; in-person passes provide access to sessions in San Francisco.