The room was a mix of voices.
Students, venture capitalists, researchers, engineers, and founders moved between discussions. A Meta employee listened in on a conversation about open-source AI while a physiotherapist explored AI’s role in health tech and considered a career change. Nearby, a small group took over an office to debate which industries could be reshaped by AI in the next decade.
This was the scene at the latest GenAI Collective event in Toronto. Held at Next Canada on Feb. 6, the gathering was structured around open discussions rather than formal presentations.
Topics ranging from AI-powered productivity tools to the economics of large language models were written on sheets of paper and placed around the room or held aloft. Attendees picked a discussion, joined a group, and later rotated to another.
“We value smaller discussions,” says Karan Deep, one of the co-leads of the Toronto chapter. “Large events have their value, but here, we want people to come together, talk to each other, and leave with something meaningful.”
A grassroots AI movement
The GenAI Collective was launched in San Francisco by a group of AI enthusiasts in February of 2023. This included serial tech entrepreneur Chappy Asel who also hosted the first Toronto event before handing the reins over to a local team.
What started as informal meetups to discuss AI developments has expanded to 30 cities, including New York, London, Paris, Bangalore, and Toronto, with a global community of 30,000 members. Toronto was the second international chapter to launch.
“The origins of AI research are here,” says Deep. “So it felt like a natural place for the Collective to grow.”
Unlike traditional networking events, this one has no stage and no keynote speaker. Instead, conversations formed organically around topics like AI-assisted search and planning, monetization strategies, and open-source versus proprietary AI. Some discussions drew large crowds while others were tight-knit, each shaped by the enthusiasm of the person holding the topic card.
Next Canada hosted the event during a break between its cohort programs, which was an opportunity they saw to raise awareness and support Toronto’s AI community.
JJ Tang, founder of the event’s sponsor Rootly, an AI-powered incident management company, added that he sees Toronto’s AI talent as an underutilized resource. He says he believes companies in Canada don’t receive enough recognition and that supporting local events like this one helps strengthen the ecosystem.
Where it goes from here
The GenAI Collective may soon be rebranded to reflect a broader focus beyond generative AI. But the format of informal discussions, small group interactions, and a focus on AI development remains the same.
“I want people to leave feeling inspired and having had a good time,” says Deep. “And if someone meets a collaborator or gets an idea that turns into something real, whether that is a business, a research project, or just a meaningful connection, that is even better.”
As AI continues to evolve faster than regulations and policies can keep up, these conversations are becoming a key part of how local AI ecosystems develop.
This article was created with the assistance of AI. Learn more about our AI ethics policy here.
