AI for Busy Java Developers

Yep, we know you’re knee-deep in production Java deployments and don’t exactly have time to learn about AI. But your manager and the senior executives in your company are mentioning “AI” seemingly at every meeting. And you’re watching unsettling YouTube posts about how GenAI will take your job or that 90% of all AI projects fail. Pretty scary, right?

In this session, I will fast-track you through AI/ML focused on Java developers who need to get the job done without the need to drill down into data science and complicated math. This presentation is designed for junior and intermediate Java developers who need to understand how non-deterministic tools can be effectively utilized throughout the software development process. You will gain a practical introduction to AI and Machine Learning with a focus on the Java ecosystem, featuring hands-on coding using LangChain4j, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other APIs.

This session will cover how neural networks and large language models (LLMs) process information, how to craft effective prompts and manage context, and how to use embeddings and vector databases to support Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) for helpful responses. We will explore reusable prompt templates, the building blocks of chatbot architectures, and provide a brief introduction to agents, all while learning how to integrate GenAI in an ethical and responsible manner and manage potential risks.

By the end of this presentation, you should understand the very essence of AI/ML, so that you will understand what AI is and how to use it for successful deployments properly.