Join me in Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for Visual Studio Live! Las Vegas 2026. I’ll be delivering a two-day, hands-on workshop on Python + AI, plus two sessions on building and designing AI agents for real-world enterprise use.

Workshop - Elevate Your Career with Python and AI (2-Day Hands-On Lab)

According to the TIOBE Index, Python currently stands as the most popular programming language. Its remarkable trajectory over the past three decades can be attributed to its simplicity, expansive ecosystem of libraries and packages, and versatility across domains like data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT, robotics, and automated task execution.

Join me for an immersive hands-on lab—a two-day expedition into the world of Python, AI, and ML. You don’t need any prior knowledge of Python or AI to attend. We’ll begin with the bedrock principles of Python, and on day two we’ll explore the foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning through many types of problems, scenarios, and algorithms.

Day 1 — Getting Started with Python

Day: Monday, March 9, 2026

On Day 1, we’ll start by setting up a modern Python development environment with Visual Studio Code. Then we’ll spend the rest of the day writing Python together—focusing on the parts of Python that matter most for today’s software developers, data engineers, and AI developers.

We’ll cover fundamentals like variables, data types, functions, conditionals, loops, and error handling, then quickly move into Pythonic patterns and conventions that make your code readable, maintainable, and production-ready. Along the way, we’ll work with core data structures, comprehensions, type hints, dataclasses, and modules so you can structure and reuse code effectively—and we’ll do a practical introduction to object-oriented design in Python.

From there, we’ll explore the standard library and the broader ecosystem of packages you’ll use in practice (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib). You’ll see how to manage dependencies and environments, use Notebooks for interactive exploration, and bring Python into data and analytics workflows with platforms like Microsoft Fabric.

We’ll also introduce automated testing and debugging in VS Code so you can gain confidence in your Python code from the start.

To close out Day 1, we’ll bring it all together by building a small, AI-ready Python service—including a simple web app using Flask and FastAPI to show how foundational Python skills can power modern applications that call AI and machine learning models.

Before we wrap, we’ll also look at calling Python code from C# using CSnakes.

Day 2 — Introduction to Artificial Intelligence using Python

Day: Friday, March 13, 2026

To attend Day 2, you should have either attended Day 1 or already have strong working knowledge of Python with a functional development environment—there won’t be time on Day 2 for Python fundamentals or environment setup.

On Day 2, you’ll immediately get to employ your Python knowledge to craft practical solutions across key domains of AI and machine learning. We’ll dive into foundations of AI, including search algorithms, knowledge representation, uncertainty modeling, optimization strategies, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.

We’ll use established libraries such as Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NLTK, and more, and we’ll explore platforms like Azure Machine Learning to create and deploy machine learning models and solutions.

We’ll also spend time on generative AI, large language models, and prompt engineering: working with LLMs and AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and more; using LLMs with your private data; and navigating prompt engineering and orchestration with tools like LangChain. We’ll close by exploring agentic, LLM-orchestrated solutions that can autonomously perform tasks and make decisions.

Rapidly Create Intelligent AI Agents with Copilot Studio

Day: Thursday, March 12, 2026

AI agents are no longer experimental; they are becoming core building blocks for enterprise automation, productivity, and user interaction. Copilot Studio is Microsoft’s low-code platform for building intelligent AI agents that can reason, act, and integrate securely across your organization.

In this session, I’ll show how to use Copilot Studio to rapidly create enterprise-ready AI agents that go far beyond simple chatbots. We’ll explore how generative orchestration replaces rigid dialog trees, how to define agent behavior using topics, triggers, and actions, and how to ground responses in trusted enterprise data. You’ll see how to connect agents to real systems using APIs, Power Platform connectors, and Microsoft 365 integrations—enabling agents to take meaningful action on behalf of users.

We’ll also cover agent memory, multi-turn conversation design, and built-in governance capabilities—showing how Copilot Studio helps teams build, deploy, and manage AI agents that deliver real business value while meeting enterprise security and compliance requirements.

Designing AI Agents and Agentic AI Solutions

Day: Thursday, March 12, 2026

While models and tools for building AI agents continue to evolve quickly, the long-term success of agentic solutions depends far more on sound design, architecture, and user experience than on any single framework or SDK.

In this session, we’ll focus on the architectural and UX decisions that matter most when building agents that can reason, plan, and act on behalf of users in real-world enterprise environments.

We’ll cover core concepts like defining agent responsibilities and boundaries, choosing between single-agent and multi-agent architectures, managing context and memory, and designing action and tool interfaces that are safe and predictable. We’ll also explore patterns for orchestration, human-in-the-loop workflows, and failure handling—plus anti-patterns that lead to brittle or untrustworthy agents.

Beyond architecture, we’ll talk about agent UX: how users interact with agents, how agents explain their reasoning and actions, and how to design conversational and non-conversational interfaces that build trust and clarity. Real-world enterprise scenarios will be used throughout so you leave with a practical mental model and a set of patterns you can apply immediately.

Event Highlights

• A 2-day, laptop-open workshop that takes you from Python fundamentals to AI/ML + generative AI.
• Practical patterns for environments, testing, debugging, and building AI-ready Python services.
• Hands-on coverage of modern AI/ML libraries and platforms like Azure Machine Learning.
• Two agent-focused sessions: building quickly with Copilot Studio and designing agentic solutions that hold up in production.
• Plenty of time to connect with other developers and Microsoft insiders.

Register & Connect

• Save $500 on a Conference Pass using my Priority Code “BOYD”: Register Now and Save $500

• Visit the event site for full details: Visual Studio Live! Las Vegas 2026

• Ping me on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn to let me know you’re coming.