We’re Live Streaming Spacewalk 2026!
January 6, 2026
Thrilled to announce we’re live streaming the January 13 Spacewalk event.
Spacewalk, the annual kick-off meetup we host every year, will take place Tuesday evening at Marble Museum’s IMAX Theater in downtown Raleigh, NC. It’s talking place in partnership with All Things AI.
The program will feature 6 world-class speakers discussing their “one big idea” related to AI in 2026. Basically, the one big idea or topic the ATO community should be focused on / paying attention to as we enter the new year.
We hope you’ll attend in person, but if not, please join us online starting at 6:30 pm ET.
The Details
What: Spacewalk 2026 – the official kick off to the new year
When: Tuesday evening, January 13
Open/Start: Doors open onsite at 6:00, the live stream starts at 6:30 pm ET sharp
RSVP: An RSVP is required for the in-person program at IMAX
Details and RSVP
Seating Limit: There is a seating limit in the IMAX Theater. Please move quickly if interested as RSVP’s will be limited.
In Partnership: This event is in partnership with All Things AI
Questions: Contact us at info@allthingsopen.org
Speakers and Topics
AI Tooling in 2026
Mark Hinkle, CEO/Founder @ Peripety Labs
Mark Hinkle is the CEO and Founder of Peripety Labs, a leading digital consultancy that empowers enterprises to maximize success with AI. With over 25 years of experience in enterprise software and emerging technologies, Mark has a proven track record of driving innovation and growth in emerging tech, including AI, open source software, cloud, and DevOps.
In addition to his leadership at Peripety Labs, Mark is the Publisher of The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise (AIE) Network, a group of AI-focused newsletters that offer actionable insights for business leaders. With over 250,000 subscribers, the AIE Network provides in-depth, practical guidance on leveraging Generative AI for business success. His flagship publication, The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise, delivers cutting-edge insights on enterprise AI adoption.
A sought-after speaker on enterprise AI, Mark also co-founded the RDU Artificial Intelligence Meetup, fostering a thriving community of over 1,800 AI professionals and enthusiasts in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Mark has held key executive roles, including CEO and co-founder of TriggerMesh, a venture-backed cloud integration company funded by Cisco, Index Ventures, and Crane Ventures. He also served as an executive at Cloud.com, The Linux Foundation, and Citrix, where he played pivotal roles in advancing open source technologies.
AI Governance
Nithya Ruff, Head of the Amazon Open Source Program Office/Chair Linux Foundation Board
Nithya A. Ruff is the Head of the Amazon Open Source Program Office. She drives open source culture and coordination inside of Amazon and engagement with external communities. Open Source has proven to be one of the world’s most prolific enabler of innovation and collaboration, and Amazon’s customers increasingly value open source innovation and the cloud’s role in helping them adopt and run important open source services. In the age of AI, the value of open and transparent AI is becoming critical to building trust. Nithya takes her decades-long knowledge of open source principles and brings them to the world of AI. Prior to Amazon, she started and grew Comcast and Western Digital’s Open Source Program Offices. Open Source Program Offices are a critical part of a company’s digital transformation and innovation journey and enable the intentional and systematic engagement with open source for companies.
Nithya has been director-at-large on the Linux Foundation Board for the last 5 years and in 2019 was elected to be Chair of the influential Linux Foundation Board. She works actively to advance the mission of the Linux Foundation around building sustainable ecosystems that are built on open collaboration. She is a passionate advocate and a speaker for opening doors to new and diverse people in technology and can often be seen speaking and writing on this topic.
Nithya graduated with an M.S. in Computer Science from NDSU and an MBA from the University of Rochester, Simon Business School and is an aspiring corporate board director and governance enthusiast. You can follow her on twitter @nithyaruff and you can find her on https://www.linkedin.com/in/nithyaruff/
Pronouns: She/Her
AI-powered voice agents and production-ready voice AI systems
Andre Lassiter, Managing Partner, MS3IT
With over 20 years of experience in information technology and security, I have developed a diverse skillset that allows me to provide strategic solutions for organizations. As Managing Partner at MS3IT Business Solutions, I currently lead initiatives to implement artificial intelligence and automation to help companies boost efficiency, qualify leads, and empower data-driven decisions. Previously, as Program Manager at Secureworks, I ran the PCI focused vulnerability management program, overseeing security protocols and compliance. My earlier roles included serving as a System Administrator at SECU, where I gained valuable hands-on experience managing IT infrastructure and support.
Follow me on LinkedIn or Personal Website
Severing the Tether: Why Cloud AI Can’t Run the Real World
Matt Hamann, CTO & Co-Founder, LlamaFarm
Matt Hamann is the CTO and Co-founder of LlamaFarm, where he is building the infrastructure for a local-first AI future. Based in Raleigh, Matt is a Y Combinator alumnus and the Co-founder of Rownd, bringing a “founder-first” perspective to the edge computing space.
Matt’s expertise is rooted in over a decade of high-stakes engineering. He spent ten years at IBM, where he served as a Development Team Leader architecting large-scale, policy-compliant cloud systems for the Fortune 50. This background in enterprise-grade stability now drives his mission at the edge, where he advocates for decentralized intelligence and data sovereignty.
Matt holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a firm believer in the power of open-source communities to democratize AI and is dedicated to helping developers build high-performance, secure systems that run where they belong: in the user’s control.
Tech Education in the Age of AI
“Eli the Computer Guy” – Eli Etherton, Silicon Dojo
Eli runs Silicon Dojo a free, hands on technology program based off of what he has learned providing tech education on YouTube since 2009 to his 1+ Million subscribers. He has been a tech professional since starting in the US Army in 1996 in electronics repair.
Follow Eli on YouTube (along with 1+ million others) and on LinkedIn
AI & Accessibility
Maria Lamardo, GitHub
Maria Lamardo is a passionate accessibility advocate with expertise in front-end engineering, inclusive design, and digital inclusivity. Beyond her professional contributions, Maria is an active international speaker, sharing her deep knowledge and practical insights at conferences, workshops, and online platforms to promote the importance of accessibility. She’s big on lifting others up and mentors people in the field, teaching them about accessibility best practices with an emphasis on creating enjoyable experiences for all users. When she’s not busy, you can find her crocheting, paddling through waters in her kayak, or hitting the trails with her Husky, fully embracing the adventure life!
Follow Maria on LinkedIn
AI & DevRel
Budhaditya Bhattacharya, Tyk
Budhaditya Bhattacharya is the Director of Product Ecosystems at Tyk, where he drives product education, expands the API ecosystem, and champions open standards adoption. He co-created the API Platform Maturity Model, teaches courses, speaks at conferences, and hosts Tyk’s annual LEAP event.
As Board Chair of the OpenAPI Initiative, he leads efforts to grow membership, refine its value proposition, and drive adoption of OAS, Arazzo, and Overlays.
Part product strategist, part developer advocate, and part storyteller, Budha is on a mission to remove friction from API ecosystems—ideally with a sharp metaphor and a well-placed pun.
Follow Budha on LinkedIn