Overview
GAINS 2026 is an engineering-first summit focused on AI native systems, production AI, orchestration, observability, governance, and operating AI at scale. Held in Bengaluru, this two day event gathers engineers, architects, platform teams, educators, and practitioners to explore the evolving software engineering practices around intelligent software. The program emphasizes not just AI hype but practical systems that are reliable, secure, governable, and observable within real world constraints. Attendees can expect a mix of keynote talks, technical sessions, hands-on workshops, and interactive discussions that bridge architecture, infrastructure, and product impact in AI enabled software.
Format and agenda
GAINS covers a broad set of tracks including coding agents, AI assisted software development, orchestration, evaluation, governance, and autonomous operations. The event features sessions that delve into architectural patterns for AI native systems, live demonstrations of security and reliability considerations, and case studies from large enterprises and open source communities. The program includes parallel tracks with talks, workshops, and panel discussions designed for software engineers, architects, and platform teams. Networking opportunities and expo elements are integrated to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Tracks, sessions, and highlights
Key sessions explore topics such as:
- Building multimodal applications with Gemini 2.5 and the Gemini SDK, including practical exercises and hands-on demonstrations.
- Secure software engineering with focus on OWASP Top 10 for applications, APIs, and LLMs, with live demonstrations and mitigation strategies.
- Demystifying Generative AI: building a ChatGPT app with vector stores, covering vector search, APIs, embedding generation, and prompt engineering.
- Understanding flow in software engineering, architectural thinking, and the 20 minute rule for expanding technical breadth.
- AI and ethics: navigating responsible technology, data privacy, bias mitigation, and governance considerations.
- Node.js in the enterprise: enterprise deployments, latency, event driven architecture, debugging, and practical case studies.
- Retail tech and headless commerce as a lens on AI native architectures and living services in real-world scenarios.
Speakers and speakers’ expertise
GAINS brings together recognized practitioners and thought leaders, including:
- Venkat Subramaniam, Agile Developer and educator, specializing in software architecture and agile practices.
- Mary Grygleski, VP of Global West Hemisphere at AI Collective, focused on distributed systems and developer advocacy.
- Scott Davis, Web Architect and Digital Accessibility Advocate, with emphasis on inclusive design.
- Neal Ford, software architect, author, and speaker on architecture and delivery.
- Michael Carducci, Hands-on Software Architect and Magician, known for communicating complex concepts through storytelling.
- Apurva Misra, AI consultant with focus on strategy and practical AI adoption.
- Tiankai Feng, Thoughtworks leader in Data and AI Strategy.
- Ari Kaplan, Databricks executive, broader AI and data platform insights.
Who should attend
This conference is designed for software engineers, security and reliability practitioners, architects, platform engineers, and product teams who are actively building AI-native systems or integrating intelligent capabilities into enterprise software.
Takeaways
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to design and operate AI-native software at scale, including architectural patterns, governance considerations, security practices, and lessons learned from real-world deployments. The event also aims to foster connections across practitioners and vendors to accelerate the responsible adoption of AI in production.
FAQs
GAINS is an in-person event with clear emphasis on engineering disciplines and real-world applicability. Attendees should plan for Bengaluru, contact organizers for travel details, and review ticketing options for single or two-day passes. The event will feature talks, workshops, and opportunities to engage with speakers and peers.
