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Belgium 01-10-2026 Squad Only Virtual english

Letting Teams Build Safely with Low-Code, No-Code, and AI Tools. ; How to enable business-led development while keeping security, architecture, and support under control.

Low-code, no-code, and AI tools are giving business teams more ability to build solutions themselves. The challenge is setting the right boundaries before fast local solutions become important operational assets. Three pressure points need attention. - Boundaries must be clear: teams need to know what they can build alone and what requires IT, security, or architecture review. - Supportability matters when a quick solution becomes business-critical. - Risk control remains necessary around data access, compliance, security, process dependency, and maintenance. The working question is simple: how do we enable business-led development while keeping security, ownership, and support under control? If you are trying to enable this safely, let’s compare approaches with others facing the same balance.

Belgium 06-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Token Trap: Reclaiming Control of Enterprise AI

As enterprise AI transitions from experimental Proofs of Concept (POCs) into real implementations, digital leaders are encountering a shared challenge: consumption-based public cloud token billing models do not fit neatly into traditional IT budgeting. Daily token consumption can rise unexpectedly, pushing expenses through the roof while arbitrary caps quickly kill momentum for innovation. For many CIOs, this raises an open strategic question: How do we keep costs under control while further stimulating innovation? During this interactive CIONET roundtable, we will explore among peers how to navigate AI tokenomics. Rather than treating public cloud LLMs as the default path, we will investigate how different execution environments, ranging from hybrid cloud setups and targeted on-premise models to specialised edge hardware, can help balance cost with performance. This session is intentionally designed as an open peer-to-peer exchange; a space to compare notes, challenge current ways of working and architectural setups, and discuss practical approaches to building predictable, scalable AI models.

Belgium 08-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Permanent (R)evolution

Every large organisation has been through a major transformation, and most through several. The word transformation is misleading because it suggests a beginning and an end. But organisations that do well are the ones that have given up on the idea of arriving and realise that constant change has become the new norm, and missing a single cycle leaves you permanently behind. This evening, two leaders will share how they think about this, coming from opposite directions. John Porter led Telenet through a sustained period of reinvention spanning the pandemic, a full reorganisation into tribes, M&A, and a shift to a performance driven culture. Along the way, the IT department was dissolved and technology was embedded inside autonomous tribes that run as small businesses. There is no CIO at Telenet. It is Telenet Group’s purpose to become a digital-first, customer-centric organisation. To deliver on this ambition, it has embarked on a transformation journey built on three pillars: (i) the implementation of a scaled-agile operating model (organisation), (ii) the acceleration of digitisation and automation underpinned by optimised IT systems, platforms, and strategic technology partnerships (digitisation), and (iii) a performance leadership culture focused on accountability, ownership, and a change mindset (culture). Kris Vervaet, on the other hand, has just become CIO at KBC, the bank whose mobile app has been ranked best in the world three times and whose AI assistant Kate now handles 70% of customer queries on its own. But Kris is no ordinary CIO: he ran DPG Media Belgium as CEO, and KBC went looking for someone who has led transformation rather than someone who manages technology. So while one organisation got rid of the CIO role, the other reinvented it, and both are thriving. The conversation will range across organisational and IT redesign, the rise of digital-first customer experience, the impact of AI on how every business is run, and the harder questions of culture, talent and leadership. The question for every leader in the room is what that tells you about your own role, your own operating model, and the pace at which you are prepared to keep evolving.

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GE Appliances Helps Consumers Create Personalized Recipes From the Food in Their Kitchen with Google Cloud's Generative AI

GE Appliances offers users the ability to generate custom recipes based on food in their kitchen with Flavorly™ AI powered by Vertex AI.

New features introduced via GE Appliances' SmartHQ consumer app generate custom recipes and provide a new conversational interface for appliance use and care

LOUISVILLE, Ky. and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, and Google Cloud today announced an expansion of their partnership to enhance and personalize consumer experiences with generative AI. GE Appliances' SmartHQ consumer app will use Google Cloud's generative AI platform, Vertex AI, to offer users the ability to generate custom recipes based on the food in their kitchen with its new feature called Flavorly™ AI. SmartHQ Assistant, a conversational AI interface, will also use Google Cloud's generative AI to answer questions about the use and care of connected appliances in the home.

"This collaboration is a good example of how we are transforming our entire business landscape, from product design and manufacturing to customer interaction," said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances. "Our goal is to be 'zero distance' from our consumers, ensuring we always deliver products and experiences that truly resonate. Our partnership with Google Cloud is a prime example of our commitment to providing consumers with the seamless, personalized experiences they desire."

GE Appliances' SmartHQ app includes two innovative features using Google Cloud's generative AI:

Flavorly AI: Flavorly AI uses generative AI to create a selection of unique recipes for consumers based on their food preferences and the ingredients they have available in their kitchen. Take for example, a familiar experience in homes across America: It's 6:30 p.m.; there is no dinner plan; and a selection of seemingly random ingredients are in the refrigerator. Consumers can simply select a recipe category and type of cuisine, then input available ingredients and include any dietary preferences. They will receive tailored recipes with ingredients, instructions, and even photos. Consumers are invited to use Flavorly AI even without a connected GE Appliance in the home, by downloading the SmartHQ app in the app store and creating a user account. SmartHQ is available in Android and iOS.
SmartHQ Assistant: Accessible through a chat bubble on the SmartHQ app home screen, the SmartHQ Assistant eliminates the need to search through junk drawers to find that missing instruction manual. Consumers can simply ask the SmartHQ Assistant questions related to registered connected appliances, and it will quickly offer the answers. From water filter replacement recommendations to cleaning tips, the assistant will crawl GE Appliances' owner manuals, providing quick and accurate answers.

GE Appliances gained access to Google Cloud's cutting-edge AI tools and developed these innovative products quickly to serve the growing needs of its consumers. GE Appliances also plans several updates – for example, a review feature for Flavorly AI will be launched later in the fall, allowing users to rate recipes and enhance the AI model further for consumer benefit.

"We are seeing a variety of brands across industries invest in generative AI to help them create deeper, more meaningful connections with their customers," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. "GE Appliances is another great example of this. Already renowned for delivering high-quality appliances to homes around the country, GE Appliances will use our AI technology to help create highly personalized, helpful, and easy-to-use digital experiences for consumers."

About GE Appliances
At GE Appliances we make the world a better place, and our team is committed to leading in the communities where we live and work. Today, our appliances are in 50 percent of all U.S. homes, and our business is committed to serving every family in the country. We are a purpose-rooted and passion-driven organization that believes there is always a better way. We manufacture and sell products under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier, and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners and water filtration systems. For more information on our company, brands, and corporate citizenship, visit geappliancesco.com.

About Google Cloud
Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business and industry. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology, and tools that help developers build more sustainably. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

SOURCE Google Cloud

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Google Cloud Vertex AI

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