In June 2025, The AI Collective officially launched as a nonprofit. Described by officials as the world's largest grassroots AI community, the organization was formerly known as The GenAI Collective. The AI Collective is a 100,000-plus member global community with more than 100 chapters across 30 countries. One of those chapters is located in the Tri-Valley and led by Jessie Chen, who joined the organization in July.

“We unite builders, researchers, and leaders around human-centered progress with in-person events and research initiatives,” according to Chen. “In the Tri-Valley, our mission is to grow a thriving local AI ecosystem, connecting small businesses, startups, and creators. We intentionally uplift youth and women in tech and AI by curating diverse speakers and visible role models, lighting the path for the next generation of AI innovators.”

Newcomers might be surprised by just how welcome they will feel at the group’s events, Chen says. As Chen explains, “You don’t need to be ‘in tech.’ If you’re curious about AI, you’re invited. We keep events free and accessible so people with all ages can learn practical takeaways. Our Tri-Valley chapter is community-driven and family-friendly. We bring top-tier Bay Area speakers and local content and run youth STEM activities alongside. People, especially parents, can attend without a long commute or childcare scramble, opening the door for more founders, investors, students, technologists, and curious neighbors to participate.”

On October 23, for example, The Tri-Valley AI Collective hosted a Halloween-themed event in Pleasanton featuring experts from NVIDIA and HiddenLayer. The discussion covered emerging trends in large language model (LLM) training, real-world risks when shipping LLM features, and practical guardrails to build user trust. The event helped local founders and builders connect, share tactics, and ship safer AI products, according to Chen.

“Our chapter reflects Tri-Valley talent,” Chen notes. “We offer a stage for working professionals to share expertise; for students, including young entrepreneurs, to showcase projects; and for women leaders to be more visible. It’s a supportive space to mentor, learn, and grow together.”

Upcoming events include The AI Collective Tri-Valley Holiday AI Demo and Mixer on Wednesday, December 10 beginning at 5:30 pm. Space is limited, so register early to attend. In early 2026, a workshop in January will focus on AI education for small businesses that will feature hands-on tips and tools and in February an AI hackathon for high school and college students. The group plans a flagship conference, World AI Week, for the second quarter of 2026. Officials describe it as a decentralized gathering that will “mobilize founders, researchers, developers, and investors to shape the future of AI through trust, openness, and collaboration.”

The AI Collective grew out of a meeting in San Francisco in February 2023. The nonprofit’s officials say that “through its focus on in-person connection, participatory research via The AI Collective Institute, and support for mission-aligned innovation via Collective Investments, the organization serves as a vital hub for sense-making, collaboration, and responsible stewardship in the age of artificial intelligence.” The group’s corporate partners include AWS, Meta, Anthropic, Roam, and Product Hunt.

For more information about The AI Collective Tri-Valley, please visit www.aicollective.com/chapters/tri-valley.

For more information about The AI Collective as a whole, please visit /www.aicollective.com, www.linkedin.com/company/aicollective, or www.instagram.com/_ai_collective.