Mind the GeekConference50min
Rewriting the rules: How AI transforms engineering and inspiring young minds
This talk shows how AI drives innovation in regulated banking, improving developer productivity through agentic automation, prompt libraries and Copilot. It also highlights social impact via Devoxx4Kids, where engineers built playful coding and cybersecurity learning platforms for children, inspiring the next generation.
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Ayoub Hammou AhabchaneING
Kamel ZaraouiING
Description
This talk challenges the perception that innovation cannot thrive in highly regulated environments like banking. As engineers working within strict rules and predefined tech stacks, we showcase how AI is actively transforming our daily work. We explore concrete initiatives such as instruction files, agent-based automation, skills-driven architectures, emerging agentic hubs and internal prompt libraries that enhance knowledge sharing. We also highlight how tools like Copilot significantly boost developer productivity.
Beyond enterprise use, we share our involvement in ING’s Devoxx4Kids initiative, where we inspire children aged 7-14 to explore technology. We present two platforms we developed: CodeKids Lab, which teaches programming through playful interaction and Cybersecurity Lab, which raises awareness of digital threats in an engaging way. AI plays a key role in enabling both innovation and education.
Key Takeaways
Target Audience
This presentation targets software engineers, tech leads and innovation enthusiasts working in regulated industries, as well as developers interested in applied AI. It also appeals to educators and professionals passionate about using IT for social good and inspiring the next generation.
This talk challenges the perception that innovation cannot thrive in highly regulated environments like banking. As engineers working within strict rules and predefined tech stacks, we showcase how AI is actively transforming our daily work. We explore concrete initiatives such as instruction files, agent-based automation, skills-driven architectures, emerging agentic hubs and internal prompt libraries that enhance knowledge sharing. We also highlight how tools like Copilot significantly boost developer productivity.
Beyond enterprise use, we share our involvement in ING’s Devoxx4Kids initiative, where we inspire children aged 7-14 to explore technology. We present two platforms we developed: CodeKids Lab, which teaches programming through playful interaction and Cybersecurity Lab, which raises awareness of digital threats in an engaging way. AI plays a key role in enabling both innovation and education.
Key Takeaways
- AI can thrive even in constrained, regulated environments
- Tangible gains in developer productivity through AI tooling
- AI can extend beyond business value to create social impact
- A real example of engineers turning curiosity into meaningful initiatives
Target Audience
This presentation targets software engineers, tech leads and innovation enthusiasts working in regulated industries, as well as developers interested in applied AI. It also appeals to educators and professionals passionate about using IT for social good and inspiring the next generation.
Ayoub Hammou Ahabchane
IT Engineer with 13+ years of experience evolving across multiple roles, from Operations to Team Leadership, Project Management, and currently Lead Java Engineer.
My journey has given me a strong end to end understanding of systems, delivery, and people management.
I bring a hands-on technical mindset combined with leadership and ownership, enabling me to bridge the gap between business needs and engineering execution.
My journey has given me a strong end to end understanding of systems, delivery, and people management.
I bring a hands-on technical mindset combined with leadership and ownership, enabling me to bridge the gap between business needs and engineering execution.
Kamel Zaraoui
Curious by nature, enthusiastic about new technologies, and always ready to take on challenges with a positive mindset.
For the past 8 years, I have been developing backend and frontend applications using Spring Boot and Lit HTML, with a strong focus on quality, performance, and user experience.
Alongside my work, I have a strong passion for cybersecurity, knowledge sharing, and artificial intelligence. I combined these three areas to design awareness workshops accessible to young audiences (from age 10 and up). The goal is to clearly and simply illustrate online risks — such as phishing, deepfakes, public Wi-Fi, VPNs, authentication, and SSL — and help them understand what is dangerous and what is not.
To support this educational approach, I leveraged AI to build an interactive platform accessible to everyone: 👉 https://kamelzar.github.io/CyberQuestKids/html/workshop.html#
For the past 8 years, I have been developing backend and frontend applications using Spring Boot and Lit HTML, with a strong focus on quality, performance, and user experience.
Alongside my work, I have a strong passion for cybersecurity, knowledge sharing, and artificial intelligence. I combined these three areas to design awareness workshops accessible to young audiences (from age 10 and up). The goal is to clearly and simply illustrate online risks — such as phishing, deepfakes, public Wi-Fi, VPNs, authentication, and SSL — and help them understand what is dangerous and what is not.
To support this educational approach, I leveraged AI to build an interactive platform accessible to everyone: 👉 https://kamelzar.github.io/CyberQuestKids/html/workshop.html#