Reliability guarantees in production AI
Reasoning proposes, infrastructure enforces. Everyone agrees on the principle. Nobody agrees where the boundary sits.
A Sphere Event Series
Ground Truth
ground truth, noun · In machine learning, the verified correct answer a model is graded against. An invite-only afternoon for engineers working at the intersection of AI x regulated industries.
The Premise for the Day
A half-day event for senior engineers interested in building where AI and regulated industries with zero room for error meet.
For most AI applications, ground truth ends at the eval set. Models ship on benchmark scores and A/B tests, and "good enough" is a product decision.
Compliance doesn't work that way. The jurisdiction sets the rate. The authority holds the position. The filing is right or it's wrong. Ground Truth brings together the senior engineers building to the bar where there is zero margin for error - tax, finance, healthcare, legal, payroll - for a half-day of technical and in-depth discussion.
What Ground Truth will cover
Two panels of senior engineers from companies like Anthropic, Harvey, and more, discussing real technical questions at the heart of building. No ambiguous keynotes, no sales decks. Then, afterwards, an evening to connect with peers interested in solving difficult problems: curated 1:1s and a long reception.
Jurisdiction-aware models and human-in-the-loop design
A frictionless Approve button produces legal cover, not oversight. Where automation stops and review begins, from teams that drew the line in production.
Compliance as a moat
One camp says everything, everywhere is compliance. The other says domain depth just delays the inevitable. Someone in this room is wrong.
Doors at 1PM. Last call at 9PM.
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Doors open · Welcome
Check-in, coffee, and informal networking.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Opening framing
Nick Rudder, CEO, Sphere: the infrastructure thesis behind AI in heavily regulated industries.
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Panel 1
Where do reliability guarantees sit in compliance heavy industries and where does automation stop and human review begin?
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Subsurface session
A 20-minute deep dive into a problem submitted with an application, tied to Panel 1.
4:15 – 5:15 PM
Break
Introductions matched across the room. Coffee, light bites.
5:15 – 6:30 PM
Panel 2
Is deep domain depth genuine technical defensibility, or does it just delay the inevitable as models climb?
6:30 – 7:00 PM
Subsurface session
The second deep dive from the room.
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Reception
Heavy appetizers, open bar, and networking until late.
Location
Dogpatch,
San Francisco
Doors at 1PM. Last call at 9PM. Check-in, coffee, and informal networking.
Dogpatch, San Francisco
AddressWith your invite
The practical part
Yes. Ground Truth is hosted by Sphere. Your application is the ticket.
Coffee and light bites through the afternoon, heavy appetizers and an open bar at the reception. Come hungry, stay late.
Senior engineers and technical leaders building AI where regulation bites: tax, finance, mortgages, payroll, insurance, and their neighbors. If a wrong answer in your product means a legal or financial consequence, this room is for you.
Invites are individual, but have them apply. Teammates working on the same systems tend to make strong applications.
No. Panels and Subsurface sessions stay in the room.