Part 1 - Context

This section will focus on providing some background information about the development of high-profile emerging technologies such as quantum computing, blockchain/crypto, AI etc, and illustrate the impact of effective Devrel in those spaces. For example we will surprise the audience by informing them that the abstract for this talk was written with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT (a powerful cutting edge AI tool), demonstrating how effective DevRel practitioners can showcase emerging technologies in engaging and impactful ways.

We’ll focus on key questions like what does DevRel look like in this space? Why is DevRel important in emerging technologies? What unique challenges do DevrRel practitioners face here?

In this section we will also introduce IBM Quantum and explain how our DevRel mission has evolved over the past 5 years from a small team, focusing on a couple of hackathons a year, to a successful, mature DevRel program reaching 100k+ quantum enthusiasts through events, documentation, developer programs, YouTube, Medium and more.

Part 2 - Start with what you know

Here we will focus on some of the core principles of DevRel that transcend different industries, which form a solid foundation for any DevRel program, even those in emerging technologies. At IBM Quantum we have learnt over the years that there are certain elements of DevRel that are universal - devs love swag, community is key, good documentation is essential etc. etc. and we want to share some of the standard DevRel practices that have worked especially effectively in quantum computing. Ultimately this section aims to convince audience members that they already have valuable skills they can bring to the table to start building an effective DevRel srategy in completely new fields of technology.

Part 3 - Spot the Difference

Once the audience understands how to lay a solid foundation with standard DevRel practices, this section will move on to tackle the biggest differences between regular DevRel and DevRel for emerging technologies. We will focus on understanding what stage of maturity the emerging technology is currently in, and how that affects the type of users you engage with and what their differing needs are. At IBM Quantum we have put in significant effort to understand how our users needs differ from regular technologists, and thus how to adapt our DevRel strategy accordingly.

Part 4 - Dealing with Hype

Excitement about an emerging technology is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it can make DevRel easier, with minimal effort needed to reach a broad audience of interested users. However on the other hand, it also inevitably leads to media hype riddled with false or misleading claims about the potential of that new technology, making it more difficult for DevRel practitioners to attract the right type of user and retain their trust. This section focuses on how to cut through the hype to connect with users in a more meaningful way, and avoid falling for the hype traps ourselves. Quantum computing has of course been the subject of a huge amount of media hype, so we will address how our DevRel team deals with this.

Part 5 - Uncertain technology in Uncertain times

This section will focus on the intersection of doing DevRel in emerging industries that are inherently unstable, on top of dealing with the pressures and uncertainty of a global pandemic and recession. No one can be sure yet if technologies like quantum computing will be a success, which makes it a risky investment for users/customers in the first place, let alone during the current climate where budgets are tighter and even the most adventurous technologists are proceeding with caution. So what steps can we take as DevRel practitioners to deal with these many layers of uncertainty and keep our programs afloat, or even make them a success? We’ll explore what measures we took at IBM Quantum that enabled our program to thrive during the pandemic, and what lessons we learned that we plan to take into the coming years of financial uncertainty.

Note: depending on how much time there is available for this talk some sections may be expanded or reduced