AI tools research Research
A two-year research initiative into practical AI capabilities for small businesses and other applications.
Soul Surfer Software · Machine Learning Laboratory
Small blocks. Big possibilities.
The Laboratory develops the intelligence and the reusable technology underneath every Soul Surfer platform.
What the lab does
Four lines of work
Knowledge Vault Research
Organizational knowledge systems built on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). The aim is to make approved business knowledge easy to reach and useful through AI-assisted retrieval.
Reusable technology engines In development
Specialized software services designed to support more than one application. Our platforms are assembled from them.
Machine learning and applied AI Research
Research into intelligent systems: model development, training, evaluation and software that adapts.
The building-block idea
Build a block once. Use it everywhere.
Think of each engine as a building block with one clear job. Instead of writing the same capability again for every product, we build it once, make it solid, and fit it into whichever platform needs it. Improve one block and everything built on it improves.
It is how a small company can work on several platforms at once, and why each new project starts further ahead than the last.
Control room
Where everything stands
Little Lion
Community Intelligence Platform
In development
LOLO
Hospitality Intelligence Platform
In development
Small Axe
Financial Intelligence Platform
On hold
AI tools research
Two-year research initiative
Research
Instruments
Real numbers from our repositories
These dials count real work in our code: commits, automated tests, the engines behind each platform and the people contributing. The date underneath shows when they were last counted.
Code shipped
commits
Tests
automated tests
Platform readiness
Little Lion capabilities complete
Engines
running services
People building
Counted from the repositories
Engine room
Every engine, on its rack
// Loading the racks…
Surf check · Storm watch
Outside the window
North Shore conditions
Tide—Reading Point Atkinson…
Swell—Reading Halibut Bank…
Air—Reading North Vancouver…
// Reading the sources…
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (tides) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (swell, air). The background sea follows the swell, and the light follows the North Shore sky.
Storm watch
The latest satellite view of the Pacific Northwest and any active tropical storms. It loads only when you ask, straight from NOAA and the National Hurricane Center.
Lab radio · Ask the Lab
On the air
Lab radio
Ask the Lab
The living lab
Software should learn.
Lab note
Build → Test → Learn → Repeat
We treat products as living systems: measure what happens in the real world, improve the machinery, and send a better version back out. A project moves along this board only when the evidence says it's ready.
-
Idea
- AI tools researchTwo-year research initiative
-
Build
- Little LionIn development
- LOLOIn development
-
Test
The first platform ready for real-world testing lands here.
-
Launched
The first platform to launch lands here.
On hold: Small Axe, pending resources and funding.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the Soul Surfer Machine Learning Laboratory?
The Laboratory develops the intelligence and the reusable technology underneath every Soul Surfer platform. It has four lines of work: AI tools research, the Knowledge Vault, reusable technology engines, and machine learning and applied AI.
What is the Knowledge Vault?
The Knowledge Vault is an organizational knowledge system built on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). The aim is to make approved business knowledge easy to reach and useful through AI-assisted retrieval. It is at the research stage.
What is a reusable technology engine?
A reusable technology engine is a specialized software service with one clear job, designed to support more than one application. We build it once and fit it into whichever platform needs it. Examples are the Publishing Engine, the Fair Allocation Engine, Payment Services, Knowledge Retrieval, and Workforce and Operations Services.
Can I license one of the engines?
Not today. The engines may eventually be offered on their own through licensing, APIs or standalone products, but none is available for outside licensing today. Get in touch if you would like to hear when that changes.
Curious about the lab?
We're glad to talk with researchers, businesses and partners who want to help shape the tools.