Meet the JKI Team: Steve Ball

Hi, I'm Steve Ball, a Staff Software Engineer at JKI. I develop software for test, measurement, and control systems, and I'm the driving force behind Jake AI, JKI's intelligent assistant for LabVIEW developers. My work combines LabVIEW and Python with cutting-edge AI and machine learning.

My journey started with a physics degree at SUNY Geneseo, where I first encountered LabVIEW, followed by a Master's in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester. I began my LabVIEW career in 2007, working as a consultant and earning my CLD and CLA certifications. Over the years, I expanded my technical toolkit - adding Python in 2019 and machine learning and data science in 2021.

When I joined JKI in 2023, I wanted to combine my LabVIEW experience with my passion for AI and machine learning. I designed Jake AI's agentic backend systems, building intelligent agent systems with memory, reasoning, and tool integration, and contributed to the deep integrations with the LabVIEW IDE. I attended an agentic AI conference to learn from industry leaders and brought their best practices back to JKI.

I also work on complex systems like the Gigamat semiconductor project, where we coordinated precision robotics and metrology to deliver a flexible wafer sorter in seven months. As I noted in that case study, "Integrating all these components was like conducting an orchestra—every element had to move in harmony."

I'm active in the LabVIEW community, presenting at GDevCon Europe, the GLA Summit, and CLA Summits in the Americas and Europe. Most recently, Mark Randel and I delivered "LabVIEW vs. LLM: A Generational Showdown" at GDevCon 6 in Brighton, demonstrating how AI tools can enhance developer productivity, and when and why they don't.

Outside of work, I stay busy creating pottery, maintaining a garden, writing songs, and competing in sprint triathlons. I also read machine learning papers for fun!

What drives me is solving complex technical problems and bringing the latest research advances into real-world applications that make a difference.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to connecting with you in the LabVIEW community!

Best, Steve