State of AI in Texas 2026

Two weeks after the midterms. Months before the 2027 legislative session. This is where Texas sets its AI agenda.

AI is already reshaping Texas. Our highways. Our hospitals. Sovereignty over our power grid. Our jobs. On November 17, the leaders making those decisions gather at the Austin PBS Studio for an afternoon of candid conversation about what is working, what still needs solving, and what Texas needs next. You’ll leave with a clearer picture of how AI is changing your industry and a network of people across the state working on the same questions.

If you’re building, buying, regulating, or hiring for AI in Texas, you need to be in this room.

Agenda

One afternoon. Two sessions. Every sector that matters.

1:00 Check-in & VIP Seating

1:30 Keynote by Anh Selissen

2:00 Session One: AI in Action

• Why are top global tech firms, AI infrastructure investments, and energy pioneers flocking to Texas over traditional coastal tech hubs?
• How can municipal and regional leaders across Austin, Dallas, and Houston collaborate to ensure local communities benefit from the economic windfall?
• Where is AI delivering immediate, measurable ROI in Texas health systems today versus where is it still pure marketing hype?

3:40 Recharge and Networking

4:00 Session Two: The Frontier of Agentic AI

• What happens when AI moves from generating static text to taking autonomous multi-step actions inside core business software?
• What makes Texas uniquely positioned to lead the next decade of deep tech research, defense innovation, and commercialization?
• When quantum computing and advanced LLMs converge, what Texas industries will experience immediate disruption first?
• Are Texas schools and universities preparing students for jobs that won’t exist in 5 years, or equipping them to lead the AI transition?

6:00 Final Word & Networking Reception

Thank you to our event sponsors.