Austin AI Alliance

AI Video Production and Digital Twins
2026-04-25 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | SKG, 2010 S Lamar Blvd Suite 125, Austin, Tx, 78704
AI Video Production and Digital Twins
Video production used to mean equipment, editing software with a learning curve, and the uncomfortable reality of being on camera. AI has changed all three. This 3.5 hour class shows you exactly how, and gives you hands-on time with the tools that are making it happen.
Using NotebookLM, Riverside, Descript, and HeyGen, you’ll move through a complete production workflow live in class: turning research into a script, recording and editing footage, and generating finished video with an AI avatar you build yourself. You’ll leave understanding not just what these tools do, but how they connect and why that matters for anyone who creates content.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

Transform documents, research, or rough notes into a ready-to-record video script using NotebookLM
Record clean, professional footage from any location using Riverside. No studio required.
Edit video in Descript by editing text. Cut filler, remove stumbles, and tighten your message without touching a timeline.
Produce faceless explainer-style video without ever appearing on camera
Build your own AI avatar in HeyGen and generate a finished video with it, live, in class

What Makes These Session Different
AI has enabled a new generation of video tools that not only make production faster, they make it look easy. Most video tools make production faster. These tools make it fundamentally different. NotebookLM eliminates the blank page. Descript eliminates the timeline. HeyGen eliminates the on-camera requirement entirely. Together, they represent a new model for how video gets made: one person, no crew, a fraction of the cost.

Who It’s For
Marketers, educators, founders, and communicators who need to produce video content but haven’t found a process that fits how they actually work. No video experience required.

Before You Arrive
A little setup ahead of time means more building and less waiting on class day.
Required:

A charged laptop (phones and tablets won’t work for this)
A topic in mind, something you’d genuinely want to make a video about
A Google account (for NotebookLM)
Free accounts created at: Riverside.fm, Descript.com, and HeyGen.com

No video production experience required. A willingness to make something real in under four hours: required.

Need-Based Scholarships Available

While refunds are not available, we’re committed to making this accessible. A limited number of scholarships are available for individuals who would not otherwise be able to attend. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at info@austin-ai.org to learn more.

A special thanks to our host and alliance member SKG.

About the instructor:
Steve Mudd is the CEO of Talentless AI, an AI-native creative studio based in Austin. A 2026 AI Leadership Award winner from the Austin AI Alliance, Steve is a writer, filmmaker, and AI practitioner who has built production workflows using tools like HeyGen, Descript, Riverside, and NotebookLM for brands and studios. He currently serves as an AI Expert for B2B Marketing’s Propolis community, and his AI content has generated over 10 million views across TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. He runs AI bootcamps, coaching sessions, and hands-on workshops that help marketers, educators, and creators adopt AI tools into their actual work.

ATC April Roundtable Breakfast
2026-04-22 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Calavista Software, 9225 Bee Cave Road Building A, Suite 350, Austin, TX, 78733, United States
Humans + AI: Building Teams that Outthink, not just Outperform
Navigating the Intersection of Human Intent and AI Agency (The Workplace Angle). In an era of “tool overload,” leaders face a high-stakes balancing act between driving efficiency and preserving the human ingenuity that defines their brand. This session provides a roadmap for managers to integrate agentic AI without eroding team morale or sacrificing critical thinking.

Closing Takeaway
“The goal of AI integration isn’t to remove the human from the loop, but to elevate the human to a higher loop.” The audience should leave understanding that the “right choice” isn’t about which tool has the best API, but which tool reinforces their team’s sense of agency and expertise rather than replacing it.

Speaker: Sridhar Sudarsan

Sridhar Sudarsan, Chief AI Strategist at EX Squared, is a distinguished technologist, executive leader, entrepreneur, investor, and AI futurist, currently serving as the founder of an advisory practice helping organizations deploy AI at scale and drive transformational business outcomes. Over the past three decades, he has led intrapreneurial initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and scaled AI start-ups. As the former CTO at IBM Watson Platform and Partnerships and Avathon, Sudarsan has pioneered AI strategies across energy, manufacturing, aerospace and defense and health sectors. He also serves as Adjunct Professor for Machine Learning at the University of Southampton.

AI in K-12
2026-04-15 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000, 1218 West Avenue, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Who is in your Texas workforce pipeline and what are they learning today? During this spotlight, you’ll hear from Dr. Suzanne Newell, Chief Education Strategist for GTS Technology Solutions, and Laura Browder, Senior Executive Director of Technology Operations in Austin ISD. Together, they’ll provide insight into the AI learning landscape in K-12 education – where things are today, what is needed, how GTS has been working to support educators, and how Austin AI Alliance can play a role.
Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Future of K–12 From the outback to the White House, the conversation about AI in education is already happening—fast and unevenly. This session by Damien Aldridge explores what schools have learned from past disruptions, what’s happening right now, and what comes next.

Agenda:
5:30 – 6:00 PM | Check-in and Networking6:00 – 7:00 PM | Innovation Spotlights and Reverse Pitches7:00 – 8:00 PM | Projects, Collaboration, and Networking

Join us at The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 1218 West Avenue, Austin, TX, United States. Parking map below. Street parking is free after 6 pm.

Members and Public, all welcome

Network with entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, academics, students, innovators, and subject matter experts building AI in Austin and find future collaborations.

The Austin AI Alliance is an AI consortium dedicated to advancing the capabilities, usage & impact, social responsibility, and inclusiveness of AI technologies and applications by leveraging the unique resources, talent base, and culture of creative innovation in Austin. The Austin AI Alliance is welcoming of all companies and organizations and will help to connect professionals from companies (from startups to global technology leaders), universities, government agencies, professional associations, non-profits, and interest groups—and to elevate all of their respective activities as well as creative collaborative opportunities.

Applied AI Live #3: How To Build Production Grade OpenClaws
2026-03-26 22:30 - 2026-03-27 01:00 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/AppliedAILive003 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Gary Sheng, Michael Daigler & Jordaaan

AITX Monthly Meetup
2026-03-24 22:30 - 2026-03-25 00:30 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/aitx-mar26 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Jake O’Shea & Michael Daigler

Women Who Play Big Will Shape AI
2026-03-24 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | https://luma.com/event/evt-waNMovupYOJ7ZSE
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/z8af8wgb
Address:
Check event page for more details.
Hosted by Amy Daali PhD & Vidhya Subramanian

GenAI 2.0: The "Introduction to Generative AI" Second Edition Launch Party
2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Remedy, 360 Nueces St, STE 30, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Join us for an in-person book signing on Thursday, March 19 at Remedy Bar!

The field of Generative AI has moved at breakneck speed since its first breakout moment. To make sense of where we are and where we’re going, join the Austin Forum for a celebratory in-person book release party for the second edition of “Introduction to Generative AI” by authors Numa Dhamani and Maggie Engler.
This isn’t just a book signing—it’s a gathering of Austin’s most curious minds to discuss the evolution of AI from simple chatbots to the complex, agentic systems of 2026. Numa and Maggie will take the stage to discuss the major updates in this new edition, share their insights on the ethical and technical frontiers of GenAI, and answer your most pressing questions.
Evening Highlights:

The Impact of 2.0: Discuss the shift from “content generation” to “task execution” and what it means for your career and organization.
Author Discussion & Q&A: Hear directly from Numa and Maggie about the journey of writing the second edition and their predictions for the next wave of AI innovation.
Book Signing: Meet the authors and get your copy of the second edition personalized.
Networking: Connect with a diverse group of tech professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts over drinks and appetizers.

Whether you’re an AI veteran or just beginning to explore the field, come celebrate this milestone and join the conversation about the technology that is rewriting the rules of the physical and digital worlds.

Attendance Instructions
All participants must register for this event via Eventbrite. This will be an in-person event held at Remedy Bar. Paid street parking is available.

Texas AI House – Special event host & time
2026-03-18 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | University of Texas – Gates Dell Complex, 2317 SPEEDWAY, AUSTIN, TX 78712, Austin, TX, United States
The Austin AI Alliance is an AI consortium dedicated to advancing the capabilities, usage & impact, social responsibility, and inclusiveness of AI technologies and applications by leveraging the unique resources, talent base, and culture of creative innovation in Austin. The Austin AI Alliance is welcoming of all companies and organizations and will help to connect professionals from companies (from startups to global technology leaders), universities, government agencies, professional associations, non-profits, and interest groups—and to elevate all of their respective activities as well as creative collaborative opportunities.

Members and Public, all welcome

Network with entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, academics, students, innovators, and subject matter experts building AI in Austin and find future collaborations.

Texas AI House.
Representative survey of Austin showing AI trends, challenges, and opportunities in 2026 in partnership with Austin Women in Technology.
Bonus session, we will dive into one of the key trends identified – AI in the physical World – in a special event hosted on the UT campus by the Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML).

Innovation Spotlight:
This month, we will hear from Charles Donly of HICAM. F2AI at HICAM: Bringing digital fabrication to the U.S. shipbuilding supply chain while seeding a community where industrial innovators learn, collaborate, and advance manufacturability.

Agenda does not typically change but this month will be:

4:30 – 5:00 PM | Check-in and Networking5:00 – 5:45 PM | AI in Austin Survey Results – Displaced or Empowered5:45 – 6:30 PM | Innovation Spotlight: AI in the Physical World
6:30 – 7:00 PM | Cool things we saw at SXSW / Reverse Pitches
7:00 – 8:00 PM | Projects, Collaboration, and Networking

Interested in sponsoring the survey or other events? Send an email to info@austin-ai.org.

The meeting will be held at the University of Texas Gates Dell Complex in the Zaib and Amir Husain Auditorium – room number 2.216. Please note, this is located on the ground floor. The closest visitor parking is the San Jacinto garage.

Miro x Replit Hackathon: Plan it. Build it. Ship it.
2026-03-16 18:00 - 23:00 UTC | 303 Colorado St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/7cv8plqi Address: 303 Colorado St We will have greeters in the Lobby of the Colorado Tower to guide attendees to the proper elevator. Note: We are unable to validate parking for this event. Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Miro Community Team, Brendan Dugan & Zachary Ginis

NachoTuesday: S X S W SaaS & AI Founder + Investor Happy Hour
2026-03-15 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | little woodrow’s, 520 W 6th St, Austin, 78701, United States
NachoNacho – The B2B SaaS & AI + Services Marketplace, Connectd, Ancient Technologies, MoFo, and community partner Emerging LA will host this exclusive Austin Founder + Investor happy hour event. This event will include sponsored drinks and appetizers. ​​​​
​This networking event will be exclusively for SaaS/AI: ​​​​
​- Founders (minimum Seed funded and later) ​​​​
​- C-Suites ​​​​
​- Investors/VCs ​​​​
​- Tech media ​​​
​Your application will be carefully screened. No +1s allowed.

ClawCon Austin presented by Kilo Code
2026-03-12 23:00 - 2026-03-13 02:00 UTC | https://luma.com/event/evt-sl0k1zgFaNpYcn0
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/clawconaustin
Address:
Check event page for more details.
Hosted by Michael Galpert & 7 others

2026 Gateway Happy Hour
2026-03-09 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Woody’s, 715 W 6th St, Austin, Texas, 78701, United States
Kick off SXSW with the Austin Technology Council’s annual GATEWAY HAPPY HOUR – Monday, March 9th. 5:30 – 7:30. Woody’s Bar. For over 20 years the Austin Technology Council has hosted a party for our local tech community in the days before the world comes to Austin for SXSW. This is a “Good Old Fashioned High Tech Happy Hour”…. the kind that got everything started in Austin in the 1990s.
While out of town techies are always welcome, this party is purposely held before the crowds arrive to bring the focus on people who come from all areas of our tech ecosystem.This year we will also have the CEO’s of about 20 other Technology Councils, as the Technology Council’s of North America organization is having their annual CEO Summit in Austin March 9-11. Thus we have invited them all to come see Austin Tech in our natural environment.
For more information please visit: https://www.austintechnologycouncil.org/event/2026-gateway-happy-hour/.

AWT's March Event: Women in AI Panel
2026-03-05 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Indeed Tower, 200 W 6th Street, Level C, Austin, Texas, 78701, United States
Step into the future of innovation with Austin Women in Technology and Opportunity Austin! Join us for an engaging evening celebrating women founders, builders, and leaders shaping the world of artificial intelligence.
Grab your community and come ready to connect, learn, and be inspired. Our Women in AI Panel brings together visionary perspectives on how AI is being used today, and what’s next, across industries, roles, and business models.

Texas Symposium on Machine Learning, Responsible AI & Robotics
2026-03-03 08:45 - 2026-03-04 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
Join Texas Robotics, the Machine Learning Lab, and Good Systems on March 3 & 4 for a two-day symposium exploring responsible innovation in AI and Robotics. Discover boundary-breaking research insights and enjoy thought-provoking talks as you connect with leaders across disciplines and sectors.
Highlights include keynotes by Gregory D. Hager, Kilian Weinberger, and Alice Xiang, panels exploring topics such as agentic AI (autonomous systems that use reasoning and planning to achieve complex goals with minimal human intervention); ethical considerations for the changing landscape of work; innovation at the intersection of robotics, AI, and healthcare; and the use of AI to accelerate scientific discovery. The event will also include an interactive poster session and networking reception.
For more information and registration, please visit https://ai.utexas.edu/events/2026-03-03/texas-symposium-machine-learning-responsible-ai-robotics.

HealthTech AI Frontier 2026
2026-02-27 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
Lone Star HealthTech AI Frontier 2026 is an exclusive, invitation-only summit taking place on February 27, 2026, at TMC³ (Texas Medical Center Innovation) in Houston, Texas. Hosted by CENA Research Institute and Modi Ventures, the event brings together approximately 300 high-leverage leaders from academia, healthcare systems, MedTech startups, pharma, policy, and venture capital to focus on practical AI implementation in healthcare—moving beyond hype to examine real-world deployment, measurable outcomes, and scalable solutions.
For more information and tickets, please visit https://luma.com/cena2026.

Applied AI Live #2: Agentic GTM Masterclass and OpenClaw Guardrails Mastermind
2026-02-26 23:30 - 2026-02-27 02:00 UTC | Grain and Berry – Downtown Austin, 1213 W 5th St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/AppliedAILive002 Address: Grain and Berry – Downtown Austin Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Michael Daigler & Gary Sheng

The Data Portability Hackathon: Building Human-Centered AI
2026-02-26 00:00 - 02:30 UTC | https://luma.com/event/evt-GdtgyID4Zf4y3E2
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/aic_aitx_dti_225
Address:
Check event page for more details.
Hosted by The AI Collective & 6 others

AITX Monthly Meetup
2026-02-24 23:30 - 2026-02-25 01:30 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/aitx-feb26 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Jake O’Shea

First Commit: Building & Scaling Base Power with Jared Greene
2026-02-19 15:30 - 17:00 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Join Antler and AITX for the next session of First Commit, our fireside chat series with technical leaders who’ve scaled startups from zero to one and beyond.
​This month, we’re sitting down with Jared Greene, Founding Engineer and Head of Software at Austin-based Unicorn Base Power. Before helping launch Base to fix the modern power grid, Jared was a Lead Software Engineer at SpaceX, where he worked on Starlink’s laser topology. He joined the Starlink team when there were only 60 satellites in orbit and helped scale the network to thousands, building the backbone of space-based internet.
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/firstcommit-feb26 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Jake O’Shea & Jared Michael Greene

Venue Changed -February Meeting- AI in Healthcare
2026-02-18 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Calavista Software, 9225 Bee Cave Road Building A, Suite 350, Austin, TX, 78733, United States
The Austin AI Alliance is an AI consortium dedicated to advancing the capabilities, usage & impact, social responsibility, and inclusiveness of AI technologies and applications by leveraging the unique resources, talent base, and culture of creative innovation in Austin. The Austin AI Alliance is welcoming of all companies and organizations and will help to connect professionals from companies (from startups to global technology leaders), universities, government agencies, professional associations, non-profits, and interest groups—and to elevate all of their respective activities as well as creative collaborative opportunities.
Members and Public, all welcome

Network with entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, academics, students, innovators, and subject matter experts building AI in Austin and find future collaborations.

This month, we’re hosting an Innovation Spotlight focused on AI in Healthcare.
Healthcare Hive is Buzzing About AI: But Are They Making Honey?
In this Innovation Spotlight, you will hear from Bob Teague of Green Room Technologies. The healthcare enterprise is huge with many moving parts who are simultaneously experimenting with the concepts and applications of advanced analytics and computing aka AI. How can I keep track of what’s working and access the benefits?
Process and analytic automation in healthcare have been evolving over several rounds of AI but recently are accelerating. What real world benefits are there?
At the point of care delivery and care experience, how does AI help providers deliver more accurate care with less hassle and (dream) less expense? There is a lot of buzz. Any honey?
What would an AI first Healthcare System look like? UT Dell Med wants to build one.
Kairos — The Decisive Moment for AI in Healthcare
Healthcare stands at a true Kairos moment — the ancient Greek term for the decisive point where preparation meets opportunity and transformation becomes inevitable. Healthcare has been waiting for this moment — where AI is finally mature enough to handle the clinical, regulatory, and operational complexity that enterprise health plans demand. And we’ve spent years preparing for exactly this.
In this Innovation Spotlight, Ganesh Padmanabhan, Founder & CEO of Autonomize AI, shares what it actually takes to cross the chasm from pilot to production at enterprise scale. Drawing from firsthand experience deploying AI across three of the five largest U.S. healthcare enterprises, Ganesh will unpack why technology alone is not the breakthrough — integrated execution is.
Ganesh will argue that healthcare doesn’t need more AI models. It needs AI teams capable of carrying the clinical, regulatory, and operational weight of every decision embedded in the $4.5 trillion healthcare system. This session challenges leaders to recognize that the decisive moment is here. The models are ready. The infrastructure is ready. The market demand is clear. This is healthcare’s Kairos — and the time to act is now.

Agenda:
5:30 – 6:00 PM | Check-in and Networking
6:00 – 7:00 PM | Innovation Spotlights and Reverse Pitches
7:00 – 8:00 PM | Projects, Collaboration, and Networking

Join us at Calavista Software. 9225 Bee Cave Road Building A, Suite 350 Austin, Texas 78733

Scaling the Smart World: Developing, Deploying, and Operating IoT at Scale
2026-02-17 18:15 - 19:45 (America/Chicago) | TX
Join us online – February 17th!

In 2026, the Internet of Things (IoT) has moved beyond the world of “connected gadgets” to become the invisible nervous system of our physical world. From high-end residential automation to high-density professional workspaces, the challenge is no longer just connecting a device—it’s the development, deployment, and ongoing operation of these systems at scale.
Join the Austin Forum as we welcome Lionel Felix, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Felix Media Solutions and Founder of StructureSense.AI–and one of the city’s foremost experts in smart infrastructure–for an overview of the current landscape of IoT technologies and implementation considerations. Drawing on his experience managing complex, mission-critical AV and automation environments, Lionel will share the latest best practices for building systems that are resilient, secure, and—most importantly—functional.
Key discussion points include:

The Full Lifecycle: Moving from the “Develop” phase (protocols like Matter/Thread and Edge AI) to “Deploy” (automated provisioning) and “Operate” (unified observability and predictive maintenance).
Intelligent Homes: How luxury residential IoT is shifting from simple automation to “ambient intelligence” that anticipates human needs.
Professional Spaces: Strategies for deploying enterprise-grade IoT in workspaces to drive energy efficiency, occupancy optimization, and high availability.
Security & Longevity: Navigating the critical challenges of firmware lifecycle management, silicon-level security, and privacy-first design.

Whether you are a developer, an operations professional, or an architect of intelligent spaces, come learn the “from-the-trenches” strategies needed to scale the smart world effectively in 2026.

Attendance Instructions
The discussion will be held online via Google Meet. Please register to receive the meet link!
Space is limited, so please register only if you’re confident you can attend—and kindly cancel your registration if your plans change so we can open your spot to another participant.

Moltathon ATX
2026-02-13 23:00 - 2026-02-15 00:00 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/edo6arb3 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Michael Daigler & 4 others

CISO AI Roundtable w/ Antler
2026-02-12 23:30 - 2026-02-13 01:00 UTC | https://luma.com/event/evt-AVEx4Aw2wxRgQai
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/am399gqi
Address:
Check event page for more details.
Hosted by Elliott Fielding & 3 others

The Austin Python Meetup
Online event
**New location at Brazos Place @ 800 Brazos st. us the entrance on brazos street not 8th.**
This is a Hybrid event both **in-person** and virtual. The **in-person** event is hosted at **[Antler](https://www.antler.co/location/us)** downtown Austin.
**Address:**
Brazos Place @ 800 Brazos st,
The entrance is off of Brazos st.
**Talk: Alex Merced -** Python Meets Apache Iceberg: Exploring Different Ways to Work with Iceberg Tables with Python
**Description:**
Discover how Python is becoming a powerful interface for working with Apache Iceberg tables. In this session, we’ll dive into the capabilities of the PyIceberg library for directly interacting with Iceberg metadata, demonstrate how to query Iceberg data using the `dremio-simple-query` client, and explore how Dremio’s Polaris catalog enables a fully managed REST-based Iceberg experience. We’ll also preview how the upcoming **Pandas v3** release enhances native support for Apache Arrow and unlocks new performance and interoperability possibilities with the Iceberg ecosystem. Whether you’re building data pipelines, exploring data science workflows, or managing a lakehouse, this talk will show how Python fits naturally into the Apache Iceberg journey.
**Speaker Bio**
Alex Merced is Head of DevRel at Dremio with experience as a developer and instructor. His professional journey includes roles at GenEd Systems, Crossfield Digital, CampusGuard, and General Assembly. He co-authored “Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide” published by O’Reilly and has spoken at notable events such as Data Day Texas and Data Council. Alex is passionate about technology, sharing his expertise through blogs, videos, podcasts like Datanation and Web Dev 101, and contributions to the JavaScript and Python communities with libraries like SencilloDB and CoquitoJS.
**Antler**
Antler works with [founders](https://www.antler.co/location/us) through our signature founder residency, adding value immediately, and taking no equity up front. We receive over 160,000 applications each year to build companies with us, and have grown to 18 funds with residencies in 30 cities around the globe. Founders also have the opportunity to pitch our Investment Committee to receive an up to $500K investment, allowing them to build for 12-18 months rather than attempting to raise before they have real traction.

AI ICON (AI & Innovation Conference)
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-02-11 17:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
AI ICON is a curated upskilling platform and conference whose dual mission is to significantly enhance participants’ AI IQ through active, learning-by-doing methodologies, moving them from passive learning into practical building. Beyond its educational function, AI ICON serves a critical strategic role as a clear Q1 Go-To-Market (GTM) platform for new and emerging technologies, accelerating the AI ecosystem by connecting innovators, executives, and investors to drive strategic partnerships. Come and learn from the “Queen of AI”, Ms Alicia Lyttle, when you invest in an ICON Badge. Everyone with an ICON Badge will receive 200 powerful prompts to start your 2026 off right!
If any member is interested in becoming a Trainer or would like to use AI ICON as part of their Go-To-Market Strategy, please email us at info@aiicon.com.

Chatbot Challenge: Learn the Latest Features, Show Your Greatest Hacks
2026-02-06 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Remedy, 360 Nueces St, STE 30, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Join us at Remedy Bar!

The landscape of AI chatbots—from ChatGPT and Claude to Gemini and beyond—is shifting almost weekly. To help you stay at the cutting edge, join the Austin Forum for a high-energy session dedicated to the latest breakthroughs in conversational AI and the real-world hacks that are redefining productivity in 2026.
We’ll kick off the event with a comprehensive overview of the newest features in the leading AI models. We’ll explore the transition from simple text generation to advanced “System 2” reasoning, massive context windows, and the rise of integrated agentic workflows that can act on your behalf.
The highlight of the event will be our “Community Hack Showcase.” After the overview, we will open the floor to Austin’s power users to share their coolest, most effective productivity hacks. on a 150: projector screen. You’ll see firsthand how local experts are using AI to:

Automate Research: Building “closed-loop” pipelines that ingest and summarize thousands of pages in minutes.
Hyper-Efficient Coding: Showcasing the latest in AI-assisted development and debugging workflows.
Creative Orchestration: Moving from simple prompts to complex, multi-agent brainstorming and project management.
Workflow Integration: Plugging chatbots into everyday tools (Slack, Email, CRM) to eliminate “administrative drag.”

If you want to learn, register now. If you also want to show a very cool productivity hack, let us know at info@austiforum.org or show up and sign up! Everyone is encouraged to bring a fully charged laptop!Whether you’re looking to understand the latest feature set or you want to steal a few secret weapons for your own daily workflow, this event is your guide to the most practical and powerful tools in the AI ecosystem. Come prepared to learn, share your own hacks, and connect with a community of innovators.

Attendance Instructions
All participants must register for this event via Eventbrite. This will be an in-person event held at Remedy Bar. Paid street parking is available.

Hack AI
2026-02-06 00:00 - 02:00 UTC | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Floor 8th, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/nqjbwndn Address: Capital Factory 16th floor, ACL Room Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Reid McCrabb & 3 others

Applied AI Live
2026-01-29 23:30 - 2026-01-30 01:30 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/3rl1oy7w Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Michael Daigler & Gary Sheng

AITX Monthly Meetup
2026-01-27 23:30 - 2026-01-28 01:30 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/aitx-jan26 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Jake O’Shea & Michael Daigler

State of AI in Austin 2026
2026-01-27 15:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Austin Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, 78701, United States
Join Us for the State of AI in Austin
January 27, 2026 – 3:30pm – 6:00pm, Austin Central Library
Join 200+ AI leaders, innovators, and stakeholders for the second annual State of AI in Austin — an afternoon of groundbreaking research insights, inspiring awards celebrating local AI champions, an expert panel, and hands-on demos showcasing what’s next in Austin’s AI ecosystem.
We’ll share findings from our comprehensive State of AI Report (a McKinsey-style analysis of research and dynamics across the globe) and our State of AI in Austin Survey (stratified and balanced to accurately represent the citizens of Austin and the greater Austin CAPCOG community)—providing the data-driven insights you need to navigate 2026.
Last year we had excellent press coverage, and we expect even more media attention this year given our momentum and growing AI trends.
2026 Program Highlights

How AI is changing economic development and job market for Austinites
2025 Successes in startups, corporates, non-profits, and other organizations
Privacy, Security, Ethical, and Responsible AI
How cities can thoughtfully adopt advanced tools while staying true to community values
Practical approaches to Human-AI collaboration that enhance rather than replace human expertise
AI transformation trends for Austin in 2026

Recognizing AI Excellence in Austin
We’ll honor the organizations and individuals shaping AI in Austin across six key areas: innovation and research (Advance), real-world applications (Accelerate), workforce development and AI literacy (Augment), community and societal impact (Achieve), responsible AI practices (Articulate), and individual leadership.
Nominations are open to both members and non-members of the Alliance, If you know someone making an impact on AI in Austin, we want to celebrate their work. Submit your nomination here.
Innovation Showcase: Share What You’re Building
Showcase tables are available before and after the main program for teams advancing how Austinites work, learn, build, or govern with AI. Connect directly with stakeholders, investors, and experts while demonstrating your work.
Working on something you’d like to show off? Reach out to info@austin-ai.org for information about securing a showcase table.
Why Attend

Connect with 200+ AI leaders, innovators, and stakeholders shaping Austin’s future
Gain insights from comprehensive research on Austin’s AI landscape and global trends
Celebrate breakthrough work through our AI Awards ceremony
Network with teams building local innovations
Enjoy light food and beverages

Secure Your Spot
Get your tickets below. Full Members receive 2 complimentary tickets. Make sure your organization is registered to take advantage of this benefit.

AGENDA

3:30pm – Doors Open; Innovation showcase from members and leaders of AI in Austin
4:00pm – Welcome and Opening Remarks
4:05pm – Keynote Address by Vivek Mohindra, SVP, Special Advisor to Vice Chair & COO, at Dell Technologies. He’ll explore:

The evolving role of AI leadership in business, government, and society
How innovation, responsibility, and scale intersect
Austin’s position within the national and global AI landscape
A call to action for builders, leaders, and change agents

4:30pm – Panel Discussion: AI Leaders & Change Agents moderated by Sean Bauld, Executive Director of the Austin AI Alliance
Panelists include:

Paige Fults, Head of School at Alpha and systems designer focused on how AI can enable deeply personalized learning
Marta Vieira Gattis, Vice President of People Strategy and Operations at Indeed
Oji Udezue, Co-Author of “Building Rocketships,” a blueprint for fast-growing companies in the age of AI
Larry Peterson, Executive Director of Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities

5:00pm – Awards
5:15pm – Networking and Innovation Showcase

Interested in Partnering?
We’d love to discuss collaboration opportunities and how your organization can get involved with the Austin AI Alliance’s initiatives for 2026. Reach out to us at info@austin-ai.org to connect in advance of the event.
