Austin AI Alliance

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.

Houston AITX Monthly Meetup: Claude Code Workshop
2026-01-23 23:30 - 2026-01-24 01:30 UTC | 1023 Studewood St suite 200, Houston, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/aitx-houston-jan26 Address: 1023 Studewood St suite 200 Houston, Texas United States Hosted by Michael Daigler, Chukwudi N. Kanu & Samir Rahi

Houston AITX Monthly Meetup
2026-01-22 23:30 - 2026-01-23 01:00 UTC | 1023 Studewood St suite 200, Houston, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/mc1i1wql Address: 1023 Studewood St suite 200 Houston, Texas United States Hosted by Michael Daigler

Discussion of “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies” with Mike Ignatowski
2026-01-22 19:15 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | TX
Join us for an online discussion on January 22nd!

Join us for a provocative and critical online discussion on the urgent challenges posed by rapidly developing, high-impact technologies as explored in the gripping work, “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.”
This book dives deep into the scenarios where human innovation—particularly in areas like advanced Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), self-replicating systems, or synthetic biology—creates an existential threat, questioning whether certain technological paths should simply not be taken. It forces readers to confront the regulatory and ethical vacuum surrounding breakthrough technologies that hold the potential for both unprecedented benefit and catastrophic failure.
How do we govern that which we cannot fully control? What level of risk is acceptable when the survival of humanity is the stake? And who, ultimately, holds the responsibility for the final switch?
This online event will move beyond a simple book review to a forward-looking, solution-oriented dialogue, exploring:

The tipping point between disruptive innovation and existential risk.
The argument for global governance and “technological deceleration” in certain high-risk domains.
Whether the race to “build it first” is fundamentally incompatible with safe, ethical deployment.
The role of the technology professional and leader in raising internal alarms about high-consequence projects.

The discussion will be skillfully moderated by Mike Ignatowski, a longtime technology professional, author, and thought leader known for his expertise in complex systems and future technology trends. Mike will lead a stimulating, interactive conversation, ensuring we tackle the most difficult questions raised by this crucial text.

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.

First Commit: Building & Scaling data.world with Bryon Jacob
2026-01-22 15:30 - 17:00 UTC | Antler VC, 800 Brazos St, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/firstcommit-jan26 Address: Antler VC Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Jake O’Shea

Austin AI Alliance Monthly Meeting - January
2026-01-21 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus, 1212 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX, 78701, 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.

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

This month, we’re hosting an Innovation Spotlight focused on how AI is reshaping entrepreneurship in an era of constant disruption.

Defining & Measuring the Value of AI-Enriched Data: A Case Study

What do you do when your client promised to use AI to deliver “data quality”, but nobody there had defined the term or its value?
This talk by John Morkes, PhD shows how understanding value is a key driver of success in using AI. Attendees will hear how a Fortune 100 Company’s vague goal for Human Resources data was turned into crisp objectives with relevant metrics, target outcomes, stakeholder and team alignment, measured iterations, and positive results (including tens of millions of dollars in savings).
Specific strategy and research techniques will be discussed, along with some lessons learned.
John Morkes is a user-centered AI strategist and the founder of Neet UX & Strategy, a member of the Austin AI Alliance.

Crisis Is the New Normal: Why the Future Belongs to Entrepreneurs in the Age of AI
AI is not just disrupting industries — it is exposing how individuals, organizations, and institutions behave under pressure. As automation accelerates, trust erodes, and traditional structures fail to keep pace, more people will be forced into entrepreneurial behavior whether they planned for it or not.
In this Innovation Spotlight, Kevin Koym draws on over three decades as an entrepreneur and two decades building innovation ecosystems across more than 20 countries to explore what this moment demands. This session reframes entrepreneurship as a survival skill, not a career path — and unpacks the capabilities required to move quickly, learn continuously, and partner across borders in a world where stability is no longer guaranteed.
You’ll hear why crisis is a sorting mechanism, why pioneers — not empire builders — shape the future, and why care, trust, and social capital are becoming strategic infrastructure in high-performing ecosystems.
This is not a talk about tools. It’s a call to understand who you become when disruption removes the guardrails — and how to build, lead, and collaborate when the future is undecided.

From Gut Feel to Data Real: Reinventing Forecasting with AI
What if your next big cost savings didn’t come from cutting corners—but from predicting them? In this Innovation Spotlight, Frank Mendoza shares how a promotions industry leader used AI to transform manual, error-prone sales forecasting into a precision engine of operational efficiency.
Attendees will discover how leveraging over a decade of historical data, predictive AI—not generative—achieved sub-5% error rates in monthly forecasts, unlocking smarter planning, reduced inventory costs, and real-time decision-making. This isn’t just a tech demo—it’s a blueprint for how AI can drive real business impact in complex, SKU-heavy manufacturing environments.
Whether you’re in supply chain, finance, or AI, this session will challenge how you think about forecasting—and show you what’s possible when AI meets business strategy.

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.

ATX Power Breakfast: AI for eCommerce & Marketplace Leaders
2026-01-20 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Lazarus Brewing – Airport Blvd, 4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX, 78751, United States
AI is no longer experimental in eCommerce- it’s operational. From product content and marketplace optimization to forecasting, media efficiency, and internal workflows, leading teams are moving past pilots and into real-world execution.
​ATX Power Breakfast is an invite-only, practitioner-focused breakfast for eCommerce, marketplace, and digital leaders who are actively using AI inside their organizations.
​This is a working conversation, not a pitch session.
​What to Expect
​Delicious breakfast tacos & free beverage at Lazarus Brewing
​Candid discussion on how AI is actually being used in eCommerce & marketplaces today
​Real-world examples across Amazon, Walmart, DTC, retail media, content, and ops
​Lessons learned, pitfalls, and practical wins from peers in the room
​Curated, high-signal conversation over coffee and breakfast
​Who Should Attend
​Heads of eCommerce, Marketplace, Digital, or Growth
​Operators responsible for revenue, conversion, or efficiency
​Practitioners implementing AI tools, workflows, or strategies
​Brand-side leaders and in-house teams
​Who This Is Not For
​Sales-led attendance or product pitching
​Passive “AI curious” observers without hands-on responsibility
​To preserve the quality of conversation, attendance is reviewed and approved. Priority is given to brand-side practitioners and operators.

ATX Power Breakfast: AI for eCom & Marketplace Leaders
2026-01-20 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Lazarus Brewing Airport, 4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX, 78722, United States
Facilitated by Wishbone Advisory & PD PlusAI is no longer experimental in eCommerce- it’s operational. From product content and marketplace optimization to forecasting, media efficiency, and internal workflows, leading teams are moving past pilots and into real-world execution.
ATX Power Breakfast is an invite-only, practitioner-focused breakfast for eCommerce, marketplace, and digital leaders who are actively using AI inside their organizations.
This is a working conversation, not a pitch session.
What to Expect
Delicious breakfast tacos & free beverage at Lazarus Brewing
Candid discussion on how AI is actually being used in eCommerce & marketplaces today
Real-world examples across Amazon, Walmart, DTC, retail media, content, and ops
Lessons learned, pitfalls, and practical wins from peers in the room
Curated, high-signal conversation over coffee and breakfast
Who Should Attend
Heads of eCommerce, Marketplace, Digital, or Growth
Operators responsible for revenue, conversion, or efficiency
Practitioners implementing AI tools, workflows, or strategies
Brand-side leaders and in-house teams
Who This Is Not For
Sales-led attendance or product pitching
Passive “AI curious” observers without hands-on responsibility
To preserve the quality of conversation, attendance is reviewed and approved. Priority is given to brand-side practitioners and operators.

AI Agent Build Night with AkashML
2026-01-15 00:00 - 04:00 UTC | 1705 Guadalupe St suite 300, Austin, TX, United States
Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/AIAgentBuildNight Address: 1705 Guadalupe St suite 300 Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Akash Network & Amanda Keay

"Python: The Documentary" Screening & Expert Q&A
2026-01-14 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Violet Crown Cinema, 434 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Join us on January 14th at Violet Crown Cinema for a special screening and Q&A of, “Python: The Documentary”

How did a “hobby project” created during a Christmas break in 1989 become the most popular programming language on the planet? Today, Python is the undisputed backbone of the AI revolution, the primary tool for data science, and the engine behind everything from Netflix’s recommendation algorithms to the flight software of the Mars Rover.
Join the Austin Forum for a special screening of “Python: The Documentary” (2025). This 90-minute film takes us from the quiet research labs of Amsterdam to the high-stakes boardrooms of Silicon Valley. Featuring interviews with creator Guido van Rossum and the community leaders who steered the language through its “Great Python 2 to 3” crisis, the film captures the human story, the “Zen” philosophy, and the inclusive community spirit that turned a simple script into a global phenomenon.
Following the screening, we will host an interactive Q&A session with a panel of Austin’s top Python experts. Whether you are a veteran “Pythonista” or have never written a line of code, this discussion will explore:

The Road to Expertise: Practical, high-value advice on how to transition from a casual user to a Python expert, including tips on mastering the ecosystem and contributing to open-source projects.
The AI Engine: Why Python became the “language of choice” for TensorFlow, PyTorch, and the Generative AI explosion.
The Business Impact: How Python enables companies to move from idea to production with unprecedented speed and scale.
The Future of the Language: A look at the next decade of Python, focusing on performance enhancements and the new “mobile and web” frontiers.

This event is a must for developers, data scientists, tech leaders, and students who want to understand the past, present, and future of the language that is quite literally writing our future.
Gather & Networking 6:30Screening 7:10Q&A 8:40

Hack AI
2026-01-09 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/u3ukwtip Address: Capital Factory First Floor, Voltron Room Austin, Texas United States Hosted by Reid McCrabb & 3 others

Tech Trends for 2026 (and Beyond!)
2026-01-06 18:15 - 19:45 (America/Chicago) | The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000, 1218 West Avenue, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Our biggest event of the year is back! Join us on January 6th.

**This event will be held in person only.
Our biggest event of the year is back!
What technologies will truly have the most influence and impact in your companies and organizations, careers and lives, and society overall in 2026? As we stand on the cusp of another transformative year, it’s time to cut through the hype and get to the core of what’s next in AI, computing, biotech, energy, and more.
Join us for the Austin Forum’s flagship annual event, Tech Trends for 2026 (and Beyond!). Once again, Austin Forum Executive Director Jay Boisseau will bring leading technologists to the stage to analyze what others are predicting, provide their own expert insights and rationale, and debate the most exciting technology opportunities—and risks—of the year ahead.
Attendees will hear a curated, high-level perspective on the innovations that will shape our world. The conversation is always fantastic, and the networking afterward is always stimulating and goes into the night. We hope you can stay to connect with our speakers and fellow attendees!
Please note: This is consistently our largest event of the year. Seating is limited and not guaranteed, so please sign up early. We strongly recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the 6:15 PM start time to secure your spot.
Agenda
​5:15-6:15 p.m. In-person Networking
6:15-7:30 p.m. Presentation
7:30-7:45 p.m. Q&A
​8:00 p.m. Networking

Attendance Instructions
In-person
Join us at The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 where you will be checked in at the front. Parking map here!
In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and snacks. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

Austin AI Alliance Monthly Meeting (December)
2025-12-17 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus, 1212 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX, 78701, 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.

Innovation Spotlight Panel for December
Nonprofits & The AI Revolution: Is your nonprofit ready for the future, or is the future about to leave your nonprofit behind?

Why delaying AI integration risks mission failure
Examples of AI Adoption for Nonprofits
Tips for easy starts and quick wins

Jenn Cox, National Association of Corporate Directors
Bonnie Caver, Reputation Lighthouse

Willie Adams, The Public Service Desk
David Hendrawirawan, Informatica

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 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.

Why Pundits and Experts Often Get It Wrong: A Discussion on "Future Babble"
2025-12-15 19:15 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | TX
Join us for an online discussion on December 18th!

Ever wonder why the bold predictions from experts on TV and in the news so often miss the mark? From stock market forecasts to political outcomes, confident predictions abound, yet our future remains stubbornly unpredictable.
Join the Austin Forum for a fascinating book discussion on “Future Babble: Why Expert Predictions Fail—and Why We Believe Them Anyway” by Dan Gardner. Craig Wheeler, author of “The Path to Singularity” and a professor emeritus of astronomy, will help us dive into the psychology behind our desire for certainty and explore Gardner’s compelling argument that the most confident “expert” pundits are often the most likely to be wrong.
This is a conversation about critical thinking in an age of information overload. We’ll discuss:

Why our brains are wired to trust confident-sounding predictions, even when they’re baseless.
How to distinguish between genuine expertise and confident “hedgehogs” who oversimplify complex issues.
The impact of failed predictions on our society, from financial markets to public policy.

As we approach the start of a new year, we’re all going to hear about predictions for 2026—including in our own Austin Forum event in January! After this discussion we will all be more careful about making predictions and knowing how to assess predictions made by others. It should make for some great holiday conversations with family, too. 😉
Whether you’ve read the book cover-to-cover or are just intrigued by the topic, you’re welcome to join the discussion. Come share your thoughts on how we can all become smarter consumers of information and make better decisions in an uncertain world.

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.
