Hello everyone! AITX Team here with more updates this week.
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In this week’s edition you’re getting:
5 Upcoming Events
3 AI Community Stories
So let’s jump in!
UPCOMING EVENTS
When: Thursday, January 29 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM CST
Where: Antler VC Austin, Texas
What: This is the first installment of a workshop series for people who want to make money by practically applying AI to real-world business problems in valuable industries.
When: Monday, January 19 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM CST
What: 58% of Texas students are not at grade level in math.
That's not a typo. According to the latest STAAR data, more than half of Texas kids are behind - and most parents have no idea.
Why? Because "passing" a class doesn't mean "on grade level." Schools don't always tell you the difference.
Assessment Day answers one question: Is your child actually on track?
When: Saturday, January 24 | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM CST
Where: AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center
1900 University Avenue · Austin, TX
What: Launched in 2011, and quite possibly the longest running big data conference in the world, Data Day Texas returns in January with an international list of marquee presenters
When: Saturday, January 24 | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM CST
What: Launched in 2011, and quite possibly the longest running big data conference in the world, Data Day Texas returns in January with an international list of marquee presenters.
When: Saturday, February 21 | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM CST
Where: Austin 111 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701, United States · Austin, TX
What: We’re hosting the Robotics & Edge Inference Conference in February 2026. From the smallest microcontrollers to the most advanced Jetson-class modules, modern robots now run perception and policy on-device. We’ll go end-to-end—from compilers & runtimes (TensorRT, TVM, ONNX Runtime) and ROS 2/Isaac dataflow, to multi-sensor 3D perception & state estimation, to navigation and diffusion policies for manipulation. We’ll also showcase demos from top robotics companies in Austin.
COMMUNITY STORIES
Ocean engineering researchers at Texas A&M University created SMART-SEA, an AI-powered system that analyzes radar data to give seafarers real-time collision avoidance instructions.
Why it matters: Texas is positioning itself as a leader in AI applications beyond software, using machine learning to solve real-world safety problems in the Gulf's busy shipping lanes.
Need-to-know:
The system processes raw radar images to identify stationary obstacles like oil platforms and depleted wellheads, then recommends the safest maneuvers based on vessel capabilities and weather conditions.
Unlike autonomous systems, SMART-SEA keeps humans in control by providing visual or audio guidance while the seafarer makes final steering decisions.
After successful tests on the research vessel Trident, the team is seeking additional funding to expand trials and potentially adapt the low-cost technology for recreational boating.
Learn more here.
As hundreds of AI data centers plan to locate in Texas, natural gas is positioning itself as the practical power source over nuclear, solar, and wind alternatives, with prices stabilizing between $3-4 per million BTUs.
Why it matters: Texas' abundant natural gas supply could solve the state's AI infrastructure power crunch without straining ERCOT or waiting years for expensive nuclear buildouts.
Need-to-know:
King Operating CEO Jay Young says natural gas offers consistent power unlike intermittent wind and solar, and costs less upfront than nuclear during its expensive early stages.
The state's existing natural gas infrastructure gives Texas an immediate advantage in attracting data center operators who need reliable, affordable electricity at scale.
The AI boom creates a profitable use for natural gas that previously got flared off, turning an environmental problem into an economic opportunity for Texas producers.
Learn more here.
Duos Edge AI deployed a new edge data center in Abilene through a partnership with Region 14 Education Service Center, providing low-latency AI capabilities to over 40 school districts across 11 counties in West Texas.
Why it matters: Texas is building distributed AI infrastructure to close the digital divide, bringing cutting-edge computing within 12 miles of end users instead of forcing rural communities to rely on distant centralized data centers.
Need-to-know:
The Abilene facility is part of Duos Edge AI's Texas expansion strategy, with recent installations in Amarillo, Waco, and Victoria, all designed to serve education, healthcare, and enterprise needs in underserved regions.
Edge data centers process data locally rather than sending it hundreds of miles away, enabling real-time AI applications for the 13,000-square-mile service area while providing secure, carrier-neutral colocation services.
The facility offers rapid 90-day deployment and 100+ kilowatts per cabinet, allowing schools and local businesses to access enterprise-grade AI without massive capital investments in their own infrastructure.
Learn more here.
That’s all for now, folks!
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