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- Austin AI Job Shakeup, Texas Grid Expansion, and Hackathon Countdown | AITX Newsletter #26
Austin AI Job Shakeup, Texas Grid Expansion, and Hackathon Countdown | AITX Newsletter #26
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Hello everyone! AITX Team here with more updates this week.
If you’re new here, welcome! 👋 At AITX, we aim to:
Connect you with like-minded peers passionate about AI.
Provide a space for sharing ideas and receiving feedback on AI projects you’re building.
Share helpful tools and invaluable resources.
Before we jump into the regular news, a few important things:
July AITX Meetup: Our next meetup is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23rd, make sure to sign up here! To stay in the loop on all our monthly meetups and other community organized events, subscribe to our AITX calendar here.
Check out our Community Directory:
We recently started a community directory where you can fill out your profile and find other members of the AITX community.
If you haven’t filled out your profile yet, please follow the link HERE and submit your information.
AITX Hackathon Countdown ⏰
Hey AI enthusiasts! Our epic hackathon is just around the corner. Here's a quick refresh on the essentials:
Quick Details:
Pre-Event Kickoff: Thursday, July 18th | 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Main Event: Saturday, July 20th | 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Register Here (Don't miss out!)
Agenda Highlights:
Team building & judging criteria overview (July 18th)
Build your project, preliminary and final judging, prizes and networking (July 20th)
Current Judges So Far:
Dustin Williams - Executive advisor to Google Cloud's most innovative partners
Brendan Fulcher - Machine Learning Engineer @ Lambda Labs
These industry pros are ready to be wowed by your AI creations!
Remember, we're still handing out prizes for Best Hack, Best Vision-based Hack, and Smartest Dumb Use of AI. Time to get those creative juices flowing!
A big shout-out to our sponsors Lambda Labs, Antler VC, and Google Cloud for making this possible!
Can't hack but want to get involved?
We're still looking for judges and mentors. Reach out if you're interested!
In this week’s edition you’re getting:
5 Upcoming Events
3 Austin AI Community Stories
1 Community Highlight
So let’s jump in!
UPCOMING EVENTS
When: Thursday, July 11 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Where: Atlassian 1401 E 5th St. building 2 · Austin, TX
What: Explore the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence in this engaging talk, designed to unravel the complexities of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Transformers. This session will offer a clear and concise overview of these cutting-edge technologies, culminating in a live demonstration of a simple AI chatbot.
Yes—we have a meetup in San Antonio now too!
When: Tuesday, July 9 | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CST
Where: Boeing Center at Tech Port 3331 General Hudnell Dr Acc Rd, San Antonio, TX 78226, USA
What: A monthly meetup for AI entrepreneurs, operators, and enthusiasts in San Antonio, Texas. At AITX, we're passionate about fostering a diverse and thriving AI community in San Antonio where like-minded individuals can connect with each other, share ideas, and inspire innovation.
When: Wednesday, July 10 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Where: 1204 San Antonio St 1204 San Antonio St · Austin, TX
What: The perfect platform for you to connect with like-minded individuals in the Austin area who share your passion for LangChain AI technology.
When: Thursday, July 11 | 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM CST
Where: 701 Brazos St 701 Brazos St · Austin, TX
What: Connect with other artists, creatives, and technologists and stay updated on the latest developments in the arts and AI-tech space.
When: Thursday, July 11 | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM CAT
Where: Panera Bread 4625 West William Cannon Drive · Austin, TX
What:
Can AI (or computer or robot) be a moral agent? Why should we care? Some would say AI/robot systems are not moral agents because they lack the intentionality, free will, consciousness, and empathy typically associated with moral agency. Robots are programmed to operate based on data and rules and don't have innate preferences or the ability to make independent moral judgments.
COMMUNITY STORIES
A recent study by (un)Common Logic places Austin as the 6th highest U.S. city for AI job displacement risk. Over 126,000 Austin workers (10% of the workforce) could be affected, with budget analysts, loan officers, and accountants among the most vulnerable professions. However, the study also highlights jobs less likely to be automated and emphasizes AI's potential to enhance rather than replace certain roles.
Need-to-know:
Austin ranks 6th in the U.S. for AI job displacement risk
Approximately 126,000 Austin workers (10% of workforce) face potential AI-related automation
High-risk jobs include budget analysts, loan officers, accountants, insurance sales agents, and paralegals
Low-risk jobs are hands-on professions like dancers, firefighters, and plumbers
AI is predicted to impact high-income workers more than previous automation waves
Other Texas cities in the top 50: Dallas-Fort Worth (23rd), San Antonio (22nd), Houston (49th)
Some professions may use AI to enhance decision-making rather than face complete automation
The study suggests AI's impact varies by state, depending on workforce composition
Learn more here.
In response to projected skyrocketing energy demands, Texas is set to double its Texas Energy Fund from $5 billion to $10 billion. This move, announced by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, aims to accelerate the development of new gas-fueled power plants through low-interest loans. The decision follows ERCOT's forecast that the state's power needs will nearly double by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for grid expansion and modernization.
Need-to-know:
Texas Energy Fund to increase from $5 billion to $10 billion
Fund offers 3% interest loans for new gas-fueled power plant construction
ERCOT predicts Texas power demand will almost double by 2030
$39 billion in loan applications received, nearly 8 times the initial fund size
New power plants expected to take 3-4 years to complete
Transmission line projects estimated to require 3-6 years
Fund also supports infrastructure weatherization and modernization
Move follows the 2021 winter storm that exposed grid vulnerabilities
Bonuses offered for plants connecting to the main grid by June 2029
Initiative aims to enhance grid reliability and meet growing energy needs
Learn more here.
A 30-year-old man in Montgomery County, Texas, has been arrested for allegedly using artificial intelligence to digitally undress a photo of a 17-year-old girl. This case highlights the growing concern over the misuse of AI technology and its potential legal consequences, especially when it involves minors.
Need-to-know:
Roman Shoffner, 30, arrested in Montgomery County for AI-related crime
Accused of using AI to alter a 17-year-old girl's photo, removing her clothing
Investigation began in May after authorities learned of the incident
Shoffner's phone was forensically examined by Precinct 3 detectives
Charged with intentions of possessing child pornography
Arrest warrant filed based on probable cause from the investigation
Shoffner was arrested on June 28 and booked into Montgomery County Jail
Case raises concerns about AI misuse and privacy implications
Highlights need for legal and ethical frameworks around AI technology
Demonstrates potential criminal applications of readily available AI tools
Learn more here.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT
This week, we’re highlighting one of our judges for the hackathon—Brendan Fulcher
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f0ee13eb-fd9b-4892-933d-f1fbe1e51027/Brendan_Headshot.png?t=1720109798)
Brendan is a solutions engineer at Lambda Labs who focuses on providing engineering consultation and solution recommendations to Lambda’s customers.
Prior to his time at Lambda, Brendan worked for Google as a senior engineer on the Applied AI product incubation team where he focused on industry applications of LLMs and other conversational AI products.
We’re excited and honored to have him as one of our judges for the hackathon, so thank you again!
That’s all for now, folks!
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