Meetup Recap, AI Meets Social Impact, and More | AITX Newsletter #25

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.

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)

Meet Our New Judges:

• 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 and Antler VC for making this possible.

And a warm welcome to our newest sponsor, Google Cloud!

Can't hack but want to help?

We're still looking for judges and mentors. Reach out if you're interested!

June Meetup Recap

This month was a little different than our usual process.

Instead of 3-4 founding teams, we only had one…

But their mission shows us all the true potential AI can have on the world (and our communities) in a positive way.

Enter Nomadik: Where AI Meets Social Impact

We are grateful that co-founder Trevor Sorrells was able to come share Nomadik’s story with the community.

Nomadik, is on a mission to revolutionize how we address homelessness in Austin.

Here's the scoop:

1. Tech for Good: Nomadik has developed an app and website that allow users to track and report information about homeless encampments in our city.

2. AI-Powered Insights: Using cutting-edge AI and machine learning, Nomadik processes crowd-sourced data (images, videos, location info) to create a real-time map of homelessness in Austin.

3. Bridging Gaps: The goal? Provide up-to-date situational awareness to residents, non-profits, and local government agencies. It's about connecting those who need help with those who can provide it.

4. Partnerships for Change: Nomadik is teaming up with non-profits and government agencies to improve resource management and outreach efforts. Because sometimes, it takes a village (and some smart algorithms).

The Bigger Picture

Nomadik's approach shows us the true potential of AI to create positive change in our communities.

It's not just about chatbots and image generators – it's about using technology to solve real-world problems and improve lives.

Nomadik's work reminds us that when we combine technology with compassion, we can create powerful tools for social good—A testament to Austin's spirit of innovation and community care.

You can learn more about Nomadik here and download their app here.

If you want to help Nomadik on their mission, reach out.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Discover How to Get Inside the Mind of your Market with AI!

• When: Wednesday, July 3 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST

• Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos St · Austin, TX

• What: Topic: How to Streamline Market Research and Content Creation for Better Business Decisions and Deeply Understanding Your Best Customers' Buying Decisions

AI Connect

• When: Tuesday, July 9 | 6:30 - 9:30pm CST

• Where: Sapien Center 2316 Morelos Street Austin, TX 78702

• What: an unforgettable evening at the Sapien Center in Austin, TX, where the worlds of business, technology, and the arts converge to explore the transformative potential of generative AI.

AI Meetup (June): GenAI, LLMs and ML

• When: Thursday, June 27 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM CST

• Where: PMG 515 Congress Ave. # 1800 · Austin, TX

• What: Monthly in-person AI meetup in Austin, in collaboration with PMG. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI/ML, food/drink, networking with speakers and fellow developers.

AI in Everyday Life: A Casual Discussion Group

• When: Wednesday, July 3 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CST

• Where: Bennu Coffee Highland 109 Jacob Fontaine Ln suite 600 · Austin, TX

• What: Interactive co-working session, "AI in Everyday Life", designed for AI enthusiasts and curious minds! In this gathering, we'll explore how artificial intelligence seamlessly integrates into our daily routines, making life more efficient and exciting

Can AI be a moral agent? Why should we care?

• When: Thursday, July 11 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST

• 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?

COMMUNITY STORIES

AI to the Rescue: UT Dallas Engineers a Shockproof Power Grid

Our neighbors at UT Dallas have cooked up an AI model that could make power outages as rare as a cool day in Texas summer.

This whiz-bang system can reroute electricity faster than you can say "blackout," potentially keeping our air conditioners humming and our margarita blenders blending, even when Mother Nature throws a tantrum.

Need-to-know:

• UT Dallas researchers, in cahoots with the University at Buffalo, have developed an AI model for "self-healing" power grids.

• This AI can automatically reroute electricity in microseconds, compared to the current human-controlled processes that take minutes to hours.

• The system uses graph machine learning to map out the complex relationships in power distribution networks.

• It can tap into nearby power sources like large-scale solar panels or batteries on campuses or businesses when main lines are compromised.

• The AI uses reinforcement learning to make optimal decisions for maintaining power supply.

• While not yet ready for prime time, this research is paving the way for more resilient power grids.

• Next up: The team plans to develop similar tech for repairing and restoring the grid after outages occur.

So, next time you're sweating through a summer blackout, remember: AI might soon be your knight in shining armor, keeping the lights on and the AC blasting!

Learn more here.

Texas Goes AI: 40% of Firms Embrace the Future, but Jobs Stay Put (For Now)

The Dallas Fed's latest survey paints a picture of the Lone Star State riding the AI wave, with nearly 40% of Texas firms already in the saddle.

But hold your horses before you start worrying about robot overlords taking over the job market – so far, the impact on employment has been as mild as a Texas winter.

Need-to-know:

• Nearly 40% of Texas firms are using AI, with another 16% planning to hop on the bandwagon in the next year.

• Big businesses are leading the charge, while smaller firms are still figuring out how to wrangle this new technology.

• White-collar industries like professional services and finance are the biggest AI adopters.

• Healthcare is gearing up for an AI revolution, with half of the firms planning to start using it in the next 12 months.

• Top AI uses: business analytics, customer service, marketing, and process automation.

• Employment impact? Mostly a non-event so far. Only 10% of AI-using firms report reduced worker needs.

• When jobs are affected, it's mainly low-skill positions getting the boot, while high-skill jobs are seeing some growth.

• Productivity is the big winner, with firms reporting increased efficiency as the top benefit of AI adoption.

• Concerns? Misinformation tops the list, followed by privacy issues and social surveillance worries.

• The jury's still out on AI's long-term impact on jobs and income inequality.

Remember, y'all, we're still in the early days of the AI rodeo.

The Dallas Fed plans to keep tabs on this bucking bronco of technology, so stay tuned for more updates as we watch AI transform the Texan business landscape!

Learn more here.

AI Dives In: Texas State's Meadows Center Gets $500K to Keep Our Rivers Clean

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University just scored a cool $500,000 to develop AI that'll act like a high-tech lifeguard for our beloved waterways.

Need-to-know:

• The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University received a $500,000 grant for AI development.

• The grant comes from the national congressional budget, presented by Representative Greg Casar.

• The AI tools will analyze levels of fecal coliform, a water contaminant that can make waterways unsafe.

• Current testing methods can take days to a week; the AI aims to provide real-time analysis.

• The research will initially focus on the San Marcos River, a popular spot for tubing and swimming.

• Poorly maintained sewage systems and septic tanks are major contributors to water contamination.

• The project aims to ensure safer access to rivers and prevent beach closures due to contamination.

• This funding is part of Texas State University's journey to become an R1 research institution.

• The grant will enhance the university's research capacity and build its brand as a research powerhouse.

• Texas State is proving it's not "just a teacher school" but a hub for world-class research.

So, next time you're floating down the San Marcos River, remember: AI might soon be your unseen lifeguard, making sure your lazy river day doesn't turn into a bacterial brouhaha!

Learn more here.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

This week, the spotlight is on Trevor Sorrells of Nomadik.

He was gracious to come out and share what they're working on at our recent meetup.

Nomadik is using AI to tackle homelessness in Austin, combining tech innovation with social impact.

Trevor's presentation gave us all a glimpse into how AI can be used to address real-world issues in our community.

And Everybody, here’s the ask:

Please go test out the app which you can find here to provide feedback!

You can send your feedback to this email: [email protected]

Let's show Trevor and Nomadik some Austin-style support as they work to make our city better for everyone!