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- Texas AI is Heating Up: Policy, Education, and Power Moves
Texas AI is Heating Up: Policy, Education, and Power Moves
The latest from the front lines of AI in Texas—from deepfake debates at the Capitol to hands-on training in East Texas.
AITX Team
May 02, 2025
Hello everyone! AITX Team here with more updates this week.
If you’re new here, welcome! 👋 At AITX, we aim to:
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Share helpful tools and invaluable resources.
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In this week’s edition you’re getting:
🤠 Meetup Recap
5 Upcoming Events
3 AI Community Stories
1 Community Highlight
So let’s jump in!
UPCOMING EVENTS
When: Wednesday, May 7 | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos St · Austin, TX
What: Due to room capacity and building security, it is REQUIRED to register on the event website for admission. (RSVP is CLOSED on meetup). Welcome to the AI meetup in Austin. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agents, hands-on experiences on code labs, workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow developers.
When: Tuesday, May 6 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Where: Capital Factory, Voltron Room (1st floor) 701 Brazos Street · Austin, TX
What: Austin Deep Learning Journal Club is group for committed machine learning practitioners and researchers alike. The group typically meets every first Tuesday of each month to discuss research publications. The publications are usually the ones that laid foundation to ML/DL or explore novel promising ideas and are selected by a vote.
When: Wednesday, May 7 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Where: In Person ACC - RGC 3000218 West Avenue · Austin, TX
What: The AI Middleware Users Group is dedicated to “Learning in the Open.” We experiment together with LangChain, LangGraph, LangSmith, and related tools to connect the broader AI ecosystem—sharing practical demos, pitfalls, and wins so everyone levels up.
When: Wednesday, May 21 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Where: Capital Factory 701 Brazos St, 16th Floor · Austin, TX
What: Sonar User Groups are all about bringing people together to talk code, share what we’re learning, and build community — casually and inclusively. Whether you’re just getting started or a seasoned engineer, you’re welcome here!
When: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM CDT
Where: Bitcoin Park Austin 601 Congress Avenue, Suite 250 · Austin, TX
What: Come ready to vibe code and experiment with the latest AIs and LLMs.
The Austin AI event hosted by Justin Moon and Anthony Ronning is a dynamic gathering that delves into the intersection of artificial intelligence and freedom technology.
This event is part of the broader initiatives by Bitcoin Park Austin, a community dedicated to exploring and advancing Bitcoin and Freedom Tech.
For more information and to stay updated on upcoming events, visit bitcoinpark.com/austin.
COMMUNITY STORIES
The Texas House just passed HB 366, a bill requiring disclaimers on AI-generated content in political ads—or face criminal charges.
Why it matters: As generative AI gets weaponized in elections, lawmakers are racing to set guardrails. This bill is one of the first of its kind nationally, and it’s brewing right here in Austin.
Need-to-know:
New rules: AI-generated political images or videos must include a clear disclosure that they’re not real—per TEC guidelines.
The penalty: Violators could face up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine (Class A misdemeanor).
The tension: Free speech advocates say the bill is too broad and could face First Amendment challenges.
Learn more here.
In a heated 102-40 vote, the Texas House advanced HB 366, a bill requiring political ads that use AI to include a disclaimer if the content didn’t actually happen.
Why it matters: Texas is stepping into the national spotlight on regulating AI-generated misinformation in politics—a move that could set the tone for future state and federal laws.
Need-to-know:
The trigger: Any AI-generated image, audio, or video meant to influence an election must disclose that it’s fictional.
The goal: Safeguard voters against deceptive political content created with generative AI.
The debate: Critics argue the bill risks infringing on free speech and could be too vague to enforce.
Learn more here.
East Texas A&M is now offering a Master of Science in AI to help students build practical, job-ready skills across industries—not just tech.
Why it matters: This program reflects a broader shift in Texas higher ed: prepping the next wave of professionals to apply AI in business, healthcare, law, and beyond.
Need-to-know:
Cross-industry focus: Students can specialize in computer science, linguistics, math, or psychology—AI isn’t just for coders.
Practical > theoretical: Emphasis is on hands-on projects and real-world applications, not just AI theory.
Flexible format: Online and in-person options cater to working professionals and full-time students alike.
Learn more here.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT
This week we’re spotlighting Brian Atwood, CEO of Sindarin.
Sindarin is an Austin-based AI startup developing advanced conversational AI technology. Their platform features natural speech patterns and ultra-low latency response times for customer service applications.
The company offers a no-code configuration platform alongside API access for developers
You can connect with Brian here.
That’s all for now, folks!
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