What We're Doing...
The Texas AI Conference (TAIC), in affiliation with the University of Texas at Austin, is designed to serve as a unique platform where industry leaders, academic experts, investment professionals, and forward thinkers can come together to explore the frontiers of artificial intelligence.
UT Austin has coined 2024 as the Year of AI celebrating the university’s long-standing leadership in artificial intelligence. This initiative highlights UT's pioneering research, comprehensive educational programs, and strong partnerships with industry leaders and government agencies. It also underscores the university's unwavering commitment to shaping the future of technology through continuous innovation and collaboration, reinforcing its position as a global leader in AI.
How It All Started...
The atmosphere was electric, the room awash in a soft, ambient glow as laughter and conversation filled the air. The comedy club was packed, every seat taken, with the hum of excitement palpable as the comedian took the stage. After several stray jokes – some of which had targeted us – the comedian diverged and began talking about AI, particularly its ability to replace jobs. The room erupted in laughter throughout the bit, but for us, we weren’t laughing. No, not because he made fun of Jared’s shoes, but because his assertions, though fueled by comical intent, sparked a profound realization for us. The impact of artificial intelligence is seeping into every facet of our lives, even the unexpected ones. We pondered, "What if we created a space to seriously explore these changes and prepare students for a future dominated by AI?" That moment of inspiration was the seed for the Texas Artificial Intelligence Conference (TAIC).
OUR STUDENT TEAM
Carson's a Sophomore majoring in Finance in the Canfield Business Honors Program. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and supporting Crystal Palace FC in the premier league, listening to country music, avoiding the kitchen on the pickleball court, and writing code.
Carson Cohen
CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT | SOPHOMORE
Jared is a Sophomore majoring in economics at UT Austin. In his free time he enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, riding rollercoasters, and trading stocks.
Jared Neustadt
CO-FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT | SOPHOMORE
Paige is a Junior in McComb's Integrated Master in Professional Accounting program. Paige enjoys exploring restaurants around Austin, reading and writing, and spending time on the lake.
Paige Lintner
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING | JUNIOR
Veda's a Sophomore majoring in Computer Science with an interest in the healthcare aspect of the industry. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, exploring new coffee places around the city, and learning new applications for artificial intelligence.
Sri Veda Chinauvvula
STUDENT BOARD | SOPHOMORE
OUR ADVISORY BOARD
Scott Aaronson is the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin and the director of its Quantum Information Center. His research focuses on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers and computational complexity theory. Scott is on leave at OpenAI, working on the theoretical foundations of AI safety. Scott continues to inspire the next generation of computer scientists through his work at UT and his extensive publication record. obtained his BSc in computer science from Cornell University.
Scott Aaronson
RESEARCH, OPENAI | PROFESSOR
Brett Hurt is the CEO and co-founder of data.world, an Austin-based Certified B Corporation that enhances data accessibility and collaboration. Recognized as one of the top B Corps globally and a top workplace in Austin, data.world under Brett's leadership provides a cloud-native data catalog that unifies and democratizes data for all users. Brett is also the co-owner of Hurt Family Investments (HFI), supporting over 115 startups and 31 VC funds. Before Data.World, Brett founded Bazaarvoice and Coremetrics.
Brett Hurt
CEO & CO-FOUNDER,
DATA.WORLD | UT '94
Charlie Plauche is a General Partner at S3 Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, TX, with over $900 million under management. Specializing in Texas-based B2B software investments, Charlie plays a key role in the boards various S3 portfolio companies, including Atmosphere, BrainCheck, and Interplay Learning. His previous board roles have involved successful exits and IPOs, such as Alkami Technology and Favor Deliverv.
Charlie Plauche
GENERAL PARTNER, S3 VENTURES | UT '11
Sara Light is a Business Development Manager at Texas Exes, where she amplifies Longhorn-run businesses through the Longhorn Business Network. Previously, she was a content creator and host at Audacy, Inc., leading a daily morning radio show for eight years. Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and volunteers with organizations supporting children in foster care.
Sara Light
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,
TEXAS EXES | UT '02
Tarun Thummala is the Founder and CEO of PressW.ai, specializing in custom AI solutions to boost company profitability. With a background in computer science and AI, Tarun has successfully founded two startups, including Gathr, which was acquired in 2023. At PressW.ai, he has led the development of 16 custom AI projects, saving clients over $3 million annually and increasing employee productivity by 40%. Tarun holds a degree from the University of Texas and is recognized as a top voice in artificial intelligence.
Tarun Thummala
FOUNDER & CEO, PRESSW | UT '20
Jacob Liberman is a Senior Manager at NVIDIA, specializing in building enterprise-grade Generative AI solutions across industries. His background includes developing a predictive server performance model for CERN/ATLAS and accelerating computational models for human eye movement. With extensive experience in AI and cloud- native platforms, Jacob is committed to advancing technology for enterprise applications. He holds a Master's degree in Education from The University of Texas at Austin.
Jacob Liberman
SENIOR MANAGER, NVIDIA | UT '10
Meg Bailey is a seasoned business technology strategist, currently serving as a Lead Solution Engineer at Salesforce, where she leads major enterprise digital transformation projects. With over a decade of experience, she excels at aligning Salesforce strategies with executive business goals, driving substantial business value and enhancing customer satisfaction. Meg is actively involved with the University of Texas, sharing her insights as a guest lecturer and mentor, and emphasizing the importance of balancing career and personal life.
Meg Bailey
ENGINEER & CO-FOUNDER,
SALESFORCE | UT '21
Ron Green is an AI expert with over 20 years of experience. He is the co-founder and CTO of KUNGFU.AI, a management consulting and engineering firm focused exclusively on artificial intelligence, where he leads a skilled team of machine learning engineers and data scientists developing cutting-edge AI solutions. He also hosts the "Hidden Layers" podcast, which explores the people and technology behind AI. Ron holds a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Sc. from the University of Sussex.
Ron Green
CO-FOUNDER & CTO, KUNGFU.AI | UT '92
Frank Mendoza is an AI strategist and product manager specializing in organizational transformation through AI and data analytics. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Catalytics, he has partnered with companies like Kellogg's, Nike, and Keurig Dr Pepper, achieving significant revenue increases and improved consumer loyalty.
Frank Mendoza
FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER,
CATALYTICS | UT '97
Neil Christianson is an accomplished IT executive with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience. Currently serving as Managing Director at Accenture, Neil excels in creating and delivering complex and innovative projects. Neil's expertise spans strategic planning, artificial intelligence, innovation, and change management, among other core competencies.
Neil Christianson
SR. MANAGING DIRECTOR,
ACCENTURE | UT '20
