AITX Community Podcast #9: Scott Wilcox

AITX Community Podcast #9: Scott Wilcox

Welcome back to the AITX Community Podcast!This episode features Scott Wilcox, an Austin OG who spent nearly 20 years leading technology and innovation at SXSW. Scott helped shape SXSW into a global platform that drives a Super Bowl’s worth of economic activity into Austin each year. He led the organization’s digital transformation, built their platform from scratch, and guided their technology strategy through eras of massive change in both culture and tech. After SXSW, Scott went on to start several of his own technology businesses. He’s currently building Janix and utilizing new AI infrastructure and data tools like MCP to reimagine autonomous systems. Check out ⁠Janix - https://www.janix.aiStay in touch with Scott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmwilcox/Timestamps[00:01:50] Scott’s early background and childhood interest in computers and technology [00:05:31] First jobs post-college, moving to Texas, and joining SXSW [00:10:14] Initial technology infrastructure at SXSW [00:13:17] Evolution of Scott’s role at SXSW [00:15:56] Building software before cloud and SaaS [00:25:14] Growth into CTO role [00:26:10] Early challenges and "oh s***" moments at SXSW [00:34:38] Scaling the SXSW organization and technology team [00:39:58] Early AI and neural networks at SXSW [00:46:37] Personal journey building with AI [00:55:00] Limitations of generative code, challenges with technical debt, context, and legacy systems [01:05:22] Journey to founding Janix AI [01:21:04] Marketplaces and interoperability [01:38:40] Building a tech company in Texas [01:48:12] Rapid fire [01:58:26] Keep in touch with Scott

AITX Community Podcast #8: Tyler Wells

Welcome back to the AITX Community Podcast!This episode features Tyler Wells, whose engineering journey spans some truly iconic companies and projects. Tyler’s career reads like a timeline of real-time communications evolution. He joined Skype not once but twice, playing critical roles in unifying codebases and, most notably, building out the original Facebook video calling feature powered by Skype. Tyler then joined Twilio, helping build their video platform from scratch and opening up new opportunities for developers around the world to build video into their apps. He’s since gone on to found data-focused startups like Ubix and Propel, and today is the co-founder of Brain Grid, a company using agents and generative AI to reshape the entire software development workflow.Check out BrainGrid [https://www.braingrid.ai/] - https://www.braingrid.ai/Stay in touch with Tyler - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerswells/ Timestamps [00:02:11] Tyler’s Early Interest in Engineering and Computers [00:11:33] Startups in Silicon Valley [00:14:29] Transition from IC to Engineering Leadership, Lessons in Managing Distributed Teams [00:22:58] Real-Time Communications [00:27:04] Building Skype on the Web, Partnership with Facebook, and Scaling to Millions [00:43:46] First Foray into Entrepreneurship: Starting Ubix, Working with Data and Lessons Learned [00:51:10] Journey at Twilio: Building the Video Platform, Remote Office Launch, and WebRTC [01:06:05] Leaving Twilio, Moving to Austin, and Founding Propel Data Cloud [01:14:54] Building Data Platforms: Early Customers, Search for Product-Market Fit [01:20:59] Impact of Generative AI: Using Agents, Prompt Engineering, and the Birth of Brain Grid [01:31:02] Brain Grid & Moving to Austin [01:45:37] Rapid Fire [01:51:39] Closing: Staying Connected, Brain Grid’s Roadmap, and Personal Reflections

AITX Community Podcast #7: Jared Greene

Welcome back to the AITX Community Podcast!This episode features Jared Greene, Head of Software at Base Power Company, one of the fastest-growing energy technology startups in Texas. Base Power builds modular, distributed energy systems that can augment utility grid electricity and installs them directly into their members homes. They're fresh off their Series C funding announcement and one of Texas' fastest growing companies.In this episode, we cover Jared’s journey from writing control software for lab robots, to developing SpaceX’s Starlink systems, to now building the distributed energy infrastructure of the future at Base Power. Work at Base Power - https://basepowercompany.com/careers [https://basepowercompany.com/careers]Stay in touch with Jared - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredgreene1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredgreene1/]Timestamps[00:05:10] Jared's First Engineering Job[00:07:37] Difference Between Firmware and Software[00:10:44] The Guatemala Internet Infrastructure Project[00:25:34] Transitioning to Starlink / SpaceX[00:30:43] Work at Starlink: Constellation Simulations, Satellite Engineering, and Optical Links[00:54:00] BASE Power: Distributed Energy & Operating the Grid[01:08:13] AI at BASE, Scaling, and Building in Austin[01:25:13] Rapid Fire[01:31:35] Closing: Staying Connected, BASE’s Future, and Personal Announcements

AITX Community Podcast #6: Kevin Frazier

Welcome back to the AITX Community Podcast! This episode features Kevin Frazier, a lawyer & policy expert, Senior Editor at Lawfare, and the inaugural AI Innovation & Law Fellow at The University of Texas School of Law. We cover Kevin’s education and career working in the world of law and policy at both state governments and Big Tech, how AI is impacting the legal profession, and a deep dive into the current state of America’s AI Policy. Kevin shares honest stories about bridging the worlds of government and technology, how outdated laws impact real people, and the urgent need for legal clarity in the age of AI. I think you’ll appreciate what he has to say. Stay in touch with Kevin: LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-frazier-ut-ai Bluesky/X - @kevintfrazier The Scaling Laws Podcast - https://www.lawfaremedia.org/podcasts-multimedia/podcast/scaling-laws Appleseed AI, Kevin’s Substack - https://appleseedai.substack.com/ The AI Innovation & Law Program at UT - https://law.utexas.edu/ai/ Timestamps:[00:02:02] Kevin’s Introduction and Background [00:10:26] Tech Companies and Policy Engagement [00:19:01] The AI Innovation and Law Program at UT [00:27:39] Debunking AI Misconceptions [00:31:02] AI Hallucinations and Legal Risks [00:37:57] Will AI Replace Junior Lawyers? [00:48:28] U.S. AI Policy: Federal and State Landscape [00:54:34] Executive Actions vs. Congressional Law [01:12:09] Trump’s AI Action Plan: Three Pillars [01:35:16] The Challenge of AI Liability [01:42:09] Rapid Fire [01:47:35] Closing

AITX Community Podcast #5: Rick Boone

Welcome back to the AITX Community Podcast! This episode features Rick Boone, an accomplished engineering executive, angel investor, and current venture partner at Antler. We trace Rick’s journey through technology, from growing up immersed in giant mainframes in New York City to engineering leadership roles at some of the biggest names in tech, like Facebook, Uber, and Carta. Rick shares candid stories of his early exposure to computers, the formative experiences that drew him to study computer science at USC, the dot-com boom, the transition to fast-growing Facebook and then hyper-growth Uber, and more. Stay in touch with Rick:LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticrick/Apply to Antler - https://to.antler.co/AITXTimestamps [00:02:10] Intro and Rick’s Early Exposure to Technology [00:10:52] High School and College Decision Process [00:12:43] USC, Dot Com Era, and Entering the Job Market [00:18:17] Early Facebook: Joining, Culture, and Engineering Challenges [00:37:18] Uber: Hypergrowth, Engineering, and Near-Disasters [01:20:28] Transition to Leadership and Executive Roles [01:28:26] Angel Investing: Motivation and Mindset [01:37:29] How Rick Evaluates Startups and Founders [01:53:06] Rapid Fire [02:03:10] Closing Thoughts