Amir Husain emphasizes the transformative power of technology in shaping our physical world. This highlights the potential of technology to revolutionize our environment. The statement suggests a belief in the profound impact of technology on our surroundings. It underscores the importance of leveraging technology for positive change. Ultimately, it underscores the potential of technology to bring about significant advancements in our physical reality.
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At the Austin, Texas based Time Machine tech conference, visitors could interact with a live demonstration of an AI system for piloting fighter aircraft; an impressive example of Physical AI.
I’ve always believed that the true power of technology lies in its ability to transform the physical world we inhabit. Since 1996, when I arrived here as a Computer Science student at the University of Texas, I’ve watched Austin, Texas, evolve from a quirky, music-driven outpost into a global hub of innovation—a city uniquely positioned to lead where the digital meets the physical.
In 2013, I founded SparkCognition (now Avathon), an AI company born and raised in this vibrant ecosystem. I’ve seen firsthand how Austin’s blend of academic prowess, open culture, and breakneck growth is setting the stage for a new era. Today, I’m convinced that Austin can become the crucible for a revolution in intelligent infrastructure—a gift to the world that could redefine prosperity for billions.
I don’t believe success lies in Austin chasing Silicon Valley’s shadow. Instead, it lies in forging our own path. Imitation is, as Oscar Wilde put it, “the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity pays to greatness.” And Austin isn’t mediocre. We just need to carve our own path and become a place where tangible constructs of technology meet cutting-edge ideas.
In Austin today, you’ll find Tesla and Samsung factories humming alongside the Army Futures Command, drone startups buzzing in every sector from defense to recreation, and companies like one I founded in partnership with Boeing, SkyGrid, marrying century-old aviation expertise with cutting-edge AI.
This convergence isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a city that’s academically electric—thanks to UT Austin’s world-class programs—and bold enough to embrace growth without apology. Nearly 75% of U.S. computer science and electrical engineering grad students are foreign-born, finding a home here. That openness, paired with UT’s legacy of breakthroughs, fuels a flywheel of innovation unlike anywhere else.
For example, the COVID spike protein produced by UT Austin Professor Jason McLellan, or the world’s most powerful laser being developed by a UT Austin linked company called Tau Systems. This flywheel is accelerated further since Austin is now home to leading investors like Jim Breyer and Bill Gurley.
My formal journey in AI began at 16, and when I founded SparkCognition, we focused on the physical world. With nearly 200 patents and a team of PhDs in Austin, we turned theory into action. Our systems optimized various industries and even help maintain F-16s for the Air Force.
The stakes in this new space of Physical AI are massive. Making infrastructure intelligent is crucial with trillions in global infrastructure already existing. Imagine an oil rig that detects safety threats in real time or a factory predicting downtime. This is the future I’m betting on—a future where AI runs the world.
Austin is uniquely equipped to lead this charge with its tech ecosystem and mindset. Entrepreneurs in aerospace, biotech, robotics, and drones are pushing boundaries. Austin is where the physical and digital merge into something new.
What might the fruits of such a merger be? I call it synthetic physical autonomy—self-managing infrastructure that optimizes itself. This is what Austin’s entrepreneurs are building today, aiming to deliver more output at lower costs and lift quality of life everywhere.
Leadership in Physical AI requires real understanding of the technology and its application. Austin’s community is full of innovators, philosophers, artists, and builders, propelling towards a world where infrastructure is imbued with intelligence. If Austin can spark that revolution, we’ll cement our place as a first-rate force of nature.