2026-01-28T00:00:00-06:00

Austin Forum for Technology & Society

March 3 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Tech Trends for 2026 (and Beyond!)

Event Summary

Our biggest event of the year is back!

What technologies will truly have the most influence and impact in your companies and organizations, careers and lives, and society overall in 2026? As we stand on the cusp of another transformative year, it’s time to cut through the hype and get to the core of what’s next in AI, computing, biotech, energy, and more.

Join us for the Austin Forum’s flagship annual event, Tech Trends for 2026 (and Beyond!). Once again, Austin Forum Executive Director Jay Boisseau will bring leading technologists to the stage to analyze what others are predicting, provide their own expert insights and rationale, and debate the most exciting technology opportunities—and risks—of the year ahead.

Attendees will hear a curated, high-level perspective on the innovations that will shape our world. The conversation is always fantastic, and the networking afterward is always stimulating and goes into the night. We hope you can stay to connect with our speakers and fellow attendees!

Please note: This is consistently our largest event of the year. Seating is limited and not guaranteed, so please sign up early. We strongly recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the 6:15 PM start time to secure your spot.

Moderators

Jay Boisseau, Executive Director, Austin Forum on Technology & Society and CEO, Vizias

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin–and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay’s full professional bio, visit here.

Emily Gupton, CTO, SKG

Emily Gupton is Chief Technology Officer at SKG in Austin, Texas, where she is responsible for managing the company’s hardware, software, cybersecurity, AI implementation and more. Emily also serves as Chief Operations Officer at a sister company, FOLIO, where she built and launched a SaaS platform with her CEO, Beth Goff-McMillan. Emily is heavily involved in the Austin community where she serves as Board President of Austin Women in Technology, a Board Member for Workforce Solutions Capital Area, an Advisory Board Member for Truist Bank. In her free time you can find her traveling, spending time with family and friends, and training for her next triathlon.

Bryon Jacob​

Bryon Jacob is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and AI researcher based in Austin, Texas. He is the former co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of data.world, a SaaS company that scaled successfully to acquisition, and earlier spent a decade at HomeAway (now VRBO), where he helped lead the company through IPO and eventual acquisition by Expedia. Bryon’s expertise in artificial intelligence goes back to his graduate studies at Case Western Reserve University, where he worked in both symbolic AI and machine learning, and he has published highly cited research on using knowledge graphs to improve the reasoning capabilities of large language models. Today, he advises early-stage startups on technology strategy and AI adoption, and serves as a board member of the Austin AI Alliance. In his free time, Bryon enjoys playing music, mentoring entrepreneurs, and exploring how technology and human creativity intersect.

Attendance Instructions

In-person

Join us at ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 where you will be checked in at the front. Parking map here! Street parking is free after 6 pm.

In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and food. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus, Bldg 3000

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