Podcast
IntoTexas AI Podcast
Hosted by Shannon Belew · EN
Your deep dive into AI news and trends reshaping Texas.
Everything is bigger in Texas—including the impact of artificial intelligence.
Hosted by Shannon Belew, IntoTexas AI brings you the most important AI stories impacting Texas—from data centers and enterprise adoption to startups, policy, and the shifting balance of power in work.
Each episode delivers:
The biggest AI news stories connected to Texas
What it means for business leaders, innovators and investors
Fast insights you can actually use
It's a front-row seat to how AI is transforming one of the most important economic regions.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The NFL Draft, AI, and the Dallas Cowboys: How AI is Used and Why Data Wins
Apr 2500:15:42Tap to summarizeAs the 2026 NFL Draft wraps, there’s a new voice shaping decisions inside team picks —not a scout, coach, or GM… but artificial intelligence.In this bonus episode of the IntoTexas AI podcast, Shannon Belew breaks down how the National Football League is using AI to evaluate players, simulate draft scenarios, and gain a competitive edge—and why that’s only part of the story.Because while headlines focus on AI models, the Dallas Cowboys are taking a different approach.Led by CIO Matt Messick, the organization is investing in something far less flashy—but far more important:Breaking down data silosModernizing hardware for real scouting workloadsBuilding a unified data platform to power AI at scaleThe result? A foundation that turns AI from a tool into a true decision-making advantage.This episode explores:How AI is already being used across the NFL draft processWhat experts—and team executives—are saying about its impactWhy most teams may be focusing on the wrong part of AIAnd what business leaders can learn from the Cowboys’ infrastructure-first strategyBecause in the NFL—and beyond—the future of AI isn’t about who has the best model.It’s about who builds the best foundation.
Transcribe →AI-Native Talent Meets AI Anxiety: Texas Has a Gen Z Workforce Challenge
Apr 2200:16:22Tap to summarizeThe Gen Z dilemma is real. As Texas accelerates its position as a national leader in the artificial intelligence economy, a surprising challenge is emerging—the very generation best equipped to use AI is starting to push back against it.In this episode of the IntoTexas AI Podcast, Shannon Belew explores the rise of AI-native talent—workers who treat AI as a built-in partner, not just a tool—and the growing tension among Gen Z as concerns about job loss, career paths, and relevance begin to surface.With cities like Dallas and Austin attracting a surge of early-career talent, Texas sits at the center of this shift. But as companies invest heavily in AI, a critical question is forming:How do you build an AI-powered economy when your workforce is increasingly skeptical of AI itself?This episode breaks down:What defines AI-native employees—and why they think differentlyWhy Gen Z is beginning to resist AI despite growing up with itThe emerging disconnect between executives and the workforceThe risks for Texas companies if this tension goes unresolvedAnd the three moves leaders must make to turn skepticism into momentumIf Texas gets this right, it won’t just lead in AI adoption—It will define how AI-native work actually functions.
Transcribe →Is focusing on ROI a mistake when it comes to AI? Why success is a long game.
Apr 1600:14:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of IntoTexas AI, Shannon Belew breaks down a bold declaration from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: stop focusing on ROI —and start experimenting.But this isn’t just theory.In Texas—home to 50+ Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of publicly traded firms—leaders are under real pressure to deliver quarterly results while investing heavily in AI. And that tension is showing up in real ways:Thousands of layoffs tied to AI-driven restructuringMassive investments in infrastructure, talent, and experimentationA growing gap between short-term expectations and long-term opportunityThis episode explores the AI paradox:Why companies are cutting costs and investing at the same time—and why waiting for clear ROI could put you behind.You’ll learn:Why AI doesn’t fit traditional ROI modelsHow leading companies are shifting from efficiency to experimentationWhat Texas executives must balance between Wall Street pressure and long-term betsA new playbook for AI: it's a strategy — not a projectIf you’re a CEO, board member, or leader navigating AI investment, this episode will challenge how you think about value, timing, and risk.
Transcribe →AI Jobs Boom: What Roles are Fueling the Growth and Where are You Most Likely to Find Work
Apr 1100:08:39Tap to summarizeAI job growth is accelerating across the U.S.—but Texas is quickly emerging as one of the most important talent hubs for the next wave of AI transformation.In this episode of IntoTexas AI, host Shannon Belew breaks down where AI job growth is headed between 2026 and 2030—and why Texas is uniquely positioned to lead.Drawing on hiring trends from Indeed, we explore how AI demand is expanding beyond engineering roles into business, operations, and product leadership—and what that means for companies and professionals alike.Plus, a closer look at Dallas-Fort Worth and how enterprise demand, infrastructure investment, and workforce evolution are reshaping the region into a different kind of AI hub.If you're building, hiring, or navigating the future of work—this episode is your snapshot of where the market is going next.
Transcribe →Oracle Layoffs Hit Austin with AI-fueled Org Change, and Question Boards are Avoiding
Apr 900:13:11Tap to summarizeOracle layoffs hit Austin — but there's more to this tech workforce story.In this episode of IntoTexas AI, we break down how Oracle’s restructuring reflects a much bigger shift: trading people to fund AI investments.This isn’t about cost-cutting. It’s about capital reallocation.We also unpack a key insight: how do boards hold CEOs accountable if they aren't asking the right questions about AI. In this episode:What Oracle’s layoffs mean for Austin’s tech ecosystemHow AI is reshaping hiring, org structures, and investment prioritiesThe real trade-offs CEOs are making to fund AIWhat business leaders need to understand right nowIf you’re building, investing, or leading in Texas, this is an AI data point you can’t ignore.
Transcribe →$20 Billion Dollar Bet: Elon Musk's TeraFab and what it means to Texas
Mar 3100:12:36Tap to summarizeElon Musk is making another massive move — a $20 billion investment into TeraFab, a company focused on AI-driven manufacturing and next-generation infrastructure.- in space.But this isn’t just another AI story.In this episode of IntoTexas AI, we break down what this investment really means: the shift of AI from software into the physical world — factories, energy, and large-scale systems — and why Texas continues to be at the center of it.From talent wars to energy demand to the future of autonomous production. Is the future every builder, investor, and operator in Texas should be trying to better understand?.What you’ll learn:What TeraFab is and why it mattersWhy AI is moving beyond software into infrastructureThe potential impact on Texas manufacturing and energyWhat to watch next as this unfolds
Transcribe →From Oracle and OpenAI to Microsoft: The Changing Faces of the Abilene Data Center
Mar 2800:10:48Tap to summarizeWhat started as uncertainty around a major AI data center expansion in Abilene, Texas has quickly turned into a defining moment for the AI infrastructure race.After Oracle and OpenAI stepped back, Microsoft is now set to lease 900 megawatts of capacity — reinforcing the scale of demand for compute and the growing importance of Texas in the global AI ecosystem.In this episode of IntoTexas AI, we explore what changed, why data center strategy is evolving so quickly, and how Abilene is becoming one of the most important nodes in the future of AI.
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