In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer (CEO at the Austin Technology Council) sits down with Jacqueline Karlin for a conversation about the emerging AI marketplace and how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape commerce.

Jacqueline talks about how the AI marketplace is an environment where buyer and seller agents increasingly interact on behalf of people and companies. They discuss the rise of consumer buying agents, including tools like Meta's Muse, and what this shift could mean for sales, marketing, procurement, and the way companies are discovered online.

A major part of the conversation focuses on AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization. As more purchasing decisions begin with AI tools instead of traditional search engines, businesses need to make sure their products, services, and capabilities can be clearly understood and recommended by AI systems.

Thom and Jacqueline also explore what executives should be doing now to prepare for AI-driven procurement, how organizations can begin experimenting with AI to support growth, and why this moment may create opportunities for companies of every size.

The conversation also touches on Austin's growing technology ecosystem, the importance of diversity across the community, and why this period of rapid change creates an opportunity for companies willing to learn, adapt, and participate.

Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council, and is sponsored by Calavista Software.

Heather Brunner, CEO of WP Engine, returns to Austin Tech Connect following her keynote address at the "2026 State of Tech Luncheon", presented by the Austin Technology Council and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

For those who missed Heather's keynote, this episode revisits the ideas, stories, and observations that made her presentation such an important look at where Austin tech has been and where it is going.

Heather shares her own Austin story, from arriving in the city in 1994 to her time at Trilogy and the network of leaders and entrepreneurs who helped shape Austin's technology ecosystem. She talks about the influence of people including Joe Liemandt, Chris Hyams, Brett Hurt, Josh Baer, Bill Wood, and Jason Cohen, and how relationships, mentorship, risk-taking, and a willingness to bet on people have played a major role in Austin's growth.

The conversation then turns to what may be Austin's next great chapter.

Heather believes Austin now sits at the center of five industries that could help define the next 50 years: space, quantum, defense, robotics, and biomedicine.

More importantly, these industries are not developing in isolation. Austin's long-standing strengths in software, semiconductors, hardware, research, entrepreneurship, and talent create the opportunity for these sectors to intersect and converge.

Heather and Thom discuss the role of the University of Texas, Austin's growing deep-tech companies, the importance of collaboration across industries, and why bringing leaders together remains essential as the ecosystem becomes larger and more complex.

They also discuss something that has always differentiated Austin: people being willing to show up, help one another, take risks, and participate in building the community.

Heather sums up her outlook for Austin simply: the state of Austin tech is strong, getting stronger, and we are just getting started.

And her challenge for the city?

Keep Austin Weird. Keep Austin Bold. And bring back Drive Friendly.

• Heather Brunner's journey from fifth-generation Texan to Austin technology CEO

• How Trilogy helped develop a generation of Austin tech leaders

• The importance of mentors, relationships, and people willing to bet on others

• Heather's path to becoming CEO of WP Engine

• Why space, quantum, defense, robotics, and biomedicine could define the next 50 years

• Austin's opportunity to become a center for the convergence of deep technologies

• The role of UT, talent, capital, research, and commercialization

• Why Austin's future still depends on community and collaboration

• Creating more visibility and opportunity for women in technology leadership

• Why Austin needs to remain both weird and bold

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Thank you to the sponsor of AUSTIN TECH CONNECT: Calavista Software