The future is arriving faster than expected. And we are at a crossroads where our society needs real leadership in an AI world.
According to some of the world’s top technologists, artificial general intelligence (AGI)… machines as smart as the brightest humans… may arrive within five years. Artificial superintelligence (ASI) could follow shortly after. That’s not science fiction. And people are not ready for these changes. That’s now the projection from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and others at the forefront of this revolution.
As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, workplace, and decision-making process, it’s easy to think that only those with the newest tools or biggest data sets will win.
But here’s the real truth: in this accelerated future, leadership and community will be our anchor.
The World Is Changing; But the Need for Human Leadership in an AI World Is Growing
The next decade will bring breakthroughs that fundamentally change how we work, live, and connect. AI will replace jobs. Automate tasks. Make decisions. In some cases, it will outperform entire departments.
But it won’t lead people. It won’t inspire trust. It won’t create culture.
That job still falls to leaders… especially those who have experience navigating complexity, building companies, and investing in others. In fact, those who have already made money, scaled companies, led teams, and faced hard decisions will be uniquely qualified to guide others through what’s coming next.
The question is: Will they show up?
Real Leaders Don’t Sit Out the Hard Chapters
Now is not the time for experienced leaders to step back or disappear into closed networks. Now is the time to lean in… publicly, visibly, and generously.
The people who have “done it before” need to help others do it now.
Not because they have to. But because communities like Austin need them to.
It’s easy to forget that many of the world’s greatest tech companies didn’t start in Silicon Valley boardrooms. They started in community spaces, over coffee, on phone calls, and in meetups. In cities like Austin, they were nurtured by local networks, regional investors, and nonprofit organizations that created the conditions for innovation.
That’s why groups like the Austin Technology Council matter more than ever.
Community, Collaboration, and Conversations
At ATC, we believe strongly that our greatest strength isn’t our tech… it’s our people. And in a world where information can be replicated instantly and decisions made by machines, the edge belongs to those who build and sustain trust-based human relationships.
This is where community organizations step up. Trade associations, chambers of commerce, tech councils, and other groups can help foster leadership in an Ai world.
ATC isn’t just a place to hear about trends or attend an event. We exist to be a touchstone… a space where leaders, rising stars, innovators, and founders can connect in real time and real space. Where collaboration is sparked. Where conversations get deeper. And where trust is built the old-fashioned way; face-to-face. And it is not just the Austin Technology Council… there are many business non-profits that can offer that community leadership. But it cannot happen unless the real leaders show up and lead.
In the years ahead, we’ll need more of this… not less.
A Call to Leaders
If you’ve found success in Austin’s tech ecosystem… if you’ve built, scaled, exited, or led… this is your moment to lead again. Leadership in an AI world will require guidance from experienced leaders… or we run the risk of charlatans taking over our society.
Not just inside your company, but inside your community. Be the leadership in an AI world that people are seeking.
That might look like:
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Sharing your story with founders just getting started
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Mentoring emerging leaders navigating uncertainty
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Joining a board or local nonprofit that shapes the region’s future
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Supporting the groups and gatherings that connect us
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Or simply showing up to an event and making someone feel welcome
This kind of involvement can’t be delegated to AI. It can’t be outsourced. It has to be done by people, for people.
Austin’s Edge Is Still Us
The coming years will belong to the cities and regions that hold onto what makes them human. For Austin, that means preserving our spirit of collaboration, generosity, and local pride. It means nurturing the same relationships that helped launch our first wave of innovation… and fueling the next one.
So yes, the future is fast. But the future is still ours… if we lead with intention.