Event Summary
**This event will be held in person only.
Chatbots are powerful, but we are not moving past the era of simply "chatting" with Generative AI models to create, analyze, summarize, and transform content. The next frontier has arrived: AI agents, and agentic systems. AI Agents are taking these models to the next level by moving from conversation and generation to action and autonomy. This presentation will explore how agents leverage the reasoning power of LLMs to independently plan, use tools, and execute complex workflows. We are transitioning from AI as a digital assistant to AI as a digital colleague—capable of driving massive leaps in productivity, scientific research, and business innovation.
In this presentation, Austin Forum executive director Jay Boisseau and his expert panelists will cover:
The Anatomy of an Agent: Understanding how agents differ from standard LLMs. We will break down the "Agentic Workflow"—how these systems perceive a goal, decompose it into tasks, and use iterative reasoning to complete them without constant human prompting.
Autonomy & Productivity: How agentic frameworks enable "autonomous loops," allowing for 24/7 research, automated coding, and complex project management that scales beyond human capacity.
The Tooling Landscape: A deep dive into current state-of-the-art agentic tools. We will discuss the impact of platforms like Claude Cowork, which integrates seamlessly into professional environments, and OpenClaw, the open-source movement pushing the boundaries of agentic control.
Getting Started: Practical advice for individuals and organizations ready to move beyond the prompt. We’ll cover how to identify "agent-ready" tasks and the best frameworks for deployment.
The Future Horizon: A look at the evolving landscape. As agents become more capable, what does a world of "agent-to-agent" communication look like, and how will it reshape the global economy?
These agentic technologies can be used by anyone, and anyone can learn to configure their agents and develop their own systems to greatly enhance their productivity and impact. Join us to learn how to supercharge your work, career, company, and life with agentic AI!
Moderator
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.
Attendance Instructions
In-person
ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000
The Center for Government & Civic Service
1218 West Avenue Austin, TX, 78701
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!