The Tech Tipping Point: A Thoughtful Exchange with Brett Hurt and William "whurley" Hurley

05/23/23 • 66 min

We welcome back tech pioneers Brett Hurt and William “whurley” Hurley for a deep dive into the transformative influence of technological convergence. Drawing from their vast experiences, Brett and Whurley shed light on the intersection of advanced techs, such as generative AI and quantum computing, that are rapidly redefining our world. In our engaging discussion, we uncover the profound implications these emergent technologies have on industries, their role in supercharging productivity, and how they could catalyze an unprecedented surge in startup creation.

Episode Highlights

The conversation highlights a pivotal tech convergence, where AI intersects with quantum computing, Big Data, data privacy, and every other fundamental platform that has come before.
Generative AI's rapid rise has been met with excitement and unease, calls for political regulation, all amidst highly divergent dystopian and utopian views.
Echoing similar themes, Brett envisions AI as potentially the "biggest startup and job creation engine we've ever seen," while whurley posits it leading to a "rise of the non-creative creative class," amplifying the transformative potential of the technology.
Brett highlights the importance of creativity for engineers in the AI era, suggesting that those who can combine their technical skills with imagination will thrive, while those who can't may face commoditization.
Whurley’s recent dialogues with DC leaders underscores Austin's growing influence in shaping national technology policy and wider industry trends.
What’s next Austin?
- Brett Hurt: “I think that we're going to have an absolute explosion in the number of startups created. And as an effect of that, a derivative explosion in the number of jobs...I really want Austin to be the leader of that.”
- William “whurley” Hurley: “Everybody's talented, everybody plays an instrument, everybody paints or does art or they sculpt or whatever. It is a very creative city. So when you take those kinds of people and you give them this kind of power...like absolutely, Austin is next. If we're lucky.”

Episode links

William “whurley” Hurley: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Strangeworks

Brett Hurt: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, data.world

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Episode Highlights

The conversation highlights a pivotal tech convergence, where AI intersects with quantum computing, Big Data, data privacy, and every other fundamental platform that has come before.
Generative AI's rapid rise has been met with excitement and unease, calls for political regulation, all amidst highly divergent dystopian and utopian views.
Echoing similar themes, Brett envisions AI as potentially the "biggest startup and job creation engine we've ever seen," while whurley posits it leading to a "rise of the non-creative creative class," amplifying the transformative potential of the technology.
Brett highlights the importance of creativity for engineers in the AI era, suggesting that those who can combine their technical skills with imagination will thrive, while those who can't may face commoditization.
Whurley’s recent dialogues with DC leaders underscores Austin's growing influence in shaping national technology policy and wider industry trends.
What’s next Austin?
- Brett Hurt: “I think that we're going to have an absolute explosion in the number of startups created. And as an effect of that, a derivative explosion in the number of jobs...I really want Austin to be the leader of that.”
- William “whurley” Hurley: “Everybody's talented, everybody plays an instrument, everybody paints or does art or they sculpt or whatever. It is a very creative city. So when you take those kinds of people and you give them this kind of power...like absolutely, Austin is next. If we're lucky.”

Episode links

William “whurley” Hurley: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Strangeworks

Brett Hurt: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, data.world

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Previous Episode

Austin Next Spotlight: Getting to the Next Funding Round with ClearCam

Doug Stoakley, co-founder and president of ClearCam, joins us for an Austin Next Spotlight. He shares the story of how ClearCam was founded and its most recent funding round.

Episode Highlights:

ClearCam is a revolutionary medical device that aims to solve the problem of dirty cameras in laparoscopic surgeries
They just closed their Seed Series 3, raising over $4 million with a post-money valuation of $18.5 million
The University of Texas at Austin continues to drive innovation as ClearCam was the second investment of UT’s new seed fund
With the new funding, the team is now leaning into commercialization and expanding its product line

Episode links

Doug Stoakley: LinkedIn

ClearCam: Website, Facebook, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Next Episode

Austin's Autonomous Vehicle Revolution with Michael Staples, General Manager - AUS Market at Cruise

The transportation landscape in Austin is rapidly transforming with the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles. Taking a pioneering stance, Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, is already offering the public the chance to experience their self-driving vehicles. Leading this revolution in Austin is Michael Staples, Cruise's General Manager for the region. In this episode, we explore the exciting advancements in autonomous vehicle technology happening here.

Episode Highlights

Austin was chosen for its dynamic tech ecosystem, welcoming attitude towards innovation, and regulatory environment conducive to the development of self-driving technologies.
Staples underlines Cruise's use of thorough safety studies, such as the 'Million Mile' report, to boost public trust and showcase their dedication to regulators.
By focusing on downtown nightlife, Cruise aims to better understand the needs of service workers, students, and young professionals, using less congested conditions to optimize their autonomous technology.
The upcoming Origin, a rider-centric vehicle with luxury amenities, a cargo unit, and wheelchair accessibility, represents a significant evolution from Cruise's current Chevy Bolt.
Increasing fleet size is a central strategy for Cruise in Austin, with goals to shorten wait times and broaden service coverage across the Austin Metro area.
Cruise's long-term vision includes giving back to communities by minimizing the need for parking spaces and saving users' time through efficient, autonomous transportation.
What’s next? “We expect to launch the Origin experience to the public later this year. We're excited to service some customers and you're going to see a lot of our Bolts running around. We're going to be expanding the market as well. We'll be able to slowly service more Austinites. So eventually we can get rides from our homes across town.”

Episode Links
Michael Staples: LinkedIn Cruise Self-Driving Cars: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter,
Cruise 1 Million Mile Report

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack