It’s only in its second year, sure. But already, Dallas Innovates’ AI 75—a partnership with the Dallas Regional Chamber—has become the go-to standard for identifying and honoring the most innovative leaders in artificial intelligence in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Just look at the last 12 months. Inaugural 2024 honorees have made headlines—and history—from State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione’s pioneering AI governance legislation to Ben Lamm and Colossal’s historic de-extinction breakthrough (complete with a Time magazine cover and real-life dire wolf pups) to Panna Sharma and Lantern Pharma’s AI-powered cancer therapy advances that earned the company’s second FDA Fast Track Designation.
And that’s just scratching the surface.
While last year’s AI 75 set a high bar (to see the full 2024 list, go here), the class of 2025 is no less stellar. Then again, how could it fail to be?
Dallas-Fort Worth’s AI ecosystem is hitting its stride and fueling the Texas AI Revolution. Startups are scaling fast. Fortune 500s are doubling down. Our universities are feeding the pipeline with new research, new talent, and new ideas.
It all gives North Texas a leg up going forward, as generative AI reshapes the U.S. economy to the tune of $4.1 trillion in productive capacity, according to a new report from Microsoft and LinkedIn. Productive capacity, the researchers said, measures how much businesses could save in worker time if they adopted GenAI throughout their organizations. That $4.1 trillion figure, by the way, is equivalent to 15% of the country’s 2023 GDP.
This year’s AI 75 list captures this energy—and the drive to transform industries, communities, and the future itself—highlighting local entrepreneurs, consultants, researchers, investors, thought leaders, and corporate pacesetters in seven categories.
The 2025 AI 75—presented by Google—will be unveiled at Convergence AI Dallas on April 30 at 4 p.m. at the Irving Convention Center. Dallas Innovates Co-Founder and Editor Quincy Preston will announce the class of 2025 alongside Duane Dankesreiter of the Dallas Regional Chamber and special guest James Harding of Google, a 2024 AI 75 honoree.
And now, the moment we’ve all been building toward.
Meet the 2025 AI 75
AI VISIONARIES
PEPSICO PACESETTER
Magesh Bagavathi
Senior Vice President, Global Head of Data, AI & Analytics, PepsiCo
Bagavathi drives PepsiCo’s AI adoption in consumer goods and supply chain operations on an international scale. He both manages the company’s data and AI platforms and spearheads its business-wide transformation through machine learning and GenAI.
Previously, Bagavathi held senior technical roles at GE and was vice president of digital, enterprise-as-a-service, and digital CTO for Harman International. In November, he spoke at Bloomberg’s “The Business Value of AI” event, describing how to leverage AI to improve productivity and profitability.
He holds a bachelor of engineering degree in chemical engineering from India’s RV College of Engineering and an MBA in finance and management information systems from the University at Buffalo School of Management, The State University of New York.
MORTGAGE MODERNIZER
Kalyana Bedhu
AI/ML Leader, Fannie Mae
Bedhu, an experienced architect of enterprise AI/ML based in Fannie Mae’s Plano office, leads generative AI initiatives at the government agency, a financial cornerstone of the U.S. mortgage market. He implemented a groundbreaking program that drove AI and machine learning adoption across the organization—an initiative he says delivered $10 million in impact through increased efficiency, cost savings, and revenue growth.
An AI inventor, speaker, and startup mentor, Bedhu has applied AI/ML during his career at companies including Microsoft and Ericsson. He emphasizes the need for caution and a focus on responsible AI. “Computing can scale stupidity enormously,” he says.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from India’s Nagarjuna University and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
ENTERPRISE FUTURIST
Stephen Chase
Vice Chair of AI & Digital Innovation, KPMG
From his office in Dallas, Chase is spearheading KPMG’s transformation through the adoption of AI, data, and emerging technology in every aspect of its business. He’s also guiding the consulting firm’s clients on their AI and digital transformation journeys.
As vice chair of AI and digital information, he’s helped roll out Generative AI 101 training and made GenAI tools available to all the firm’s U.S. employees. He leads KPMG’s “human-centric” aIQ program, which serves as a model for other organizations seeking to harness AI’s potential.
The transformation he’s leading includes $2 billion in spending and strategic partnerships with the likes of Microsoft and Google Cloud. Chase, a strong proponent for safe and responsible AI, said trust and security were top of mind when KPMG spun out Cranium, an AI security software company.
AI INFRASTRUCTURIST
Jamie Engstrom
Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President, Caterpillar Inc.
At Irving-based Caterpillar, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this April, Engstrom leads the company’s global information technology strategy, overseeing a team of more than 2,200 professionals across 28 countries.
Her leadership has been critical in integrating AI technologies into Caterpillar’s operations, enhancing both internal processes and customer-facing solutions. The company’s AI-powered analysis of sensor data, for example, has helped it detect early signs of machine failure and saved it hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Says Engstrom: “AI will revolutionize the way we interact with machines and design interfaces between systems. It’s fascinating and changing at a very rapid rate.” Engstrom, who’s been with Caterpillar since 1999, also oversaw development of an Intelligent Automation Center of Excellence to explore and implement AI-driven solutions, fostering innovation and efficiency within the organization.
AUTONOMOUS AMBASSADOR
Ossa Fisher
President, Aurora
At Aurora, the self-driving technology company developing AI-enabled trucks and passenger vehicles, Fisher leads sales, operations, marketing, government relations, and communications—driving growth and partnerships across multiple sectors.
Prior to joining Aurora, she held leadership roles at the AI-elevated education platform Istation (now Amira Learning), online dating company Match Group, and Bain & Company.
She recently spoke at the HumanX 2025 AI conference about how autonomous technologies are reshaping industries from logistics to manufacturing. Fisher also serves on the board of HomeTown Ticketing, a digital ticketing and event management platform.
Born in Sweden, she holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University, an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a master’s degree in education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education.
VERILY VIP
Stephen Gillett
Chairman, CEO, and President, Verily
Gillet helms Verily, the Dallas-based Alphabet health technology company with an AI foundation that other precision healthcare entities build on.
Under his leadership, Verily is embedding AI agents directly into the workflows of clinical research, chronic care, and public health. For example, its next-gen care platform called Lightpath will use predictive modeling and AI agents to support diabetes and obesity care starting next year. Its Sightline platform is already powering disease surveillance through wastewater analysis.
“We believe that data needs to be unified and structured to make it ready for AI and to take every advantage that this powerful technology will bring forward in the next few years,” Gillett has written.
In previous roles, he was president for digital, marketing, and operations at Best Buy and CIO and general manager of digital ventures at Starbucks.
AI AVIATOR
Anchal Gupta
Chief Technology Officer, American Airlines
Appointed CTO at Fort Worth-based American Airlines in 2023, Gupta is driving the carrier’s AI-driven transformation in realms including operational efficiency, customer experience, and sustainability.
Among the airline’s AI innovations have been a new smart-gating system, flight-routing models, and customer self-service options on digital platforms.
Gupta influences not just internal change, but also broader thinking around enterprise-level AI, as she represents American at high-level AI thought leadership events. At one, for instance, she delivered a keynote address on leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to propel innovation in the aviation industry.
Last year, Reuters named her one of 20 Trailblazing Women in Enterprise AI. Prior to joining American, Gupta was global head of card technology at JPMorgan Chase & Co., focusing on AI-driven customer experiences and infrastructure enhancements.
AI ADOPTION ARCHITECT
Nick James
Founder, CEO and Chief AI Officer, WhitegloveAI
James, who has more than 16 years of experience in cybersecurity and AI, founded consulting firm WhitegloveAI to help organizations harness AI responsibly and pragmatically.
Under his leadership, the company developed the AI Adoption and Management Framework, a methodology guiding organizations through every stage of AI integration, from strategy to measurable outcomes. He also co-founded AI-powered platform Lucidis, a WhitegloveAI subsidiary, to make data exchange simple, accurate, and secure.
James is an AI thought leader, having co-authored “The Handbook for Chief AI Officers: Leading the AI Revolution.” He also is the founder and host of The AI Executive, a platform delivering discussions and education around Responsible AI.
Previously he held security and cybersecurity positions with companies including Amazon Web Services, Bank of America, and Deloitte.
GOVERNANCE GURU
Sukanya Konatam
Senior Manager, AI Governance, Vialto Partners
At Vialto Partners, Konatam leads AI governance for a global tax and immigration services firm, where she bridges deep tech, ethics, and organizational policy.
She’s a recognized voice in responsible AI, and the author of Governing AI for a Responsible Future, a book addressing bias and accountability in artificial intelligence.
Konatam is a frequent speaker at international AI and tech forums, including the 8th International Conference on Innovative Computing and Communication in New Delhi. In March, she was named a finalist in the Women in AI Awards North America 2025, in the “AI for Good–Responsible AI Leader of the Year” category.
She holds a post-graduate degree in artificial intelligence from The University of Texas at Austin.
M&A MASTER
Shin-Wen Kuo
Senior Vice President, AI Strategy and M&A Integration, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Kuo leads AI strategy and integration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, overseeing the company’s AI-driven digital integration for its complex transactions.
She joined the integration leadership team to lead digitalization and AI strategy for the company’s proposed $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, which is currently being reviewed by the Justice Department.
Previously, Kuo was responsible for end-to-end operations of the company’s High Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence business. She also helped position the business to take advantage of AI market momentum.
Kuo, who began her career as an associate consultant with The Boston Consulting Group, was named a finalist in 2024 for 50 Women to Watch for Boards, which highlights women with the best potential to serve on the boards of public companies.
QUANTUM KING
Nicholas Lee
CEO, Fujitsu Intelligence
As a founding member and CEO at Fujitsu Intelligence, Lee is pushing the boundaries of quantum-inspired computing to help define what’s next for artificial intelligence.
Fujitsu’s premier data and AI group is one of the most future-focused AI organizations in the Americas, blending quantum algorithms and AI models to solve complex challenges across sectors ranging from agriculture and healthcare to manufacturing.
Last year, for example, Lee led deployment of Fujitsu’s ”Digital Annealer” to help Bayer optimize its global agricultural supply chain across 170 facilities. Under Lee’s leadership, the company has introduced new AI- and quantum-inspired business models to more than 150 Fortune 500 clients, while forging new AI partnerships with Cohere and Palantir.
In 2020 Lee co-founded the Entangle Community, a platform for collaboration among global professionals in quantum computing, AI, and related fields.
HUMANA HEADLINER
Dalia Powers
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Humana
“Generative AI advancements will exceed any pace we’ve ever experienced in any field, including technology,” Humana’s Powers predicted last year.
Powers, the healthcare insurer’s SVP and CIO, is a veteran of digital transformation in diverse industries—and a veteran of AI/GenAI to reimagine customer experiences.
Trained in computer science and business, she began her career as a software development manager at CA Technologies, then joined IBM, Dell EMC, Capital One, and USAA before landing at Humana.
Honored as one of the nation’s Top 50 CIOs and one of the Top 100 Women in Technology, Powers is passionate about mentoring young women in technology, serving on the advisory council for the nonprofit Dallas Fort Worth Alliance of Technology and Women.
ANALYTICS ACE
Xuhui Quan
Senior Vice President, Chief Data and Digital Officer, McKesson
Quan, who has more than two decades of experience in business and technology, oversees McKesson’s organization-wide delivery of data platforms, generative AI, advanced analytics, and more.
As SVP and chief data and digital officer, she has created a supportive organization within McKesson that’s leveraging AI to improve healthcare in every setting, from making it more accessible to helping patients make more informed choices about their care.
In 2024, she was named No. 2 on CDO Magazine’s inaugural Data Leaders 100 list of the most impactful, forward-thinking leaders shaping the future of data, analytics, and AI across North America.
“This space evolves fast,” Quan has said. “We must be in the mindset of ‘I can learn it all’ and not ‘I know it all.’”
COMMERCIALIZATION CHAMP
Ravi Raghu
President, Capital One Software, International, Business Cards & Payments, Capital One
Raghu, who leads a portfolio of Capital One businesses, is commercializing AI-ready infrastructure that helps enterprises protect sensitive data and safely scale generative AI. In Dallas-Fort Worth he leads Capital One Software, the financial giant’s commercial software division, which last week launched Databolt, its second B2B offering.
A breakthrough, patented tokenization platform securing sensitive data for large-scale AI adoption, Databolt can process an industry-leading 4 million secure token operations per second. The product’s cloud-native design allows companies to protect sensitive data while continuing to run applications and share data with third parties.
Together with Slingshot—Capital One’s first commercial software product, aimed at optimizing Snowflake use—Raghu sees Databolt and future products as foundational for a suite of tools covering the entire data lifecycle, from governance to infrastructure management.
LEGAL EAGLE
Danny Tobey
Global Co-Chair, AI and Data Analytics, DLA Piper
A lawyer, medical doctor, and software founder, Tobey is a global leader in the law and regulation of AI. The Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyer of the Year in 2023, he sits on the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance and the executive committee of the United Nations’ AI for Good law track.
He’s also a founding member of the Health AI Partnership with Mayo Clinic, Duke, Berkeley, and others. A graduate of Harvard College, Yale Law School, and UT Southwestern Medical School, Tobey leads DLA’s team helping Fortune 500 and global brands navigate new and disruptive technologies like AI.
He’s also a frequently invited speaker on AI, including for the Attorney General Alliance, the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Business Council, and the Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance.
TOYOTA TITAN
Dave Tsai
Chief Technology Officer, Toyota Connected North America; Vice President of Enterprise AI, Toyota Motor North America
In his key positions at TCNA and TMNA, Tsai has played a pivotal role in Toyota’s AI transformation across both connected vehicle platforms and enterprise functions.
A founding member of TCNA, he has driven the development of in-house telematics platforms as well as significant advancements in software-defined vehicle technologies, focusing on integrating AI to enhance vehicle safety, user experience, and connectivity.
Tsai also has led the “democratization” of artificial intelligence across every part of the organization. He’s been responsible for using AI to transform supply chain management, enhance productivity, and bolster innovation in areas including finance, HR, and manufacturing.
Tsai, who first joined Toyota in 2004 and holds six patents, served as an engineering program manager at Facebook from 2018 to 2021.
FIDELITY FUTURIST
Manish Worlikar
Heads the Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Fidelity Institutional at Fidelity Investments
Worlikar is a longtime technology and data leader at Fidelity Investments, helping for a decade to shape its use of AI, advanced analytics, and machine learning across multiple business areas.
Today, he leads Fidelity Institutional’s Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Advanced Analytics, emphasizing human-centric applications of AI, where, he says, “a human is in the driver’s seat.” For example, Fidelity uses large language models to generate customer service content, which then is reviewed by associates to ensure accuracy and compliance.
In a personal capacity at wealth-management nonprofit NICSA, Worlikar shares real-world AI strategies as a speaker and thought leader for the organization’s educational initiatives. He’s also an inventor, with his name on a 2024 U.S. patent focused on AI-driven data imputation methods for large datasets.
INSIGHT ENGINEER
Sean Yalamanchi
Co-Founder and President, InfoVision
At Richardson-based InfoVision, an IT services company with more than 3,000 employees, Yalamanchi drives AI-led transformation for Fortune 500 clients.
As co-founder and president, he has long championed AI modernization and GenAI strategies while advancing AI education and ethical practices. The company’s innovative AI solutions include autonomous retail systems and predictive healthcare platforms. InfoVision is one of the most-awarded AI firms in North Texas, having won plaudits for its product entity Digit7, designed for multiple industries, and its AI-powered, AlphaMetricx “actionable insights” platform for PR efforts.
“We realized that the media listening and analytics space has a lot of potential for AI application,” Yalamanchi said during the AlphaMetricx launch. “We knew that with the right blend of AI and human expertise, which our team already had, we could transform media intelligence.”
AI MAVERICKS
‘COBOT’ CREATOR
Rajini Anachi
Founder, CEO, and President, AvaWatz
Anachi is the technical founder of AvaWatz, an AI company specializing in decision intelligence for collaborative robots. Founded in 2019 by Anachi and Bala Jana, the North Texas company offers a platform that transforms robots into teams of “cobots” that work together to complete complex, multi-step tasks.
Designed to enhance human safety and efficiency in high-risk environments, the company’s technology has been piloted by the U.S. Air Force and other government agencies. AvaWatz is now expanding into commercial sectors like infrastructure maintenance and family safety solutions.
Anachi, a strong proponent of trusted AI, founded multiple successful companies prior to AvaWatz. Among them were a cybersecurity firm detecting unknown network threats and a company that created fault-detection sensors for mining conveyor belts transporting coal and lignite.
POLYMER PIONEER
David Arreaga
Co-Founder and CEO, Ares Materials
Arreaga is co-founder and chief executive at Ares Materials, a Plano-based company that’s pioneering the development of advanced optical polymers for next-gen electronics by integrating AI and machine learning into materials science.
The company’s proprietary platform, called Pylux, plays a particularly transformative role in the display industry, enabling the creation of materials for use in the likes of laptops, AR/VR systems, and foldable mobile devices. Ares harnesses AI to extract meaningful insights especially when data is scarce, accelerating the development of polymers with tailored properties.
Arreaga leads the company’s efforts in discovering such materials, leveraging his background in materials science and engineering. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering from Mexico’s ITESRC, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D in materials science and engineering from The University of Texas at Dallas.
REALITY CODER
Ross Bates
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Worlds
At Dallas-based Worlds, Bates is building AI for the world in motion—capturing real-time intelligence from any physical operation, from logistics hubs to complex field environments.
Bates and his team have developed a platform that sees and senses operations using a company’s existing equipment and enterprise systems. This breakthrough in physical AI creates a real-time data layer that unlocks automation and predicts outcomes in ways traditional software never could.
The key to Bates’ leap forward is auto-training tech, virtually eliminating the manual updates that have made physical AI implementations so costly and time-consuming. His multiple patents in 2024 underpin these breakthroughs. Previously, Bates held architect positions at companies including AT&T Mobility, Hyperion Solutions, and Hitachi Consulting.
DATA DECODER
Brandi Cantarel
Vice President of Bioinformatics, Form Bio
At Form Bio, a Colossal Biosciences spinout, Cantarel is pushing the frontier of AI in genomics—accelerating discovery by decoding the data that drives it.
A specialist in sequence analysis, she applies machine learning to next-generation sequencing (NGS) data spanning genomics, metagenomics, immunology, and cancer. Prior to joining Form, she served as director of bioinformatics at Colossal, where she helped build the company’s core scientific platforms.
With more than 15 years of experience—including posts at UT Southwestern and Baylor Scott & White—Cantarel has been at the forefront of AI-powered breakthroughs in human health.
She holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
IMMERSIVE INNOVATOR
Preston McCauley
Director of Innovation, Tonic3
“Throughout my career,” McCauley has said, “my motto has been to stay five years ahead.”
As director of emerging technologies at Tonic3, a Lewisville-based tech support services company, he employs hands-on expertise and a background in user experience to transform how organizations and practitioners approach AI.
McCauley, the author of Generative AI for Everyone, is a pioneer in AI-driven systems ranging from medical history tools to adaptive AR/VR platforms for training and simulation.
He’s scaled GenAI teams, invested deeply in mentorship, and contributed broadly to open-source innovation. A thought leader and co-founder of SMU’s UX program, he speaks regularly on decentralized AI infrastructures and sustainable tech growth.
POWER SHIFTER
Beddhu Murali
Founder and President, Essential Knowledge Systems
The founder of North Texas-based Essential Knowledge Systems is driving innovation that, if deployed at scale, could extend America’s global AI leadership by years.
Murali is the “father” of SimpLAI, the company’s signature technology—a breakthrough training algorithm designed to make today’s most powerful AI models faster, cheaper, and greener. In short, it squeezes more performance out of less, delivering the same intelligence with a fraction of the cost, energy, and compute power.
Validated at UT Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center, the technology cut electricity consumption for training threefold and doubled inferencing efficiency—all while improving model output quality, the company says.
Murali has briefed lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and is in talks with a national laboratory operating one of the world’s three largest supercomputers to further validate and scale the technology.
SUPPLY CHAIN FUTURIST
Ashutosh Prasad
Founder and CEO, KoiReader Technologies
Prasad, who has a track record of delivering industry-first innovations, is pioneering novel AI solutions that integrate advanced computer vision and edge computing, particularly in the logistics and supply chain space.
The founder and CEO of Dallas-based KoiReader Technologies—a logistics, supply chain, and industrial automation firm with Fortune 100 clients like PepsiCo—he is the named inventor on about a dozen patents granted to KoiReader in 2024 alone.
Newsweek recently recognized KoiReader as one of America’s Greatest Startup Workplaces for 2025. Prasad also is an accomplished evangelist for smart AI strategies, frequently speaking at large, influential industry and academic conferences.
Earlier in his career, he held leadership at XPO Logistics, EY, and Oracle. He holds a bachelor of technology degree in electrical engineering from India’s National Institute of Technology Hamirpur.
UTILITY PIONEER
Hari Vasudevan
Founder and CEO, KYRO and Think Power Solutions
Serial entrepreneur Vasudevan does more than just talk AI—he builds it, deploys it, and runs companies on it.
A licensed engineer with roots in civil infrastructure, he leads both KYRO and Think Power Solutions, two North Texas companies that are reshaping the way utilities, telecoms, and construction firms manage their critical operations. KYRO, spun out from Think Power Solutions in 2022, provides AI-powered software for field operations, enabling project-management features such as risk mitigation and multilingual data entry.
Think Power, which has grown to more than 400 employees in 13 states since its founding in 2013, offers tech-enabled utility infrastructure services, including storm response and vegetation management.
Vasudevan holds a bachelor of engineering degree from India’s Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, and a master’s degree in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington.
AERO AUTONOMIST
Jason White
CEO, Galaxy Unmanned Systems
White, as the leader of Fort Worth-based Galaxy Unmanned Systems, is the maverick innovator behind the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² Initiative. That’s a self-sustaining, autonomous, unmanned airship that uses AI to “hunt and forage” for energy with hydrogen power and solar panels.
The University of North Texas grad also developed the Constellation Concept, an AI swarm tech that enables seamless communication and interoperability between diverse unmanned systems for disaster relief and environmental monitoring.
Galaxy’s airships have a variety of potential applications, including for surveillance, broadcasting, disaster relief, search and rescue and counter-unmanned aircraft system operations. Through advanced simulation and energy optimization frameworks, White’s work defines innovation at the edge of AI and aerospace.
AI TRANSFORMERS
PRECISION PATHFINDER
Jim Abraham
Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, Caris Life Sciences
At Irving-based Caris Life Sciences, Abraham is revolutionizing cancer care through technology by integrating sophisticated AI and machine learning systems into clinical practice.
For example, he’s led development of machine learning algorithms at the company via DEAN (short for Deliberation Analytics). That’s an advanced AI platform that powers blood-based diagnostic assay development, drug target discovery, tumor type assessment, and therapeutic selection.
Abraham’s tenure at Caris, which began in 2007, includes his leadership of the Cognitive Computing group, where he played a key role in identifying new biological signatures to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D in molecular and cellular biology from Arizona State University.
AI INTEGRATOR
Mruna Asoori
Global Head of Technology, Data & AI, Brink’s Inc.
Asoori is guiding the digital transformation of Brink’s Inc.—a global cash and valuables handling company—by modernizing legacy systems and applying scalable technologies like AI, IoT, and predictive analytics.
She’s emphasized the critical role of AI in future-ready transportation and infrastructure, bringing the same strategic focus to Brink’s global tech backbone.
With experience across finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and aerospace, Asoori is a cross-industry expert and eloquent advocate for intelligent systems. In 2024, she served as a judge in the Ultimate Coding Championship, where engineers tackled real-world challenges using GenAI.
Prior to joining Brink’s, she held tech leadership roles at Texas Capital Bank and First Command.
TELECOM TRANSFORMER
Mark Austin
Vice President, Data Science, AT&T
As the vice president leading a team of about 250 data scientists and developers at Dallas-based AT&T, Austin is driving one of the telecom industry’s largest AI deployment efforts.
Under his guidance, the company has applied real-world AI and ML systems across various domains, including fraud detection, field operations, and consumer services. It also has embraced the AI revolution by developing generative AI solutions like “Ask AT&T,” an internal tool that’s now being used by more than 100,000 of the company’s employees.
Austin claims a measurable ROI for these initiatives, highlighted by more than 3,000 deployed bots and nearly 17 million minutes of manual effort saved annually. The VP, who has a Ph.D in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, often shares his experiences publicly and has championed cultural mechanisms to enable citizen data scientists company-wide.
SLALOM SAGE
Raju Balan
Director, Data Strategy, Data Science & AI, Slalom
Balan, who leads AI initiatives for business and tech consulting firm Slalom, aims to foster AI literacy and strategy for enterprise clients across industries.
With his background in data analytics, having worked previously for Mu Sigma Inc. in India and, in the U.S., on the East and West coasts, his speaking engagements and mentoring efforts have made him a prominent North Texas voice advancing AI education and advancement.
Recently, for example, Balan gave a keynote presentation on AI to the Texas Society of Professional Engineers here titled “The AI Era: Engineering Mind, Meet Machine Brains.” He has a bachelor of technology degree in computer science and engineering from the National Institute of Technology Rourkela in India.
PR POOBAH
Jeff Beringer
Chief AI Officer, Golin
Beringer, a 20-year veteran of global PR firm Golin, is helming its effort to become the world’s first fully AI-integrated PR agency by the start of 2026.
Under his leadership, Golin is embedding AI into jobs, client projects, and workflows in a variety of ways. They range from employing facial-recognition tech for real-time content testing to using AI to analyze up to 10 years of an influencer’s online presence to assess risk.
Beringer’s efforts are reinventing how a major PR firm operates, setting a new bar for the industry. The agency partners for AI services with companies including Adobe—it uses Adobe’s Firefly tech for creative work—and also develops some services internally.
So far, Golin has achieved at least 80% AI adoption among its workforce, stressing AI as a tool for “intelligence augmentation” over automation.
FITNESS FORCE
Jeff Booher
Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Predictive Fitness
Booher’s Southlake-based technology company uses big data and predictive analytics to personalize training programs for endurance athletes, enhancing efficiency and reducing injury risk.
The company’s proprietary, AI-powered “optimization” tech transforms individuals’ fitness data, biometrics, and genetics into accurate and actionable intelligence used to power apps for athletes as well as device manufacturers and race producers.
Predictive Fitness’ flagship SaaS app, TriDot, developed by Booher for the sport of triathlon, won the award for Best Technology for Data and Analytics (Sports) at the annual Sports Technology Awards last year.
Booher, who’s competed in triathlons for more than 20 years, served in the military intelligence branch of the U.S. Army before starting his career in the private sector. He holds a BBA in management of information systems from Texas A&M University.
GOOGLE GURU
Santosh Kumar Chennuri
Customer Engineering Lead, Google
Chennuri is a customer engineering lead for Google in Frisco, where he works directly with enterprise clients to drive adoption of generative AI technologies. He’s an expert at translating “the art of the possible,” helping organizations quickly turn GenAI’s promise into real, working solutions.
Leading multiple workshops, strategy sessions, and hands-on labs, sometimes for as many as 1,300 participants, he guides teams as they apply Google Cloud’s GenAI tools to streamline software development, modernize infrastructure, and drive measurable results.
On the architecture side, he’s credited with designing a context-aware RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) solution that resulted in a 50% improvement in query accuracy and a 20% reduction in response time. Chennuri has directly empowered hundreds of enterprise professionals, championing a culture of AI literacy and experimentation.
SOFTWARE SAVANT
Ron Dagdag
Engineering Manager, 7-Eleven
As engineering manager for 7-Eleven, AI and IoT expert Dagdag is applying AI-driven automation in retail technology.
At the Irving-based retail giant, he uses his leadership skills to manage teams of R&D engineers developing solutions in IoT, cloud, and ML.
He’s worked for more than 20 years in automation, edge AI platforms, cloud-native development, and hands-on experimentation with emerging technologies including AR, IoT, and Mixed Reality.
Dagdag also is actively involved in the wider tech community, sharing his experience through talks, workshops, blogs, and open-source projects. In March he published an article, “AI Agents on the Fly: AI Agents into Web Apps,” which broke down the pop-culture-inspired agent-as-a-service Azure AI Agent Service and its integration into a web app.
AI INVENTOR
Romelia Flores
IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor Client Engineering, IBM
Flores is one of IBM’s top 500 technical executives, focusing on enhancing architecture and innovation within the company and earning the titles of IBM Distinguished Engineer and IBM Master Inventor.
The latter title is especially apt, as she holds more than 85 patents in AI, cloud computing, and enterprise solutions, having collaborated on technology with some of IBM’s biggest clients.
Earlier in her 16-year career at IBM, Flores developed significant projects, including an emissions dashboard for a Canadian energy company. In March, she was a panelist at the “Women in AI” event in Dallas in honor of Women’s History Month, sharing forward-looking insights about responsible AI.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from The University of Texas at Austin.
SECURITY TECHNOLOGIST
Tom Galvin
CEO, Evolon
Galvin leads Evolon, a Dallas-based company that specializes in AI-powered video monitoring solutions aimed at proactive crime prevention. Hired originally as Evolon’s CTO in 2022, Galvin became CEO in 2023 and has overseen significant product developments, including the release last year of Insites 2.0.
Aimed at reducing the number of false alarms—one of security’s most persistent problems—Insites 2.0 is an upgraded version of Evolon’s cloud-based surveillance platform that includes better AI performance for more accurate scene analysis, for example.
Galvin, who started his career as a software engineer at Boeing, has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA degree from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.
DATA DEMOCRATIZER
Stephanie (Alsbrooks) Hanson
CEO and Co-Founder, Gestalt
Hanson is co-founder and chief executive of Gestalt, a Flower Mound-based, plug-and-play data warehouse for small and mid-sized lenders that accesses and applies AI.
Backed by venture firms including AI-focused Sentiero Ventures, Gestalt has forged partnerships with firms like TAZI AI, which provides AI-driven insights for financial services, and Rapid Finance Integration, which leverages AI to expedite lending decisions.
Prior to co-founding the out-of-the-box company aimed at under-resourced lenders, Hanson founded and served as CEO of defi SOLUTIONS, a cloud-based platform for loan origination and servicing that she led to a $100 million valuation.
She also serves as a board member at Autocorp.ai, which employs AI to enhance the car-buying experience, and as an advisor to Informed.IQ, which uses AI to originate and fund loans.
TECH TRAILBLAZER
Shane Long
President and COO, 7T
Long is the president and chief operating officer of 7T, an AI implementation and digital transformation company based in Dallas. He’s been a trailblazer in AI and machine learning there for years, spearheading 7T’s first AI project in 2018.
That groundbreaking venture, which utilized a visual computing engine for the retail sector, saved the client more than $700,000 annually while dramatically accelerating its sales cycle. Long also oversaw an innovative, “hybrid” AI deployment to optimize email intake and workflow management, enabling another client to increase its revenue ten-fold within 18 months.
Recently, 7T unveiled two pioneering programs aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses unlock the potential of AI: the 7T AI Transformation Studio and the 7T AI LaunchPad.
LANDSCAPE LEADER
Ross Melbourne
Co-Founder, Sensori Robotics
Melbourne, who co-founded Southlake-based Sensori Robotics with his brother David Melbourne, is applying AI to robotics in the landscaping industry. Sensori’s lawn-mowing product is a small, electric, location-aware robot that functions on cloud-based software.
The Sensori Robot operates via a patent-pending, AI-based location methodology that Ross developed. The control system enables the robot to navigate complex outdoor spaces while identifying people, animals, and obstacles in real time. It’s billed as a solution to labor shortages in the landscaping industry.
Ross supports AI education by mentoring college interns from The University of Texas at Dallas and other schools, contributing to the future AI talent pipeline in North Texas. A native of the United Kingdom, he also is a partner at a family-owned angel investment firm focusing on startups specializing in AI, machine learning, and robotics.
MEDIATECH MAVEN
Tony Mugavero
Co-Founder and CEO, Rad TV
Mugavero is known for integrating artificial intelligence into media, blockchain, and content monetization platforms. He’s created $250 million in M&A and enterprise value so far.
Currently he’s co-founder and chief executive at Rad TV, a next-generation streaming platform that gives creators and studios the ability to publish streaming video on PlayStation, Smart TVs, and mobile using cutting-edge technologies like AI video and NFTs. He’s also co-creator of blockchain-based content platform Ara, a decentralized, open-source system for digital content.
Mugavero is on the fiduciary board of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center and has twice been a Techstars mentor. A graduate of SMU with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, he says he first got into bitcoin in 2012 and has been in Ethereum and smart contracts since 2017.
PRODUCT PRINCIPAL
Anil Pantangi
Delivery Executive, Al and Analytics, Capgemini
At Capgemini, Pantangi builds on more than 15 years of experience developing enterprise platforms and customer-facing AI products across sectors like telecom, HR, and media.
Until early 2025, he was a senior product and tech leader at Amazon’s Dallas tech hub, where he led teams building recommendation engines, conversational search, and LLM-powered assistants to boost workforce productivity and engagement. He also played a key role in strategic planning and helped architect scalable AI frameworks and tools adopted across the enterprise.
Pantangi has been recognized globally for his contributions to industry-wide AI consortiums, and was honored with a “Partner of the Year” award from a leading telecom client. He holds a master’s degree in management information systems from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business and a bachelor’s in electronics and communication engineering from India’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology.
GEN-AI STRATAGIST
Jason Porter
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Transformation, AT&T
As SVP for supply chain and transformation at Dallas-based AT&T, Porter has championed the company’s AI evolution through strong data governance and ROI modeling.
He was instrumental in launching “Ask AT&T,” the company’s internal platform using generative AI and large language models, across AT&T’s operations. Customer service teams, for example, use the tool to summarize phone calls and documents. It’s also used by the contracts and supply-chain teams.
Porter, who joined AT&T in 2002 after retiring from the U.S. Army as a captain, has a B.S. in environmental engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Regis University. His influence extends beyond AT&T, as he shares his strategy with advisory boards and industry peers interested in GenAI adoption across the enterprise sector.
DATA DYNAMO
Tracy Ring
Chief Data Officer and Global Generative AI Lead-Life Sciences, Accenture
In her position leading Accenture’s Data and AI Life Sciences practice as chief data officer and global generative AI lead, Ring has helped more than 20,000 of the company’s clients reimagine their commercial approach to artificial intelligence.
For one large pharma client with thousands of field representatives, for example, she enhanced the rep and healthcare provider experience as well as the way the sales and marketing operations collaborate with each other.
Ring also helmed Accenture’s global AI Academy curriculum, while also helping to shape more than a dozen industry accelerators and advising about the future of AI agentic architectures. With an MBA from Harvard Business School, she has more than 25 years of experience at companies including Deloitte, Capgemini, Walgreen’s, and Abbott Labs.
SUPERMARKET SUPERMAN
Rahul Shah
Senior Director of GenAI Powered Customer Advocacy Platform, Albertsons Companies
Shah, who has more than two decades of experience in consulting and Fortune 500 environments, is senior director of GenAI Powered Customer Advocacy Platform in Plano for grocery giant Albertsons Companies. In that post he focuses on driving productivity gains with a GenAI Chatbot to promote “self-service enablement” for the company’s customers and associates.
Prior to his current position, he was Albertsons’ senior director of GenAI, LLM & Prompt Engineering, leveraging an enterprise-wide GenAI initiative to enhance quality and productivity, among other things.
Shah has written of GenAI and Prompt Engineering, “The next coming years will bring significant changes in every field, and the question is not, ‘If we should consider this technology,’ but ‘When should we start on this journey.’”
INFRASTRUCTURE ENTREPRENEUR
Brenda Stoner
Co-Founder and CEO, ByteTrail
Serial entrepreneur Stoner is co-founder and CEO of Plano-based ByteTrail, which provides proactive far-edge device automation for critical national infrastructure behind the likes of utilities and power grids, water treatment systems, industrial robotics, and transit networks.
The company’s breakthrough technology—centered on an AI-powered Intelligent Digital Twin platform—manages, monitors, and secures in real time these assets and others that are high-risk, often-unpatched, and traditionally isolated from AI tools.
In collaboration with The University of Texas at Dallas, the company also has introduced its AI-driven ByteTrail AI Advisor project, which revolutionizes the analysis of software and hardware “bills of materials,” enhancing industrial supply-chain transparency and security. Stoner, who holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Kansas State University, began her career as a manufacturing engineer and marketing manager at Texas Instruments.
OPTHAMOLOGY OPTIMIZER
Muthiah Subash
Global Head of Data Engineering and Analytics of Digital Health, Alcon
Subash is a data-driven leader with more than two decades of experience spanning cloud computing, data strategy, generative AI, and machine learning. At Geneva-based eye-care giant Alcon, which has its U.S. headquarters in Fort Worth, Subash leads global data engineering and analytics for the company’s digital health division.
As he puts it, “My mission is to reimagine every aspect of our business with AI and data-driven insights, empowering our workforce with the skills and tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”
He previously held data and AI leadership roles at companies including Meta, Capital One, and CBRE, and is co-founder and chief architect of Paramount Health Solutions, a solutions provider for electronic health records. Subash also serves as director of CXO Engagement at nonprofit AI forum Dallas AI, where he facilitates discussions and knowledge-sharing among AI professionals. He holds a bachelor of engineering degree from India’s National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli.
A patent holder, he has been recognized by TDWI—Transforming Data With Intelligence, a global organization dedicated to advancing best practices in analytics and data management.
AIRLINE ALPHA
Lauren Woods
Senior Vice President, Technology, and Chief Information Officer, Southwest Airlines
Woods has been pivotal in Southwest Airlines’ technological transformation and AI integration, overseeing AI’s deployment for airline scheduling, customer service, and data infrastructure.
As SVP and CIO for the Dallas-based carrier, Woods and her team built a first-of-its-kind, AI-driven tool enabling real-time decision-making to minimize flight cancellations and crew disruptions. She also was instrumental in establishing the airline’s cloud infrastructure, enabling broader AI use.
Hers has been a prominent public voice on artificial intelligence, explaining its role in building organizational resilience and leveraging the power of AI and analytics.
Before joining Southwest, Woods worked in management consulting for clients including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Travelers Insurance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Cornell University.
AI CHAMPIONS
NONPROFIT NOTABLE
Chetan Alsisaria
Chair, CAIO Circle
Alsisaria, who’s long been at the forefront of AI innovation and leadership, chairs the Dallas-based CAIO Circle, a nonprofit think tank for Chief AI officers and AI leaders from leading enterprises.
Founded in 2024, the Circle bills itself as an exclusive community where its members can trade ideas, recognize each other’s contributions, and explore AI’s ethical applications. The collective goal is “to inspire innovation and create meaningful, lasting change with AI,” Alsisaria says.
In addition to his role with the Circle, he also is the co-founder and CEO of Polestar Solutions & Services. Polestar is an IT advisory firm that moved its headquarters to Plano last year, citing D-FW’s increasing prominence as a national hub for tech innovation and AI-driven enterprise solutions.
ASSOCIATION AUTHORITY
Aqil Ansari
Dallas Chapter President, Applied AI Association
Ansari, an experienced partner ecosystem leader with expertise in building and scaling strategic alliances, is the founding president of the Dallas chapter of the Applied AI Association.
Launched globally in 2022, the AAIA was created to empower enterprises, organizations, institutes, and leaders to harness the transformative potential of AI through education, community, and actionable insights.
Under Ansari’s leadership, the Dallas chapter has stressed collaboration across industry, academia, and startups and connected Dallas AI professionals with the global ecosystem. Ansari has focused on making Dallas a hub for AI innovation, connected AAIA members with award-winning case studies, and advocated for responsible AI.
Earlier, he worked as an Alliance Lead for Cisco at AT&T, driving the strategic collaboration between two industry leaders to inform decision-making and unlock growth opportunities.
ECOSYSTEM ENABLER
Babar Bhatti
EVP and Co-Founder, Dallas AI; AI Customer Success, IBM
Bhatti is the co-founder and executive vice president of Dallas AI meetup, a nonprofit community of more than 8,000 AI professionals and executives in North Texas.
In addition, he is a principal for AI Customer Success at IBM, helping the company’s ecosystem partners enhance their AI offerings and achieve their business objectives. Bhatti says that “role requires nonstop learning,” which he willingly shares both within IBM and outside the company.
In addition, he’s a prolific author, blogger, and public speaker, having addressed AI topics at forums ranging from the Harvard Business School and the MIT Club to The University of Texas at Dallas business school. Bhatti, who holds dual master’s degrees from MIT, previously led technology and product partnerships with IBM, Twitter, and Facebook.
MACHINE-LEARNING MASTERMIND
Aamer Charania
President and Co-Founder, Dallas AI; Global Head of Applied Machine Learning, Best Buy
Charania, who has been awarded more than 10 patents, is president and co-founder of Dallas AI, the biggest 501(c)(3) nonprofit AI forum in North Texas.
He also is the global head of applied machine learning at Best Buy. There, he leads the retailer’s Applied Machine Learning organization, which provides AI and ML services and products throughout the enterprise. Prior to joining Best Buy, he held key roles in big data or machine learning at companies including Evanta, a Gartner Company; Capital One; and Humana.
A frequent GenAI speaker, Charania is a board member for both the University of North Texas and SMU’s Big Data Advisory, and has shared insights at forums like Google Cloud Next, SMU’s MSDS Speaker Series, and the UT Arlington Business Analytics Symposium.
EDUCATION EVANGELIST
Yeshwant Muthusamy
Principal, Yeshvik Solutions
A technology leader with strong expertise in artificial intelligence, Muthusamy is a “community educator” who demystifies complex AI and translates it into practical tools for North Texas businesses and educators.
He puts that into action by presenting continuing education courses called “Generative AI For the Rest of Us” around North Texas and giving “AI for Business: Beyond ChatGPT” talks to underserved high school students, helping them jump-start their AI journeys. And he has spoken on GenAI at multiple conferences, including in Washington, D.C.
As owner and principal at consulting firm Yeshvik Solutions, Muthusamy says he “helps companies of all sizes maximize their ROI from AI.” He has a Ph.D in computer science and engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute, and a bachelor of technology degree in computer science and engineering from India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University.
CIVIC SHEPHERD
Sarah Stubblefield
Strategic Initiatives Manager, City of Arlington
Stubblefield, the city of Arlington’s strategic initiatives manager, is helping shape the public sector’s AI future. She’s doing so by leading one of the first AI strategic roadmaps for a North Texas municipality.
In January, for example, she helped oversee a 4-day workshop to establish organizational AI values, priorities, and strategies for AI implementation by the city in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. Nine city departments participated in developing “use cases” to show AI’s benefits in increasing efficiency, productivity, and data-driven decision-making.
The city is also connected to the Texas Information Resources Artificial Intelligence User Group and GovAI Coalition, and has integrated AI machine learning into its Citibot chat feature and its autonomous rideshare program, for instance. Stubblefield holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Texas A&M University.
DATA DOER
Shaw Talebi
Founder, The Data Entrepreneurs
An entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and data scientist with a Ph.D. in physics from The University of Texas at Dallas, Talebi has explored novel AI applications in neuroscience, environmental science, and human performance.
Now, he’s building community as the founder of The Data Entrepreneurs, a group of more than 900 local professionals that hosts monthly workshops and discussions for aspiring and active AI founders across North Texas.
Talebi also shares knowledge widely—writing articles on data science and AI, and producing YouTube videos focused on entrepreneurship in the field.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a data scientist for Plano-based Toyota Financial Services, where he corrected issues in production credit risk models and redeveloped loan origination models for independent dealers.
Today, he says he’s committed to democratizing advanced technology and helping grow North Texas’ next generation of AI talent.
AI CATALYSTS
TECH COUNSELOR
Mirna Abyad Baloul
Partner, Fulton Jeang PLLC
With an extensive background ranging from engineering to negotiation, Baloul is an accomplished legal strategist and partner at Fulton Jeang PLLC specializing in AI, corporate law, and IP. At Fulton Jeang, she advises executives as well as startups.
Previously, Baloul was president, general counsel, and secretary of the board at Dallas-based Spacee. She also was global strategy manager and senior counsel at Dallas-based Texas Instruments.
She is the founder and co-CEO of ViziSmart, a 24/7, multi-agent platform for real estate maintenance management, and teaches business law and IP strategy at The University of Texas at Dallas. Baloul frequently advocates for more diversity and inclusion in AI, speaking at conferences around the world in an effort to encourage “influencers of change.”
VENTURE VIRTUOSO
Dayakar Puskoor
Founder and Managing Partner, Dallas Venture Capital
An entrepreneur and former Microsoft executive, Puskoor is the founder and managing partner of Dallas Venture Capital—a tech-focused fund that’s backed multiple early-stage AI startups. Those include conversational AI platform Kore.ai, identity verification provider HyperVerge, and Fiddler, a platform for AI observability that Puskoor helped connect with Cisco, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
At Dallas-based DVC, he’s pushed to adopt large language models and AI-driven tools like Aumni and Affinity—saving time and enabling more informed decision-making.
With a background in computer science and a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, Puskoor also champions ethical AI governance and promotes AI literacy through blogs, whitepapers, and community engagement.
MASTER MENTOR
Anthony Soohoo
Chairman and CEO, MoneyGram International
As chairman and CEO of Dallas-based MoneyGram International, Soohoo is applying his longtime AI-first mindset to modernize a legacy financial institution—using AI to transform compliance, risk management, and digital strategy across the enterprise.
He’s also a venture advisor at Andrew Ng’s AI Fund, where he mentors founders of AI-native companies like Civio.ai on growth, product, and team-building—helping catalyze the next generation of AI entrepreneurs.
Previously, Soohoo held a senior executive role at Walmart, where he led development of an AI-powered merchandising platform, and co-founded Dot & Bo, an AI-based online retailer acquired by Alibaba.
He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he now serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, advising students on applying AI in business models.
AI ACADEMICS
INSIGHT INTEGRATOR
Vishal Ahuja
Associate Professor, SMU Cox School of Business
Ahuja’s applied AI research in healthcare is some of the most relevant and impactful in Texas. An associate professor at Southern Methodist University’s business school, he is an effective connector among academia, clinical practice, and the AI startup world.
Recently, for example, he was one of four experts on a Texas Association of Accountable Care panel titled “From Prediction to Intervention: AI’s Transformative Role in Healthcare.” Ahuja, who leads SMU’s Healthcare Leadership Development Initiative, advises digital healthcare startups and speaks frequently at academic and industry conferences.
He serves on the advisory board of TraumaCare.AI, an AI-based software company for clinical decision-making, and holds an MBA and a Ph.D in business administration from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
TALENT TRAILBLAZER
Madeline Burillo-Hopkins
President, Dallas College Brookhaven Campus
With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Burillo-Hopkins, Ed.D, is an education leader driving AI workforce development in Texas. Now president of Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus, she previously served as Vice Chancellor Workforce and President HCC Southwest for the Houston Community College System.
There, she launched two trailblazing AI programs. One, the system’s associate degree in AI, was the first of its kind in Texas and only the second in the country. The other was a bachelor of applied technology in AI and robotics, also a first of its kind in Texas and the nation’s second.
In addition to responsibility for day-to-day general operations at Brookhaven, Burillo-Hopkins serves as the Dallas College lead for technology industry sector partnerships.
CYBERSECURITY SAGE
Gurpreet Dhillon
G. Brint Ryan Endowed Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, University of North Texas
As chair of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity at the University of North Texas, Dhillon is shaping how the next generation of technologists and policy leaders approach the intersection of artificial intelligence and security. A leading thinker on the integration of AI into cybersecurity, he’s been vocal about the critical role AI plays in identifying cyber threats, and advocates for integrating human-centric approaches with technical AI solutions.
He also has stressed the need for continuous education, ethical responsibility, and trust-building in AI-driven systems. Dhillon, who holds a Ph.D in information systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science, has authored more than a dozen books and published more than 100 research papers in premier journals.
His work on infotech and cybersecurity has been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
LOGIC LUMINARY
Gopal Gupta
Co-Director, Center for Applied AI and Machine Learning, The University of Texas at Dallas
Gupta is a computer science professor at The University of Texas at Dallas and co-director of UTD’s Center for Applied AI and Machine Learning, which works to solve complex AI/ML problems for industries including education and healthcare.
At the center, he and his team have collaborated with Plano-based CorroHealth to revolutionize medical coding automation, for example. Their cutting-edge solution leverages large language models and natural language processing, but moves beyond mere pattern matching by introducing human-like reasoning to the system. The team’s “back-end reasoning engine” processes the complex data and also uses programmed rules and logic to make deductions. CorroHealth says the new technology saved it time and reduced mistakes.
Gupta holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and a Ph.D in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
COMPUTATION CATALYST
Neena Imam
Director, O’Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute, Southern Methodist University
Imam, the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Director at the O’Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute, is a former director of research engagement at NVIDIA who traded high-profile work in the private sector to drive AI research and high-performance computing in North Texas at Southern Methodist University.
With the institute positioning the university as a leader in data-driven research and education, Imam directs its support for large-scale AI/ML research across the university, awards research grants, and represents the school at high-profile AI and quantum computing conferences.
Her background includes serving as a science and technology fellow to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and as deputy director of research collaboration at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Among other degrees, she holds a Ph.D in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
RADIOLOGY RULER
Steve Jiang
Professor; Vice Chair, Digital Health and AI; Division Chief, Medical Physics and Engineering; UT Southwestern Medical Center
As a professor, vice chair of digital health and AI, and division chief of medical physics and engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Jiang has been a guiding force behind the institution’s robust expansion into AI applications in medicine.
Under his leadership, UTSW has secured nearly $6 million in grants for AI healthcare research. His own AI research in adaptive radiology has enabled the breakthrough analysis of more than 1.7 million tumor images to distinguish between skin cancer cells with high and low metastatic potential. Other AI tools he’s developed or championed are predicting insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes and optimizing medication choices for depression.
Jiang, who holds a Ph.D in radiation therapy physics from the Medical College of Ohio, also was instrumental in UTSW joining the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network consortium.
BRAIN BOOSTER
Kristen Kennedy
Professor at The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Center for Vital Longevity
Kennedy is a professor of behavioral and brain sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, and the director of the Neuroimaging of Aging and Cognition Lab at the university’s Center for Vital Longevity. She’s been recognized for her leadership in cognitive research, and particularly in UTD’s AI-driven study of brain aging, including Alzheimer’s disease.
To learn about brain aging her lab is using machine learning to analyze large datasets and geospatial information, aiming to study patterns and predictors of cognitive health and disease progression. Last year, she and her colleague Karen Rodrigue were awarded $3.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to extend the study over 14 years.
Kennedy holds a Ph.D in psychology from Detroit’s Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix College in Arkansas.
IMAGING INNOVATOR
Dr. Paulo Kuriki
Director, AI Lab/AIR-Hub, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Kuriki, director of UTSW’s AI Lab/AIR-Hub, is an entrepreneur and neuroradiologist who’s an expert in artificial intelligence in healthcare. In his post at the AI Lab, he leads AI-driven medical imaging innovation, enhancing radiology and diagnostics.
Before joining UTSW, Kuriki served as the head of artificial intelligence in diagnostic operations at DASA, the largest medical diagnostics company in Brazil and Latin America. There, he led the development of multiple AI tools, including an MRI “denoiser” responsible for speeding the MRI process by 30%, and an automation tool to improve radiologists’ reporting efficiency.
Kuriki, whose work has been presented at several professional conferences, is an active member of several professional organizations. He serves on the AI committee of the American Society of Neuroradiology.
VERIFICATION VIP
Chengkai Li
Professor, University of Texas at Arlington
Li, who has a Ph.D in computer science from the University of Illinois, specializes in AI-driven fact-checking and misinformation detection. A professor in UTA’s department of computer science and engineering for nearly 18 years, Li is co-director of the university’s Center for Artificial Intelligence and Big Data and director of its Innovative Database and Information Systems Research Laboratory.
He has developed AI tools for research, social sensing, and public relations. Recently, he secured funding from the National Science Foundation to transform an AI research project into an open-source ecosystem. The project involves an innovative tool that helps authenticate factual claims for verification, research, reference, and evidence collection.
Li’s work has been featured at prestigious conferences and in leading journals.
TREATMENT TRAILBLAZER
David Siderovski
Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center
Siderovski is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into biomedical research, particularly for drug discovery for diseases and conditions previously thought to be “undruggable.” He says, “In this new AI era, the notion of an undruggable target is outdated.”
Last year, for instance, Siderovski and his UNTHSC colleague Abbot Clark employed AI-driven virtual screening to identify inhibitors for a protein implicated in glaucoma. The approach earned new research funding from the National Institutes of Health, possibly paving the way for novel glaucoma treatments. The UNTHSC team has also applied AI models to identify potential inhibitors for a protein associated with opioid addiction.
Siderovski, who holds a Ph.D in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto, chairs the UNTHSC’s Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience.
AI IMPACT INNOVATORS
WELLNESS WEAVER
Dr. Viv Babber
AI Integration and Workplace Consultant
Babber, a psychiatrist certified in AI Medicine and AI Ethics, is an executive coach and leadership speaker focused on custom AI learning programs and digital transformation. She recently launched a comprehensive system, called the cAIm code Program, to help organizations manage AI-related stress and promote healthy, productive, and ethical work environments.
She’s recognized as a trailblazer among women physicians in AI, combining her expertise in mental health with the nuances of advanced technology. Babber also is active in AI governance, serving as a Healthcare in AI Governance Global Network Coordinator for Women in AI Governance, and holding certification as an AI Governance Professional from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
According to U.S. News & World Report, she received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada.
MEDICAL MAESTRO
Dr. Ankit Kansagra
Physician-Scientist, Parkland Health and UT Southwestern
As a physician-scientist specializing in multiple myeloma and cellular therapies, Kansagra leads innovative research, clinical practice, and AI integration at Parkland Health and UT Southwestern in Dallas. Triple board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology, he led operational AI deployments in the last year that increased drug-trial enrollment and efficiency.
He earned his medical degree at India’s NHL Municipal Medical College, Gujurat University, and completed his residency in internal medicine at Partners Health Care-North Shore Medical Center in Boston, where he was chief resident. He received advanced training through a hematology/oncology fellowship at Tufts University.
Kansagra has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and given more than 100 presentations related to leukemia and myeloma at national and international conferences.
SUSTAINABILITY CZAR
Samar Khan
Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, TripAI
During a career spanning more than 20 years, TripAI founder and chief sustainability officer Khan developed the travel industry’s first online exchange and refund product and has advised countless companies on the likes of AI, blockchain, and cloud transformations.
In addition to founding Dallas-based TripAI, which uses AI and data to help aviation, travel, and hospitality businesses expedite their digital transformations in eco-friendly ways, Khan is the co-founder and director of Dallas-based iAviaSafe. It’s a safety management tool for aviation organizations. He also is the sustainability lead in the Jindal School’s executive education area at The University of Texas at Dallas, which launched a professional certificate in sustainability strategy and management in aviation and travel.
A former professional soccer player in India, Khan has worked for companies including Sabre and Capgemini.
ACCESSIBILITY ADVOCATE
Tiffani Martin
Founder and CEO, VisioTech
Martin, founder and chief executive of AI-powered VisioTech.co, is an AI strategist and pioneering leader in the field of accessible technology, with a special focus on empowering people with disabilities. VisioTech—a woman-owned, minority-owned, disability-owned social impact tech company—has partnered with the BlackGirlsHack Foundation to advance inclusion and attainability in cybersecurity and AI governance.
Martin lost her sight at age 28 due to diabetic retinopathy, an experience that has shaped her mission to make tech more inclusive for those with disabilities. Her accomplishments include developing the Accessible AI Quotient, a framework that provides guidelines, rules, and protocols to ensure AI technologies are accessible and inclusive across digital platforms.
Martin regularly speaks and writes on the importance of equity in AI governance, product development, and organizational culture.
DETECTION DYNAMO
Ron Nag
CEO, MedCognetics
Nag is chief executive officer at MedCognetics, a Dallas-based medical-imaging company that develops AI software aimed at enhancing cancer detection and improving patient outcomes. Under his leadership, the company won a $750,000 National Institutes of Health grant in 2023 to research unbiased AI for breast cancer detection.
A year later, MedCognetics unveiled the first embedded AI-driven cancer detection system for mammography imaging, powered by NVIDIA IGX Orin. The system directly integrates AI-powered cancer detection into imaging devices, enabling real-time processing and enhanced image quality without the need for external hardware.
Nag previously held executive positions at companies including Texas Instruments, Ceterus Networks, and Cisco Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in control systems engineering from Michigan’s Oakland University and an MBA from the SMU Cox School of Business.
VIRTUAL VANGUARD
Jenny Page
Manager of Research and Technology, National Medal of Honor Museum
Page, who’s manager of research and technology at the new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, has been at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into the museum’s visitor experience. She’s done so by overseeing the development and implementation of “The Virtual Recipient”—an interactive oral-history exhibit that uses advanced AI video and conversational technology to allow museum visitors to have life-like “conversations” with Medal of Honor recipients.
The system is powered by StoryFile’s Conversa technology, which lets visitors ask questions and get pre-recorded video responses from five Medal recipients (so far) who appear on 96-inch vertical LG monitors. After each recipient was filmed over three days, answering up to 850 questions, their responses were fed into the AI system to ensure authentic, first-person answers.
Page’s groundbreaking work is helping set new standards for museums nationwide.
ETHICS EXPONENT
Sunil Senan
Senior Vice President and Global Head-Data, Analytics & AI, Infosys
At Frisco-based Infosys, Senan is redefining enterprise-scale AI with a focus on measurable business value, ethical guardrails, and environmental responsibility. He has particularly been concerned with integrating responsibility and sustainability into the company’s AI strategy.
Most recently, he led the expansion of an AI-first platform called Infosys Topaz, embedding more than 12,000 AI assets to help enterprises accelerate growth, enhance efficiencies, and build connected ecosystems using GenAI technologies. Under his leadership, Infosys also developed a Responsible AI Framework addressing ethical AI challenges across five dimensions, including Data & Input and People & Planet.
Senan is a thought leader in various forums, steering conversations about AI’s role in society and writing about AI solutions that emphasize model efficiency, edge computing, and renewable energy integration to reduce AI’s carbon footprint.
Nominations
Online nominations for our 2025 list opened up in February. Nominees were reviewed for excellence in key criteria, including how they’re advancing AI innovation, what makes their contributions unique, and their most significant achievements from the past 12 months.
Help us find the next wave of AI innovators
We’re already looking ahead to next year’s list—and we welcome your suggestions. Send us your ideas for the 2026 AI 75.
Quincy Preston and David Seeley contributed to this report.
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R E A D N E X T
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North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch. Here are our editors' picks. Plus, you'll find more selections to "save the date."
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The Tech Transfer Showcase spotlights life science innovation at universities and strengthens the development of future leaders and entrepreneurs, BioNTX said. Here are the six university finalists who'll be pitching at the summit.
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Dan Sinawat, Founder of AI CONNEX, spoke with EisnerAmper on a recent episode of TechTalk about what it means to build an AI community on a global scale—and help lead the AI revolution. Dan, recently recognized by Dallas Innovates, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and Dallas AI as one of the Most Innovative Leaders in AI in DFW, aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world needs.
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You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
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The Texas Research Alliance helps businesses, public agencies, and governments engage with North Texas’ robust higher education research infrastructure to advance a wide range of goals. And yes, that includes mobility—which is why the TRA developed the North Texas Center for Mobility Technologies, a collaboration among industry, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, UNT, UTA, SMU, and UTD to develop advanced mobility technologies in North Texas.
