Public Policy Agenda for America’s AI Future
Artificial intelligence is accelerating the demand for digital infrastructure across the United States. As data centers expand to support AI-scale workloads, new questions are emerging around electricity demand, water resources, infrastructure planning and the role of public policy.
Hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, the LBJ Business Policy Forum will bring together leaders from industry, government and academia to explore how the United States can responsibly power the AI economy while strengthening communities and maintaining grid reliability.
Compass Datacenters Founder and CEO Chris Crosby will join a panel of experts to discuss the policy and infrastructure decisions shaping America’s AI future.
Event Details:
Event: Data Centers, Water & Power
Series: LBJ Business Policy Forum
Host: The University of Texas at Austin – LBJ School of Public Affairs
Date: Monday, March 23
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location:
Bass Lecture Hall
LBJ School of Public Affairs
Austin, Texas
Speakers:
Chris Crosby – Founder & CEO, Compass Datacenters
Dr. Ning Lin – Chief Economist, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin
Venkat Tirupati – Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, ERCOT
Dilawar Syed – Entrepreneur, Board Member and Former U.S. Cabinet Official
Jr DeShazo – Dean, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin
Discussion Topics:
The forum will explore how the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure intersects with communities, energy systems and policy frameworks, including:
- The growing demand for electricity and water driven by AI-scale data centers
- How digital infrastructure impacts grid reliability, land use and local economies
- The policy tools needed at the local, state and federal level to support responsible infrastructure growth
- How the United States can remain globally competitive in AI while stewarding natural resources