A cross-sector panel at SXSW 2026 will bring together leaders from government, technology, and public policy to explore how artificial intelligence is moving from theory and legislation to real-world implementation inside government.
SXSW is one of the world’s premier gatherings for technology, innovation, and public policy, drawing thousands of leaders from government, academia, and industry to Austin each year.
The session, “AI Implementation in Government,” will take place March 18 at 10:00 a.m. CT at the JW Marriott, Salon E.
The panel represents the full lifecycle of government technology adoption — from legislation and policy research to procurement, implementation, and technology development.
Speakers include:
- Sen. Tan Parker, Texas Senate
- Tony Sauerhoff, Chief AI and Innovation Officer, Texas Department of Information Resources
- David Dunmoyer, Associate Vice President, Texas Public Policy Foundation
- Laura Davis, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, USLege
Together, the panelists represent every part of how artificial intelligence enters government.
Sen. Parker brings the perspective of lawmakers responsible for establishing policy frameworks that guide emerging technologies. Sauerhoff oversees how state agencies evaluate and deploy new technologies while maintaining cybersecurity, transparency, and operational reliability. Dunmoyer contributes research and policy analysis on AI governance and innovation policy across the states.
Davis represents the technology builders developing tools designed to help policymakers and government affairs professionals navigate the rapidly expanding volume of legislative and regulatory information.
The discussion will explore how government institutions can responsibly adopt AI while navigating the operational realities that shape implementation, including legacy IT systems, procurement processes, siloed data, and evolving cybersecurity threats.
“The future of AI in government won’t be decided by technology alone,” said Laura Davis, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of USLege. “It will be shaped by lawmakers, agencies, researchers, and the builders creating the tools. Bringing those perspectives together is how we responsibly move from AI theory to real-world implementation in government.”
"If the public sector truly harnesses the potential of AI, taxpayers will feel tangible benefits. Reduced wait time for services, improved transparency, more proactive problem solving, and dramatic taxpayer savings in the long term," said David Dunmoyer, Associate Vice President, Texas Public Policy Foundation. "But to unleash the benefits while protecting civil liberties and human agency, smart public policy is more critical than ever. Texas has both the technical solutions and public policy to advance this revolution, and I'm excited to share the stage with a diverse array of experts who will paint this vision in clear strokes."
The panel will also explore how artificial intelligence can help policymakers and government affairs professionals manage the overwhelming volume of legislative and regulatory activity — from bills and amendments to hearings and rulemaking — while maintaining human oversight, transparency, and accountability. Speakers will also look ahead to the next five years of AI adoption in government and discuss how states can build the institutional capacity needed to implement these technologies responsibly.
Click to learn more about the panel or how USLege is bringing AI to government at all levels.
About USLege
USLege is an AI-powered legislative tracking platform transforming how government affairs professionals track, analyze, and act on policy at the local, state, and federal levels across the U.S. Built for the fragmented and fast-moving world of government relations, USLege unifies legislative CRM, live government video, and real-time bill tracking, powered by a customizable AI agent that delivers instant alerts, stakeholder-specific insights, and tailored content that matters. For more information, visit www.uslege.ai.
Media Contact
Jess McDonald
Head of Marketing, USLege
jess@uslege.ai
