HomeSXSW 2025: Key Highlights to Watch
TechCrunch is hitting the ground running at SXSW 2025, which kicked off on Friday in Austin. We're diving right into the heart of the AI-centric era, and guess what? AI's already stealing the show. A quick glance at the SXSW schedule shows AI taking center stage not just in Austin, but worldwide. What's cool this year is the focus on how AI's actually being used in the real world, not just what it might do in the future.
SXSW has a knack for mirroring what's hot in the tech world, from founders to investors. It often rides the wave of whatever's trending. Remember when autonomous vehicles, scooters, crypto, and even psychedelics were the talk of the town? Well, they've all had their moment here.
The tech part of the event started Friday and will keep going until March 13. Right off the bat, there are tracks that are right up TechCrunch's alley—like the creator economy, culture, startups, health and medtech, and energy. The AI track officially kicks off on Sunday, but it's already popping up. For example, Signal President Meredith Whittaker, speaking on Friday, pointed out the security and privacy risks of agentic AI. Meanwhile, a health expert warned about the dangers of relying too much on AI for companionship.
We'll also see deep tech like space and quantum computing making waves, along with climate and sustainability—don't miss Rivian's founder and CEO RJ Scaringe's keynote on March 11. And transportation's back in the spotlight, with autonomous vehicles actually hitting the roads this time. Just this week, Uber and Waymo launched their "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin, open to any Uber account holder. You can bet TechCrunch will be hopping in those robotaxis and chatting with human Uber drivers to get their take on it all.
We'll be mingling with VCs, founders, and industry experts at SXSW to gauge how the tech scene's adapting to the Trump administration and to sniff out the next big thing. We're also keeping an eye on the keynotes and interviews with tech and business bigwigs, like Alan Baratz from D-Wave Quantum, Qualcomm's President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Colossal Biosciences founder Ben Lamm, and Arm CEO Rene Haas.
But hey, it's not all work and no play. We'll have some fun too!
Related article
Warner Music acquires AI attribution startup Sureel AI
Warner Music Group (WMG) confirmed on Wednesday that it is acquiring Sureel AI, an artificial intelligence attribution startup. Sureel’s proprietary technology generates “AI DNA” for musical tracks, deconstructing them into constituent elements to tr
Amazon introduces Alexa for Shopping while pushing Rufus to the background
Amazon has launched Alexa for Shopping, merging its Rufus shopping chatbot with Alexa+ across the app, website, and Echo Show devices.The assistant answers product queries, compares items, tracks prices, and supports shopping reminders. It also handl
Microsoft, Azure and AI Tech Combat California Wildfire Risks
Microsoft invests in AI-driven wildfire detection, with Juan Lavista Ferres, CVP and Chief Data Scientist, discussing strategies to mitigate environmental damage.According to NASA, climate change impacts everyone on Earth, manifesting as rising tempe
Related Special Topic Recommendations
Music composition
AI Stem Separation Tools for Remix Production, Sampling Prep, and Karaoke Masters
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Stem Separation Tools Curated for Remix Production, Sampling Prep, and Karaoke Masters. These powerful game-changing tools offer real-world tests to deliver precise audio isolation, boosting productivity significantly. XIX.AI provides a weekly updated free vs paid comparison guide to help you find the must-try solution that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
Data Analysis
AI SQL Copilots for Revenue Dashboards, Funnel Analysis, and Product Metrics
2026 Latest Best AI SQL Copilots Ranked Top-Rated! XIX.AI curates a powerful game-changing collection for weekly updated real-world tests. These must-try tools help you generate accurate revenue dashboards, analyze sales funnels, and track product metrics swiftly, boosting productivity massively. Explore now to Discover your perfect tool for data-driven decision making! 238 characters
9 tools
xix.ai
Music composition
Best AI Melody Writing Tools for Song Drafts
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Melody Writing Tools for Song Drafts! XIX.AI has curated a highly powerful game-changing collection that goes through rigorous real-world tests to deliver the best writing experience. You can find detailed free vs paid comparisons, accurate rankings, and must-try options designed to help you create stunning song drafts effortlessly and boost your creative productivity significantly. Explore now to discover your perfect tool!
8 tools
xix.ai
chatbot
Best AI Conversation Trainer Tools for Interview Practice
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Conversation Trainer Tools for Interview Practice are here on XIX.AI! This curated collection features powerful, game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests to deliver accurate feedback. You’ll find a free vs paid comparison and detailed rankings to help you choose the must-try option that boosts your confidence and skills. Explore now to Discover your perfect tool for interview success!
12 tools
xix.ai
Design & Art
Best AI Style Transfer Tools for Creative Experiments
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Style Transfer Tools for Creative Experiments! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection of must-try tools that deliver exceptional results through real-world tests and rigorous rankings. These top solutions help creatives boost productivity significantly by accelerating content creation and unlocking endless creative possibilities. Explore now to discover your perfect tool and start creating today!
9 tools
xix.ai
Comic Creation
Best AI Dialogue Bubble Tools for Visual Storytelling
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Dialogue Bubble Tools for Visual Storytelling are here on XIX.AI! This curated collection features powerful, game-changing tools that help creators boost productivity and overcome creative bottlenecks. Get a free vs paid comparison, see real-world tests, and check the latest rankings to find the must-try solutions perfect for crafting engaging visual narratives. Explore now to discover your ideal tool!
10 tools
xix.ai
Comments (16)
0/500
![ElijahWalker]()
AI stealing the show at SXSW 2025 is no surprise! It's like the tech world's new rockstar, but I'm curious—how much of this is hype vs. real innovation? 🤔
![RaymondGreen]()
SXSW 2025はAIにフォーカスしていて、すごく面白いですね！🤖 世界中でAIが注目されているのが感じられます。これからの展開が楽しみです。テックトレンドに興味があるなら必見ですよ！🚀
![StephenPerez]()
SXSW 2025 is all about AI and it's blowing my mind! The highlights are so cool but I wish they'd have more sessions on AI ethics. It's not just about the tech, right? Anyway, can't wait to see what else they have in store! 🤖
![RogerRoberts]()
SXSW 2025 está lleno de AI y me encanta! 🤩 La atención que se le da a la inteligencia artificial en todo el mundo es impresionante. Estoy emocionado por ver qué más sucede en este evento. ¡Definitivamente algo que no te puedes perder si te interesa la tecnología! 🚀
![HarperJones]()
SXSW 2025는 AI에 관한 모든 것이 놀랍네요! 하이라이트가 정말 멋지지만, AI 윤리에 관한 세션이 더 있었으면 좋겠어요. 기술뿐만 아니라 그런 문제도 중요하잖아요. 아무튼, 앞으로 어떤 것이 나올지 기대돼요! 🤓
![CharlesRoberts]()
SXSW 2025 é tudo sobre IA e está me deixando louco! Os destaques são muito legais, mas eu gostaria que tivessem mais sessões sobre ética em IA. Não é só sobre a tecnologia, certo? Enfim, mal posso esperar para ver o que mais eles têm reservado! 🤖
TechCrunch is hitting the ground running at SXSW 2025, which kicked off on Friday in Austin. We're diving right into the heart of the AI-centric era, and guess what? AI's already stealing the show. A quick glance at the SXSW schedule shows AI taking center stage not just in Austin, but worldwide. What's cool this year is the focus on how AI's actually being used in the real world, not just what it might do in the future.
SXSW has a knack for mirroring what's hot in the tech world, from founders to investors. It often rides the wave of whatever's trending. Remember when autonomous vehicles, scooters, crypto, and even psychedelics were the talk of the town? Well, they've all had their moment here.
The tech part of the event started Friday and will keep going until March 13. Right off the bat, there are tracks that are right up TechCrunch's alley—like the creator economy, culture, startups, health and medtech, and energy. The AI track officially kicks off on Sunday, but it's already popping up. For example, Signal President Meredith Whittaker, speaking on Friday, pointed out the security and privacy risks of agentic AI. Meanwhile, a health expert warned about the dangers of relying too much on AI for companionship.
We'll also see deep tech like space and quantum computing making waves, along with climate and sustainability—don't miss Rivian's founder and CEO RJ Scaringe's keynote on March 11. And transportation's back in the spotlight, with autonomous vehicles actually hitting the roads this time. Just this week, Uber and Waymo launched their "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin, open to any Uber account holder. You can bet TechCrunch will be hopping in those robotaxis and chatting with human Uber drivers to get their take on it all.
We'll be mingling with VCs, founders, and industry experts at SXSW to gauge how the tech scene's adapting to the Trump administration and to sniff out the next big thing. We're also keeping an eye on the keynotes and interviews with tech and business bigwigs, like Alan Baratz from D-Wave Quantum, Qualcomm's President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Colossal Biosciences founder Ben Lamm, and Arm CEO Rene Haas.
But hey, it's not all work and no play. We'll have some fun too!
Warner Music acquires AI attribution startup Sureel AI
Warner Music Group (WMG) confirmed on Wednesday that it is acquiring Sureel AI, an artificial intelligence attribution startup. Sureel’s proprietary technology generates “AI DNA” for musical tracks, deconstructing them into constituent elements to tr
Amazon introduces Alexa for Shopping while pushing Rufus to the background
Amazon has launched Alexa for Shopping, merging its Rufus shopping chatbot with Alexa+ across the app, website, and Echo Show devices.The assistant answers product queries, compares items, tracks prices, and supports shopping reminders. It also handl
Microsoft, Azure and AI Tech Combat California Wildfire Risks
Microsoft invests in AI-driven wildfire detection, with Juan Lavista Ferres, CVP and Chief Data Scientist, discussing strategies to mitigate environmental damage.According to NASA, climate change impacts everyone on Earth, manifesting as rising tempe
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Stem Separation Tools Curated for Remix Production, Sampling Prep, and Karaoke Masters. These powerful game-changing tools offer real-world tests to deliver precise audio isolation, boosting productivity significantly. XIX.AI provides a weekly updated free vs paid comparison guide to help you find the must-try solution that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best AI SQL Copilots Ranked Top-Rated! XIX.AI curates a powerful game-changing collection for weekly updated real-world tests. These must-try tools help you generate accurate revenue dashboards, analyze sales funnels, and track product metrics swiftly, boosting productivity massively. Explore now to Discover your perfect tool for data-driven decision making! 238 characters
9 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Melody Writing Tools for Song Drafts! XIX.AI has curated a highly powerful game-changing collection that goes through rigorous real-world tests to deliver the best writing experience. You can find detailed free vs paid comparisons, accurate rankings, and must-try options designed to help you create stunning song drafts effortlessly and boost your creative productivity significantly. Explore now to discover your perfect tool!
8 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Conversation Trainer Tools for Interview Practice are here on XIX.AI! This curated collection features powerful, game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests to deliver accurate feedback. You’ll find a free vs paid comparison and detailed rankings to help you choose the must-try option that boosts your confidence and skills. Explore now to Discover your perfect tool for interview success!
12 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Style Transfer Tools for Creative Experiments! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection of must-try tools that deliver exceptional results through real-world tests and rigorous rankings. These top solutions help creatives boost productivity significantly by accelerating content creation and unlocking endless creative possibilities. Explore now to discover your perfect tool and start creating today!
9 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Dialogue Bubble Tools for Visual Storytelling are here on XIX.AI! This curated collection features powerful, game-changing tools that help creators boost productivity and overcome creative bottlenecks. Get a free vs paid comparison, see real-world tests, and check the latest rankings to find the must-try solutions perfect for crafting engaging visual narratives. Explore now to discover your ideal tool!
10 tools
xix.ai
AI stealing the show at SXSW 2025 is no surprise! It's like the tech world's new rockstar, but I'm curious—how much of this is hype vs. real innovation? 🤔
SXSW 2025はAIにフォーカスしていて、すごく面白いですね！🤖 世界中でAIが注目されているのが感じられます。これからの展開が楽しみです。テックトレンドに興味があるなら必見ですよ！🚀
SXSW 2025 is all about AI and it's blowing my mind! The highlights are so cool but I wish they'd have more sessions on AI ethics. It's not just about the tech, right? Anyway, can't wait to see what else they have in store! 🤖
SXSW 2025 está lleno de AI y me encanta! 🤩 La atención que se le da a la inteligencia artificial en todo el mundo es impresionante. Estoy emocionado por ver qué más sucede en este evento. ¡Definitivamente algo que no te puedes perder si te interesa la tecnología! 🚀
SXSW 2025는 AI에 관한 모든 것이 놀랍네요! 하이라이트가 정말 멋지지만, AI 윤리에 관한 세션이 더 있었으면 좋겠어요. 기술뿐만 아니라 그런 문제도 중요하잖아요. 아무튼, 앞으로 어떤 것이 나올지 기대돼요! 🤓
SXSW 2025 é tudo sobre IA e está me deixando louco! Os destaques são muito legais, mas eu gostaria que tivessem mais sessões sobre ética em IA. Não é só sobre a tecnologia, certo? Enfim, mal posso esperar para ver o que mais eles têm reservado! 🤖
