Episode #21
Smaller Teams, Smarter Work with Robyn Fuentes from Improving
How AI Is Reshaping the Workplace What happens when AI makes a team dramatically more productive? Do companies simply get more done, or do they begin rethinking how many people it actually takes to do the work? In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer talks with Robyn Fuentes, President of Improving South Texas , about what companies are actually seeing as they implement AI, and what it could mean for teams, jobs, productivity, and the future of the Texas technology ecosystem. Robyn has spent years working with companies on technology implementation and organizational change. She shares examples of organizations experiencing significant productivity gains from AI, including some reporting improvements of several times their previous output. But she also points out that AI is not automatically a cost saver. In some cases, the expense of implementing and operating AI can exceed the value it creates. One of the biggest changes Robyn sees coming is the structure of teams themselves. Instead of traditional larger teams, she expects more organizations to operate with small groups of two or three people supported by AI agents and other technology. That raises an obvious question: What happens to the people whose jobs change or disappear? Robyn argues that companies need to address this directly rather than avoiding the conversation. Technology has eliminated jobs throughout history, but it has also created entirely new careers. The responsibility falls on both employers and employees to prepare for what comes next. For business leaders, that means being transparent about how AI may change roles while investing in training and upskilling. For employees, it means actively learning new tools and developing capabilities that will remain valuable as the workplace evolves. The conversation also explores the risks surrounding AI adoption, including overreliance on AI-generated information, data privacy, and organizations implementing technology without fully understanding the implications. Thom and Robyn also look at Texas as a growing technology ecosystem. Austin remains a major hub, but Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other Texas cities are developing increasingly important technology communities. With AI infrastructure, data centers, startups, and established technology companies expanding across the state, Robyn believes Texas is well positioned for the next phase of innovation, although she would like to see more attention and investment directed toward emerging companies and entrepreneurs. *************** Thank you to the sponsor of Austin Tech Connect - Calavista Software. ************* Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council, and a leading show about the Austin Tech Ecosystem. Hosted by ATC CEO, Thom Singer, this show looks at the changing face of Austin and Texas through the eyes of technology industry leaders.
