Artificial intelligence company relocates headquarters to Austin, AI jobs on the rise

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- Another tech company moved from California to Austin's 'Silicon Hills,' a nickname for the thousands of high-tech companies in the Austin area.

According to local commercial real estate agency, Colliers, there are more than 3,000 tech companies and startups in Austin. Artificial intelligence and intelligent automation company, ABBYY, recently added itself to that growing list.

Chief Product and Technology Officer Patrick Jean listed several reasons for the move.

"University of Austin, other universities around here, obviously a great ecosystem for talent," Jean said. "Relatively good cost, as far as living. You know, quality of life is great for individuals as well as families."

The city is now a top ten market for tech talent specializing in AI, according to commercial real estate information company CBRE. The report said Austin has more than 7,000 tech talent workers in AI.

"The Austin tech force and tech industry is definitely booming. The industry is expected to grow 3.2% annually, which is about 2,160 workers per year," said Workforce Solutions Capital Area IT Business Consultant Katherine Carino.

According to Workforce Solutions Capital Area, as of last June, there were over 5,000 tech job postings in the Austin area.

"AI is definitely integrating in almost every tech position that you're seeing nowadays," Jean said.

Jean recommended taking the time to gain skills in AI. He stressed it is something anyone can do, with or without a four year degree.

"Just go to YouTube alone and just build yourself, as far as a playlist of basically a curriculum to learn from," Jean said. "You start developing these skills. Could be machine learning, could be AI scientists, but it also could just be using Chat GPT, using some of these AI models. If you know how to use them in your job, you will make more money. You will have more opportunities."