TechCrunch is on the ground at SXSW 2025, the annual tech, music, comedy, and film conference that kicked off Friday in Austin, Texas. As expected, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already taken center stage, dominating the conversation and reflecting the current zeitgeist of the tech industry.

A quick scan of the massive SXSW schedule illustrates that AI is not just a buzzword, but a tangible force driving innovation and application in various sectors. This year's focus is on how AI is being applied to the real world, rather than mere speculation on its potential. The conference's emphasis on AI's practical applications is a testament to the industry's shift towards tangible results.

SXSW has historically been a reflection of the tech ecosystem, showcasing the latest trends and innovations that founders and backers are working on. The conference has previously highlighted autonomous vehicles, scooter mania, crypto, and psychedelics, among other topics. This year, AI is the clear winner, with a dedicated track starting Sunday, but already making appearances in various talks and panels.

The tech portion of SXSW 2025, which runs through March 13, features several tracks that fall squarely in TechCrunch's area of interest, including the creator economy, culture, startups, health and medtech, and energy. The AI track will delve into the various applications of AI, including its potential security and privacy threats, as highlighted by Signal President Meredith Whittaker during her on-stage interview on Friday.

Deep tech, including space and quantum computing, will also make its mark at the show, with keynotes and interviews featuring industry luminaries such as Alan Baratz of D-Wave Quantum, Qualcomm President and CEO Christano Amon, Colossal Biosciences founder Ban Lamm, and Arm CEO Rene Haas. Additionally, climate, sustainability, and transportation will be prominent themes, with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe's keynote on March 11 being a highly anticipated event.

In a significant development, autonomous vehicles are back at SXSW, but this time they're on the road, not just a topic of conversation. Uber and Waymo launched a robotaxi service in Austin earlier this week, available to the general public with an Uber account. TechCrunch will be hailing those robots and talking to human Uber drivers about their thoughts on this new development.

Throughout the conference, TechCrunch will be talking to VCs, founders, and industry experts to get the pulse of how the tech world is adjusting to the Trump administration and to find the next new innovation. We'll also be paying attention to the numerous keynotes and interviews with tech and business luminaries, providing comprehensive coverage of SXSW 2025.

Stay tuned for our in-depth coverage of SXSW 2025, where we'll delve into the latest trends, innovations, and insights from the tech industry's biggest players.