Sovereign AI Club Austin: Local AI & Open Models

A Socratic meetup in Austin exploring the latest AI news, with a focus on local AI, open models, and more control over the tools we use. Join Sovereign AI Club's meetup in Austin on October 21. We follow the broader AI field with a particular interest in local AI, open models, and the freedom to choose how we use the technology. Our format is Socratic: a host brings recent news and research, and we explore it through questions and conversation. We look at the sources, compare experiences, and make room for different views on model releases, security, and where AI is heading. Topics include local LLMs, open source tools, models with downloadable weights, AI you can host yourself, and privacy. We are interested in what we can run ourselves, how our data is used, and the tradeoffs between convenience and control. There is room for technical detail, and you are welcome to ask questions as you learn. What to expect A guided news discussion, followed by time for member projects and questions. Come to share something you have tried, bring a question, or just listen. Builders, researchers, and curious people are welcome. No presentation required. When and where Wednesday, October 21, 2026 5:30–7:30 PM Central Bitcoin Park Austin 601 Congress Avenue, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78701 Free admission · In person Learn more: https://sovereignai.club