What to Know:

• TxDOT has completed more than a dozen AI projects and is actively developing more than 20 others, with 200-plus use cases identified.
• The updated plan aligns with new state law and introduces a formal scoring system to prioritize AI initiatives based on readiness, risk and impact.
• Key deployments include automated invoice processing, traffic incident detection and the rollout of generative AI tools to staff.

What to Know:

• Greenville City Council approved a six-year agreement with Motorola Solutions to launch a drone-as-first-responder program for the police department.
• The system enables drone pilots to deploy drones remotely to high-priority calls ahead of or alongside ground units.
• The program will follow Federal Aviation Administration regulations and departmental policies, with coordination efforts underway to ensure interoperability with Walmart’s existing drone delivery system.

What to Know:

• AI training will be mandatory for state and local government employees starting in FY 2026 under House Bill 3512.
• DIR will certify at least five training programs that meet new criteria focused on responsible AI use, risk mitigation and accessibility.
• Submission guidance is expected by the end of January.

Industry Insider — Texas will not be sending a morning newsletter on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The next newsletter will hit your inbox on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

What to Know:

• Sugar Land City Council approved $2.8 million for autonomous drones, real-time crime center software and expanded license plate recognition cameras.
• Axon Enterprises will provide two drones and FUSUS software subscription under a $594,000 contract.
• Flock Group’s LPR camera contract was amended to add two cameras and consolidate leases, raising the total contract value to $2.3 million.

Oracle’s DB@ partnerships refers to initiatives in which Oracle offers its flagship database products as managed services running directly within other major cloud providers' infrastructure — AWS, Azure, & Google.

This year marked the inception of BMC Helix as an independent company. And we’re not just growing. We’re building for the future, boldly and for the long term. That’s why being recognized as a leader in The Forrester Wave™: Enterprise Service Management, Q4 2025 report is more than recognition.

Whether launching a customer-facing app or a cloud-native platform or integrating emerging technologies, effective quality assurance (QA) ensures software performs flawlessly, consistently, securely and swiftly. With AI, this strategic pillar of modern enterprises is undergoing a transformation — evolving into intelligent QA that delivers greater speed, precision and adaptability in testing.