In this episode of The Bytagig Podcast, host John Jackson sits down with Skip Newberry, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO), to unpack how open source, artificial intelligence, and civic innovation are transforming Oregon’s tech ecosystem.
Skip shares his journey from serving as economic policy advisor to Portland Mayor Sam Adams—where he helped develop the city’s first comprehensive economic development strategy in 16 years to launching groundbreaking initiatives like the nation’s first open source software procurement policy and the Civic Apps open data platform.
They dive deep into:
- How open source collaboration is driving the next wave of AI development
- Why 95% of enterprise AI projects failed last year—and what lessons can be learned
- Highlights from TAO’s AI Innovation Summit, which drew nearly 400 applicants for 140 seats
- Oregon’s surprising strength in the semiconductor industry, employing 15% of the US workforce in that sector
- The growing energy demands of AI and bold innovations like wave-powered floating data centers
- Insights on U.S. vs. China AI strategies and TAO’s upcoming AI events with Seattle in 2026
Whether you’re a tech leader, innovator, or policy enthusiast, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how collaboration, open source, and regional innovation are shaping the future of AI and technology in Oregon and beyond.