Technology entrepreneur, investor, and author Brett A. Hurt will appear at The Original Pancake House Addison location in Dallas on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon for a book signing and conversation hosted by CEO Mark Davis Bailey. The event, held at 5220 Belt Line Road, Dallas, Texas 75254, will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and community members to discuss artificial intelligence, technology, leadership, and the choices humanity faces as rapidly advancing technologies reshape business and society. Registered attendees will receive a complimentary breakfast, and the first 100 guests to register will receive a free hardcover copy of Hurt's third book, "Love Conquers Fear: Humanity, AI, and the Age of Abundance for All," with the opportunity to have it autographed. Advance registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed at https://luma.com/tbcgnvs0.
The event matters because it places a leading technology voice in a community setting to address one of the most consequential questions of the decade: not merely what AI can do, but how society should choose to use it. Bailey emphasized that Hurt's perspective goes beyond technological capability. "Brett has spent his career at the forefront of technology and entrepreneurship, but what makes this conversation especially important is that he is asking us to look beyond what AI can do and think seriously about how we choose to use it," Bailey said. "We are excited to welcome him to The Original Pancake House DFW and give our guests an opportunity to meet Brett, hear his perspective and take part in this important conversation." That framing positions the Addison gathering as a rare opportunity for local business and community leaders to engage directly with an author whose work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, technology, consciousness, ethics, and humanity.
Hurt's background lends weight to the discussion. He began programming at age seven and became one of Austin's best-known technology entrepreneurs. He co-founded and led Bazaarvoice through its IPO and previously founded Coremetrics, which was later acquired by IBM. Along with his wife, Debra, Hurt is an investor in more than 150 startups and more than 50 venture capital funds. His honors include induction into the Austin Technology Council Hall of Fame in 2026, being named Tulane University's 2026 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year, recognition by Goldman Sachs as one of its Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs in 2022, and the Best CEO Legacy Award from the Austin Business Journal in 2017. He is also an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow and former Braddock Scholar, and he earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin and his MBA from The Wharton School.
His newest book argues that the central question is not simply how rapidly technology will advance, but what values should guide the future being created alongside it. The event is presented in partnership with Principled Business. Space and complimentary books are limited, making early registration important for those who wish to attend. Members of the media are invited to cover the October 1 event, and one-on-one interviews with Hurt and Bailey may be scheduled prior to the event. By convening entrepreneurs, investors, and community members around a conversation about ethics and abundance, the book signing signals a growing recognition that the direction of AI will be shaped as much by human choices as by technical breakthroughs.
