Texas AI Boom Raises Job Fears Across Amarillo

The future of AI and its new hub seems to be the great state of Texas. Data centers are being built all over the state, including right here in the Texas Panhandle. Project Matadaor, which is expected to be one of the largest data centers in Texas and possibly the world, is being built outside of Amarillo.  The second-largest in Texas, the GW Ranch in Pecos County, is also under construction. El Paso is getting a Meta data center, and Abilene's Crusoe is already open and running.

Texas Becomes a Hotspot for AI Data Centers

We all use AI in some way these days. Whether for a recipe, a simple question, or a set of blueprints, AI has made our lives easier. It is also making our lives a lot more difficult when it comes to securing and keeping jobs.

How AI Is Changing Jobs Across Texas

This isn’t about robots replacing workers overnight; AI is making decisions that you don't know about. Right now, AI is being used in hiring, scheduling, and logistics for many companies. People all over the area are applying for hundreds of jobs and never hear back from potential employers. One reason may be that AI is scanning applications and resumes, and if it flags something as off, it filters it out, and no human ever sees it.

Texas has become a hotspot for AI. The state offers cheap land, access to energy, and it is a central location.  These are the things AI companies look for when deciding where to build.

We keep being told that these AI centers will bring jobs, but will they bring more jobs than they will eventually take away?

Amarillo Jobs at Risk from Automation

Here in Amarillo, many jobs are in agriculture, energy, healthcare, and education. Which one of these is more vulnerable to AI? A new lard refinery is being built in Amarillo and is expected to bring 30-60 jobs to a 12,000 ft facility. That suggests most of the day-to-day operations will be automated.

Which Jobs in Texas Are Most Vulnerable to AI?

According to Culture Map, Texas has the second-highest number of at-risk jobs in the country when it comes to being quietly replaced by AI. Those jobs at risk include retail, fast food, customer service reps, stockers, and even admin positions.

Jobs being surrendered to AI is no longer a what-if, but a when. Eventually, many jobs will become automated and handled by AI, leaving fewer jobs for workers in the area.

Read More: Texas On Pace To Become The AI Data Center Capital of the World

AI Worker Protections and the Texas Bill of Rights

According to a new study by Careerminds, 81% of workers want AI job protections, and 78% of Texans want an AI Worker Bill of Rights. More than 64% of people surveyed believe that AI has already impacted jobs.

What would an AI Bill of Rights Include:

• Human review of all major decisions (40%)
• Transparency about AI use (30%)
• Guaranteed retraining options (10%)
• Guaranteed compensation or notice before any AI-driven replacement (10%)
• Limits on AI surveillance, e.g., restrictions on employers using AI tools to constantly monitor workers’ activity, communications, or performance (10%)

Texas did pass House Bill 149 to regulate AI. This legislation, however, focuses more on how it is used rather than on protecting jobs. The law requires that people be told when they are interacting with AI in certain situations, and it limits harmful uses like discrimination or invasive surveillance. You can read the full bill here. It went into effect on January 1, 2026.

Although it puts limits on AI, it does not prevent companies from replacing their workforce with AI. Many Texans are pushing for better protections from AI.

Read More: AI Country Music Sucks. This Song About Amarillo, Texas Proves It

Why Workers Are Concerned About AI Replacing Jobs

The bottom line is that workers don't mind change or tools to make their jobs easier and more efficient. What they do mind is being blindsided by AI replacement. Most people just want to come in, do their jobs, and earn a paycheck. The last thing they need is to have the rug pulled out from under them because AI has replaced their role.