Talarico, Mark Cuban discuss AI, sports betting and the future of the economy in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH — Artificial intelligence, sports betting, political influence and the future of entrepreneurship took center stage as Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico and entrepreneur Mark Cuban met for a wide-ranging conversation at Fort Worth’s Ridge Theater.

The discussion moved between emerging technology and familiar economic concerns, with both speakers arguing that public policy will play a significant role in determining who benefits from the rapidly changing economy. For Talarico, the conversation was also an opportunity to outline several priorities he would pursue in the U.S. Senate.

Talarico calls for guardrails on AI

Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the night’s central topics.

Talarico said he is both optimistic and concerned about the technology. He pointed to young entrepreneurs using AI in fields such as biotechnology as an example of its potential to improve lives, including potentially helping address serious diseases.

At the same time, he argued that the federal government lacks a comprehensive strategy for regulating AI and establishing what he called “rules of the road.”

Talarico outlined three areas he said should guide federal AI policy: protecting workers, protecting children and protecting democracy.

On employment, he said AI should make jobs easier rather than simply replace workers. He also called for protections for children, citing concerns about AI systems interacting with vulnerable young people and potentially contributing to mental health harms.

The third area is political misinformation. Talarico pointed to legislation he previously attempted to pass in the Texas Legislature that would have prohibited AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns. He said the measure received bipartisan support but did not pass.

His broader position is that the United States should remain competitive in AI development while establishing regulations that address potential social and economic consequences.

Cuban warns about the changing sports betting landscape

Cuban brought a different perspective to the conversation when the discussion turned to sports betting.

As a former Dallas Mavericks owner, Cuban said the early expansion of sports betting initially appeared relatively limited, with fans primarily wagering on outcomes such as winners and losers, point totals and halftime scores.

He said the expansion of sports books and prediction markets has since created opportunities to bet on increasingly specific aspects of sporting events.

Cuban argued that the proliferation of niche bets could create risks for the integrity of professional sports, including opportunities for players or others involved in games to manipulate individual outcomes.

He also raised concerns about young adults who lose significant amounts of money through betting.

Cuban said leagues should continue limiting the types of bets that can be offered, enforcing age restrictions and providing support for people who develop gambling problems.

The issue has also intersected with Talarico’s campaign. During the conversation, Talarico referenced Attorney General Ken Paxton’s involvement in a dispute involving former Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton and college sports betting. Talarico connected the episode to broader concerns about political influence and campaign donations.

Small businesses vs. corporate power

The conversation then shifted toward one of Talarico’s central economic themes: competition.

Talarico criticized what he described as “crony capitalism,” arguing that the current economy often favors large corporations and consolidated industries over independent businesses and entrepreneurs.

He said policymakers should consider reducing taxes for small, locally owned businesses rather than directing comparable benefits toward large multinational corporations.

For communities such as South Dallas, where small businesses are a major part of neighborhood economic life, Talarico’s argument centers on whether entrepreneurs have access to the same opportunities and capital available to larger companies.

He also argued that being pro-business should mean supporting competition, rather than protecting monopolies or allowing excessive consolidation.

Cuban agreed with the broader premise, describing entrepreneurship as an important avenue for economic opportunity.

The role of billionaires in politics

With one of the world’s best-known entrepreneurs sitting beside him, Talarico also addressed the complicated role billionaires play in American politics.

Talarico distinguished between philanthropy and changing the systems that create economic inequality. He cited former presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Bobby Kennedy as examples of wealthy figures who, in his view, used their influence to pursue broader systemic changes.

He pointed to Cuban’s work in health care as an example of using private-sector experience to influence policy rather than simply donating money to charitable causes.

Cuban, meanwhile, said he has contributed money toward efforts to overturn Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that expanded protections for independent political spending by corporations, unions and other groups.

The exchange comes as the role of wealthy donors and outside spending remains a major issue in federal elections, including the Texas Senate race.

Opening doors for the next generation

Both men ultimately returned to entrepreneurship and the importance of giving young people access to opportunity.

Talarico argued that government policy should help people with strong business ideas who lack access to wealthy investors. He said entrepreneurship grants could help aspiring business owners, inventors and creatives secure the capital needed to turn ideas into businesses.

Cuban focused on mentorship and encouraging young people to see themselves as potential creators and business owners. He described speaking with children about the inventions and products around them and encouraging them to ask, “Why not me?”

The exchange reflected a broader theme running throughout the evening: economic growth, according to both speakers, depends not only on established corporations but also on whether young people and small-business owners have the opportunity to participate.

For Talarico, that means using federal policy to create what he described as a more competitive economy. For Cuban, it also means opening doors for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The conversation offered voters another look at the economic and technology issues Talarico is emphasizing as he campaigns for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, while Cuban used his business background to challenge some of the assumptions surrounding emerging industries and their regulation.