This Month's Latest Tech News in Amarillo, TX - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Amarillo's tech evolution accelerated this month with several transformative developments that signal robust growth for the local economy. The new Edge Data Center, a $38 million collaboration among Region 16, Duos Edge AI, and FiberLight, is dramatically improving internet speeds, bandwidth, and research opportunities across 52 Panhandle school districts, while supporting AI and quantum computing education and ensuring SOC 2-compliant cybersecurity protection.

Meanwhile, The RANGE, Amarillo's dedicated economic growth engine, has unlocked over $3 million in funding - driving workforce training, agricultural innovation, and industry partnerships, and putting the region on track to compete for billions more, as detailed in this analysis of Amarillo's future growth engine.

The city's upbeat economic forecast, with expectations for 1,500 to 2,000 new jobs in 2025 and stable unemployment projections, further bolsters optimism about technology's role in regional prosperity, as echoed by experts in the Amarillo National Bank economic outlook.

Additionally, the WT Enterprise Center is seeing a surge in tech-savvy entrepreneurs and small business growth, underscoring that

small businesses historically long withstanding have been the best vehicle for ... economic growth,

as noted in NewsChannel 10's coverage of 2025 business trends.

The confluence of public and private investments, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce development signifies a pivotal month for Amarillo's tech-driven transformation.

The Helios facility in Dickens County, once a prominent cryptocurrency mining operation, is now poised to become an AI data center powerhouse following a landmark partnership between Galaxy Digital and CoreWeave.

In a strategic 15-year lease, Galaxy will provide CoreWeave - an AI cloud company backed by Nvidia and servicing tech giants like Microsoft and OpenAI - with up to 393 megawatts (MW) of IT load, with plans for future expansions to 600 MW as the facility transitions from Bitcoin mining to supporting AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

This pivot not only marks Galaxy's evolution beyond blockchain but is expected to generate approximately $4.5 billion in revenue and create new, high-quality jobs for the Dickens County community.

As Galaxy upgrades the campus with state-of-the-art fiber connectivity and tiered redundancy, industry analysts note this transformation is part of a broader trend of cryptomining sites repurposing for AI, reflecting surging demand for GPU compute nationwide.

“New and advanced digital infrastructure is already rapidly reshaping industries and opening new opportunities,” remarked Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy. “CoreWeave has been a fantastic partner throughout this process.”

For a deeper dive, explore the scope of the partnership in Galaxy's official announcement on its Helios Data Center campus, an economic and infrastructure overview via Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's in-depth reporting, and industry context on CoreWeave's large-scale Texas expansion.

Cognigy, a global leader in AI-powered customer service automation, has announced the relocation of its U.S. headquarters from San Francisco to Plano, North Texas - an important move that underscores the region's rapid emergence as a center for tech innovation.

The German-founded company, which has served over 1,000 brands including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and DHL, credits Texas's business-friendly climate, robust energy infrastructure, and access to a highly skilled, local workforce as key motivators behind their decision.

Cognigy's Plano office, opened in April 2025, is expected to double its local headcount from 50 to about 100 employees in the next year, with ambitions to further grow to as many as 200 within three years - creating new roles across sales, marketing, and technical support.

CEO Philipp Heltewig explains,

“Dallas offers the perfect mix of innovation, energy and opportunity.”

The company's AI platform delivers hyper-personalized, multilingual customer service solutions, responding to a surging market demand for automated engagement and 24/7 support.

Cognigy's move aligns with a broader trend of tech firms relocating headquarters to Texas for operational efficiency and growth, as confirmed by data indicating the tech sector in Texas has outpaced national growth averages.

The table below summarizes Cognigy's local expansion plans and Texas's attraction factors:

Learn more about Cognigy's headquarters move and hiring plans from The Dallas Morning News coverage of Cognigy's North Texas expansion, see additional insights at HERE Georgetown's analysis of Cognigy's Texas strategy, or read Online Queso's report on Cognigy's local economic impact.

The "Unfinished Legacies" campaign is harnessing artificial intelligence to address the escalating fentanyl crisis by creating AI-driven messages that allow overdose victims to tell their stories, with the aim of warning and educating young people about the real dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs.

As highlighted in recent reports, deaths involving counterfeit pills doubled from 2% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2021, with teens and young adults particularly vulnerable to these hidden threats see how AI brings overdose victims' stories to life.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration continues to raise awareness through initiatives like National Fentanyl Awareness Day and the “Faces of Fentanyl” memorial, which commemorates lives lost and welcomes community participation both virtually and at their headquarters explore DEA's Fentanyl Awareness campaign.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, synthetic opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-45, and recent CBP operations have resulted in record-breaking seizures, with over 19,600 pounds of fentanyl intercepted in fiscal year 2024 alone.

As CBP Senior Official Troy Miller remarked,

“We've been at the forefront of this fight against synthetic opioids since the very beginning. We are committed to combating fentanyl, and the men and women of CBP are up to the task.”

For more on frontline enforcement and the collective national response, review the Frontline Against Fentanyl strategy to see how federal agencies are confronting this public health emergency.

This month's Amarillo City Council elections have brought tech infrastructure and modernization to the forefront, with candidates emphasizing transparent governance, responsible budgeting, and equitable investment in underserved neighborhoods.

Leif Kertis, a Place 4 hopeful, proposes prioritizing upgrades to aging utilities and wastewater treatment, especially in communities like North Heights and Eastridge, leveraging public-private partnerships and grants to avoid overburdening taxpayers.

Incumbent Tom Scherlen and other contenders echo this approach by advocating for improved electric infrastructure to support AI and tech growth, citywide broadband expansion, and tech-driven process reforms.

At a recent candidate forum, there was consensus on increasing oversight of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), streamlining city permitting processes, and ensuring local businesses and residents benefit from growth initiatives.

As summarized in the Leif Kertis candidate Q&A, real-time budget access and community engagement are major campaign themes.

A comparative look at priorities can be found in the Amarillo Tribune's council candidate overview, where common values include fiscal responsibility, infrastructure renewal, and increased public involvement.

For a deeper dive into the diverse perspectives and strategies shared at the recent City Council forum, including candidate platforms on tech and economic policy, see the summary from the Amarillo City Council election forum.

Collectively, these efforts signal a pivotal move toward robust, inclusive tech infrastructure as a foundation for Amarillo's continued growth.

The Helios Data Center in Dickens County is undergoing major high-tech upgrades, signaling a key transition from its original focus on Bitcoin mining to supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

Under new ownership by Galaxy Digital Holdings, Helios boasts an approved power capacity of 800 megawatts, with the potential to scale to 2.5 gigawatts, making it one of the largest data center developments in North America.

The center's strategic 15-year lease agreement with CoreWeave, an AI infrastructure company supported by Nvidia, involves deploying up to 600 megawatts of IT capacity and powering advanced GPU-driven AI operations.

Facility enhancements - including improved fiber connectivity, specialized optical networking equipment, and selective structural modernization - aim to meet rising bandwidth and energy demands associated with AI. As Galaxy's president Chris Ferraro remarked:

"Galaxy is positioned to not only be one of the largest early developers of large-scale next-gen data center infrastructure at Helios, but also to then leverage that platform to grow into one of the long-term winners in the space."

These changes are expected to deliver economic benefits to the region in the form of job creation, tax revenues, and a stable income stream uncorrelated with volatile crypto markets.

For further technical context and a look at the facility's operational impact - including details on partnerships and power scale - see Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's coverage of Helios upgrades and the May 2025 data center industry rundown, which highlights the nationwide surge in AI-focused infrastructure and energy requirements.

The transformation of Dickens County's Helios facility from Bitcoin mining to AI data center is already yielding tangible benefits for the local community and signaling a broader shift in West Texas tech infrastructure.

Following Galaxy Digital Holdings' $65 million acquisition of Helios and subsequent 15-year lease with AI cloud leader CoreWeave - backed by Nvidia - the campus is rapidly expanding, with CoreWeave set to utilize 393MW of critical IT load for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing by 2027.

This redevelopment comes with major economic impact: the partnership is projected to generate $4.5 billion in revenue over the lease term, while providing stable, skilled jobs and significant tax revenue streams to support local schools and services (CoreWeave's lease to drive local economy).

Facility upgrades are well underway, including the installation of state-of-the-art fiber connectivity and selective demolition of the former crypto-mining shell, with CoreWeave retaining options for further power expansion.

“This Phase II commitment with CoreWeave marks another major step in Galaxy's evolution as a trusted partner for the next generation of data center infrastructure,” noted Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz, highlighting the firm's pivot to digital infrastructure as a means to deliver greater long-term value.

This diversification into AI allows us to maximize cash flow and deliver greater value to shareholders. CoreWeave has been a fantastic partner throughout this process.

Helios's technical leap aligns Dickens County with nationwide trends, as crypto companies like Galaxy transition to meet surging AI demand (CoreWeave's 260MW expansion; Galaxy Digital's AI infrastructure commitment).

This major investment not only transforms the region into an emerging tech and energy hub, but also ensures lasting opportunities for residents as Amarillo and the Panhandle participate in the new AI-driven economy.

The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex continues to lead Texas's technology and business growth in 2025, claiming 36% of all corporate expansion and relocation projects across the state and attracting major names like TIAA, Bell Textron, and Google's Verily to new facilities in the region.

According to a recent Dallas Business Journal report, DFW secured 489 corporate projects in 2024, reflecting its strong appeal to businesses seeking favorable tax policies, ample talent, and robust infrastructure investments DFW led Texas in corporate expansions.

A growing population - now at 8.3 million - and thriving tech ecosystem have made the area a magnet for companies moving from high-cost regions like California, where Texas's no-state-income-tax advantage and burgeoning innovation clusters have played a decisive role read why firms are choosing Texas.

Suburban powerhouses like Frisco and Plano are powering an office resurgence, while demand for tech workers surges amid a wave of new data center, AI, and advanced manufacturing projects.

As highlighted by Bisnow, Dallas-Fort Worth has gained over 100 headquarters since 2018 - more than any other US metro - and saw corporate relocation activity quintuple in 2024, with technology and manufacturing accounting for the majority of new moves.

Texas continues to be a big winner with respect to talent migration.

For a closer look at DFW's top tech companies, future growth drivers, and the competitive advantages fueling this surge, visit this comprehensive Dallas tech ecosystem guide.

The Panhandle and Amarillo regions are now joining the momentum, following DFW's model to attract corporate investment and innovation-driven job growth across Texas.

Digital innovation and artificial intelligence are top priorities in Amarillo's May 3, 2025 municipal elections, with voters set to choose from a diverse slate of candidates focused on tech-driven solutions and open government.

According to the official City of Amarillo General Election page, the ballot includes races for mayor and all four council seats, with early voting starting April 22.

Candidates broadly emphasize transparency through digital platforms, investment in upgraded tech infrastructure, and citizen engagement via online tools and accessible data, as shown in detailed policy interviews published by the Amarillo Tribune.

Infrastructure upgrades - especially to water and wastewater systems - feature as urgent needs, with many contenders proposing modern technology adoption and sustainable funding strategies.

These discussions are occurring against the backdrop of statewide efforts to regulate and promote responsible AI use in government, highlighted in The Texas Tribune's coverage of new legislative action.

Amarillo's candidates echo these themes, seeing technology as a driver of improved city services, public safety, and economic growth, while strengthening digital access for all citizens.

Importantly, several candidates cite support for open data, virtual town halls, and responsible management of tech investments as fundamental to restoring trust and accelerating progress in city leadership.

Galaxy Digital is spearheading a major transformation in the Texas Panhandle, converting its flagship Helios facility in Dickens County from a cryptocurrency mining hub into a leading nexus for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC).

By partnering with CoreWeave, an AI cloud leader with more than 250,000 GPUs in operation, Galaxy has inked a 15-year lease agreement initially delivering 133MW of IT load - with a new Phase II commitment adding another 260MW by 2027.

The Helios campus boasts a massive 800MW approved capacity, positioning the region to become a national hub for digital infrastructure. Galaxy's strategic pivot, supported by proceeds from a recent public offering, is expected to generate approximately $4.5 billion in revenue, while also catalyzing economic growth and local employment.

“This Phase II commitment with CoreWeave marks another major step in Galaxy's evolution as a trusted partner for the next generation of data center infrastructure.”

Learn more about this shift at the Helios AI data center conversion, the facility's economic impact via CoreWeave's long-term lease, and Galaxy Digital's funding initiatives in their public stock offering announcement.

Voter information in Amarillo is experiencing a digital transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) tools become increasingly woven into the electoral process, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and notable risks for new and younger voters.

AI-powered chatbots and generative technologies now offer instant access to polling locations, candidate platforms, and real-time ballot information, enhancing engagement and making elections more accessible for Amarillo's digital-native generation.

However, experts caution about the rapidly growing concerns surrounding AI-generated disinformation and deepfakes that can easily mislead voters or suppress turnout.

In 2024 alone, over 15 states, including Texas, enacted new laws requiring explicit disclosures on AI-generated political content to stem misleading campaigns, with enforcement now making its way to the courts AI and the Courts Will Factor in Next Year's Election Laws.

While technology companies have pledged to detect deceptive AI election interference, incidents like the AI-generated robocall mimicking President Biden's voice in New Hampshire highlight the urgent need for digital literacy among voters How Artificial Intelligence Influences Elections and What We Can Do About It.

The potential of AI to increase electoral efficiency and transparency is significant, but as UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned,

“The advent of generative AI could be a defining moment for disinformation and hate speech - undermining truth, facts, and safety, adding a new dimension to the manipulation of human behaviour and contributing to polarisation and instability on a vast scale.”

Local efforts are focusing on equipping Amarillo's voters with the digital literacy needed to discern trustworthy information, emphasizing the importance of robust safeguards as AI continues to shape future elections Can artificial intelligence (AI) influence elections?.

Amarillo's tech momentum surged this month with the grand opening of the Region 16 ESC Edge Data Center, a joint initiative by Region 16 Education Service Center, Duos Edge AI, and FiberLight that promises to redefine regional connectivity and digital advancement.

This facility brings high-power computing and rapid data access to over 60 Panhandle school districts, leveling the digital playing field for students while unlocking new opportunities for local businesses and public services.

As stated by Doug Recker, President of Duos Edge AI,

“This grand opening represents a significant step forward in our mission to bring advanced AI capabilities closer to where data is generated.”

Beyond education, Amarillo's infrastructure is bolstered by Pantex's expansion of its StrikeNet lightning detection network - growing from 21 to 41 sites and increasing community safety by year's end, as detailed in NewsChannel 10's coverage.

Meanwhile, Texas' digital future is further cemented by a massive $545 million in state broadband grants this year, targeting rural and underserved areas - including the Panhandle - for high-speed internet upgrades and economic growth, according to Brander Group's analysis.

As these transformational initiatives unfold, Amarillo stands at the forefront of a new era in technology, offering fertile ground for innovation, education, and career advancement across the Texas Panhandle.