This Month's Latest Tech News in Anchorage, AK - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Anchorage's technology landscape is entering a dynamic phase marked by AI-driven innovation, new funding for startups, and a keen focus on ethical engagement.

This spring, five Alaska-based startups - including Bialume, Local Loop, and VLO ID - were selected for the gBETA Alaska accelerator, collectively representing sectors from conservation tech to AI-powered retail solutions.

Their selection exemplifies regional talent, with program leaders noting,

“Talent exists in Alaska, and the founders behind these companies are evidence of that. As a mentor, you are a startup's toughest yet most honest friend.”

Community empowerment extends further through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), now deploying $59 million in funding to fuel local ventures, with an additional $83.1 million targeting tribal-owned businesses and SEDI enterprises, detailed in the following impact table:

Anchorage's tech scene also highlights the responsible use of AI for Indigenous language preservation, where experts stress the need for trustworthy, community-centered approaches to avoid historic misuses - insights explored in-depth by Alaska News Source coverage on AI for Indigenous languages and the Brookings Institution analysis of small language models revitalizing Indigenous languages.

These diverse advances underscore Northern innovation and the ethical frontiers shaping Anchorage's future.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly recognized as a vital ally in the race to preserve Alaska's Indigenous languages, many of which - such as Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian - are endangered and structurally complex.

Software engineer Nathan Bennett, a citizen of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes, emphasizes that AI tools can document and safeguard this linguistic heritage for future generations, while noting their effectiveness depends on models being built within culturally safe, community-driven frameworks:

“In order to truly make the experience cultural and impactful to learners, they need to represent our culture, and the only way for us to do that is to build these models in trustworthy environments where they're protected.”

Nationwide, Indigenous leaders like Michael Running Wolf and initiatives such as First Languages AI Reality are developing speech recognition models for over 200 endangered North American languages.

Community-driven efforts such as those by Alaska Native advocates leveraging AI for language preservation, the Sealaska Heritage Institute's technology empowerment programs, and international partners like 7000 Languages building accessible digital resources underscore the movement's breadth.

However, the urgency is real, as many remaining fluent speakers are elderly, making the documentation window perilously short. As these efforts expand, ethical data stewardship and Indigenous control over technology development are paramount for ensuring linguistic survival and cultural sovereignty.

Visa has launched its groundbreaking "Intelligent Commerce" platform, allowing next-generation AI shopping agents to move beyond product recommendations and autonomously complete purchases on behalf of users - all while keeping transactions secure and customizable.

By partnering with leading AI developers such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Stripe, Visa enables consumers to upload and tokenize their card information, set spending limits, and authorize purchase categories, granting AI agents the ability to shop for anything from groceries to airline tickets within set boundaries.

According to Jack Forestell, Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer,

“We think this could be really important... transformational, on the order of magnitude of the advent of e-commerce itself. Some people might want an agent that just powers through it and automatically goes and does stuff for us.”

The platform offers five building blocks - authentication, tokenization, payment instructions, personalization, and real-time transaction signals - leveraging Visa's experience blocking $40 billion in fraud annually.

Integrated APIs are already live, serving over 200 countries and driving pilots with major technology partners. Visa's approach not only addresses pain points in current AI-powered shopping but also expands access to secure, frictionless commerce in a landscape where U.S. credit card debt is now at $1.21 trillion.

To learn more, visit Visa's official announcement on the new era of Intelligent Commerce, see how Visa is powering AI shopping agents with secure payment rails, and read AP's report on Visa's vision for autonomous AI commerce.

AI-powered identity theft is rapidly escalating across Alaska and the nation, with the Better Business Bureau and cybersecurity experts warning of increasingly sophisticated scams driven by generative AI. As reported by Your Alaska Link, a recent surge in online scams leverages advanced AI to generate fake photos, voice clones, phishing emails, and counterfeit websites that are much harder for consumers to detect, a trend echoed nationwide by industry reports and legislative testimonies highlighting the spread of AI-driven identity fraud in Alaska.

Microsoft's cybersecurity researchers noted that face swap deepfake attacks surged by 300% and virtual camera exploits by over 2,600% between 2023 and 2024, while account takeover cases jumped 76% and SIM swap fraud rose an astonishing 1,055% in the same period.

The urgency for robust safeguards is clear, with solutions such as ID.me - now used by over 70 million Americans - increasingly relied upon for NIST-certified, biometric-based verification and fraud prevention as AI fraud accelerates nationwide.

Simultaneously, policymakers are responding with new legislation: Alaska Senate Bill 2, for example, aims to require the disclosure of election deepfakes and the inventorying of AI systems in state agencies, as summarized by the National Conference of State Legislatures in their coverage of the 2025 legislative session.

As one security leader put it in a recent interview,

“We're getting to the point where anything can be easily created - images, voice, video. How do I know something is really created by you? We need stronger identity verification.”

The evolving landscape makes vigilance, updated protections, and public awareness more vital than ever.

Anchorage is now home to the nation's third-largest and one of the world's most technologically advanced car wash facilities, with the grand opening of CYBER Express Wash.

Spanning 38,000 square feet and featuring 19 heated, indoor vacuum bays, this luxury, climate-controlled facility delivers a seamless, AI-powered car care experience designed for Alaska's harsh environments and high customer expectations.

As detailed in Professional Carwashing & Detailing, the carwash ranks number three in the U.S., first on the West Coast, and boasts proprietary systems enabling real-time vehicle tracking, advanced interior detailing, and high-speed drying - all while incorporating sustainability with state-of-the-art water reclamation and eco-friendly products.

A strategic investment from FTW Capital signals national industry recognition and expansion plans, as noted in a recent investment report.

Local partnerships, including with Alaska Native-owned Chugach Alaska Corporation, have also contributed to innovative environmental features and year-round service.

The facility sets itself apart by combining speed, luxury, and scalability, as summarized below:

“We didn't set out to build the biggest - we set out to build the best. The size just happened to follow. This is the future of car care. Precise, fast, intentional and unapologetically premium.” - Paul Horstkoetter, CEO

For more on the technology, partnerships, and economic impact, visit the official press release at PR Newswire's coverage on the third-largest car wash opening in Alaska.

Anchorage's Chief Innovation Officer, Brendan Babb, is setting a national example by advancing the ethical and practical use of generative AI within city government.

Leveraging a varied background in mathematics, computer science, and public service - including research roles at NASA and as a data scientist - Babb fosters a culture of curiosity and safe experimentation at City Hall.

“Letting people know they can change things, or doing quick experiments, and seeing if it looks like there's potential there,” he explains, describing Anchorage's “baby steps” toward integrating AI to streamline resident services.

“We're a small but mighty team, able to use human-centered design and data-driven approaches, and really try to train government employees in different techniques,” Babb shares, highlighting the involvement with Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities initiative for collaborative innovation.

His leadership has resulted in Anchorage being recognized among Government Technology's Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, with recent features outlining practical AI use cases and real-world impacts for city operations.

For an in-depth look at Babb's approach to public-sector innovation, see the Government Technology profile on Brendan Babb and tune in to his interview on the ICYMI podcast episode about generative AI in Anchorage.

For a summary of Babb's methodology and highlights from his recent talks, read the Generative AI Learnings feature from Government Technology.

As Anchorage continues building its AI capabilities, Babb's focus on experimentation, ethical risk management, and employee empowerment is reshaping how municipalities nationwide approach technology-driven governance.

Despite significant efforts to boost digital infrastructure, Anchorage remains absent from the list of top-ranked tech hubs in the U.S., according to recent national surveys that highlight cities like Atlanta, Austin, and Seattle for their strong talent pools and vibrant ecosystems (best cities for tech services in 2025).

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has designated 31 Tech Hubs nationwide - spanning biotechnology, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence - but Alaska and Anchorage were notably excluded, underscoring the region's challenge in keeping pace with technology-driven economic development (EDA announces 31 Tech Hubs across the U.S.).

While the Alaska Broadband Office is spearheading grant programs and federally-backed initiatives to expand access and foster digital equity across underserved communities, these investments are only now entering their next phase and may take years to translate into measurable economic impact or national recognition (Alaska Broadband Office programs and updates).

The commitment to broadband and digital empowerment marks important groundwork for future growth - but for now, Anchorage is still working toward building the infrastructure and workforce necessary to join the ranks of America's premier technology centers.

The technology landscape is shifting as the U.S. Department of Justice secured a landmark victory against Google, finding the tech giant guilty of unlawfully monopolizing both online search and digital advertising markets.

At the heart of the cases is Google's dual control of its DoubleClick for Publishers ad server and AdX exchange, practices which a federal judge ruled “substantially harmed Google's publishing customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”

The Court's ruling is clear: Google is a monopolist and has abused its monopoly power. Google's unlawful dominance allows them to censor and even deplatform American voices. And at the same time, Google destroyed and hid information that exposed its illegal conduct.

As the remedies phase begins, the DOJ argues the stakes now extend to artificial intelligence, with concerns Google could leverage exclusive data from its vast search index to dominate the emerging AI chatbot market and stifle competition in generative AI products like Gemini.

Testimonies from competitors underscore these risks, exemplified by OpenAI's challenge building its own search index and the data access gap compared to Google.

The court is considering a variety of remedies: breaking up Google's ad tech business, banning self-preferencing, and potentially requiring data sharing with rivals for fairer competition.

For a detailed breakdown of market share and user numbers among top AI chatbots, see the table below. For more on the DOJ's historic antitrust victory, visit the official DOJ press release on the Google ruling.

Explore the deeper implications for the AI sector and search landscape in NPR's analysis of how the case shapes AI competition, and examine a comparative legal perspective at Jenner & Block's review of the antitrust decision.

This month, Anchorage spotlights a groundbreaking anti-drug initiative that harnesses artificial intelligence to give voice to those lost to fentanyl, enabling them to deliver life-saving messages from beyond.

According to a feature from Alaska's News Source's AI-driven anti-drug campaign, the campaign uses advanced AI voice cloning - technology similar to that employed in national efforts where “deepfakes” help victims tell their stories - to generate emotionally compelling narratives designed to deter fentanyl use.

This innovative approach aligns Anchorage with broader trends, as seen in projects that resurrect victims' voices to advocate directly for preventative action.

On the legislative front, federal initiatives continue to provide critical funding for youth anti-drug programs, with the Senate Appropriations Committee's 2025 bill supporting expanded youth outreach.

As other cities experiment with similar AI-powered campaigns to address violent loss and public health crises, Anchorage's embrace of this technology exemplifies a national shift in how artificial intelligence can be leveraged for advocacy and healing.

For a deeper look into how AI deepfake technology amplifies the call for change from victims' perspectives, check out this in-depth analysis by Mashable on AI deepfake technology's impact on advocacy.

Anchorage City Hall is taking significant steps to modernize its public services by integrating AI-powered solutions, while also addressing transparency, workforce, and environmental considerations.

Inspired by policies in other innovative cities, local leaders are exploring stricter oversight measures, such as mandatory audits, human oversight for critical decisions, and public transparency for AI use, aiming to prevent negative impacts on both labor and community resources.

This expansion comes as a new wave of AI procurement tools, such as AuthorAI - which can generate detailed Statements of Work in minutes for government purchases - are seeing rapid adoption and impressive growth, doubling acquisitions on platforms like Authorium from $25 billion in 2024 to $50 billion in 2025 (learn more about AuthorAI's impact on local government technology modernization).

National advocacy groups are also pushing for open-source AI in government to ensure accountability and citizen oversight; as Brittany Kaiser of the Open-Source AI Foundation notes,

“It is incredibly important to make sure that any technologies that are serving government purposes can be where anyone around the world can publicly audit the technology stack that is being used.”

Alongside these developments, Anchorage is part of a growing national network of cities leveraging initiatives like City AI Connect to share best practices, develop ethical guidelines, and foster responsible generative AI adoption in public service (see how cities are collaborating on AI efforts).

This unified approach signals Anchorage's commitment to expanding data-driven services efficiently - while keeping ethics, community input, and resource management at the forefront.

Anchorage's approach to criminal defendant monitoring is rapidly evolving with the widespread adoption of GPS-equipped ankle monitors designed to track individuals awaiting trial.

While Alaska's Department of Corrections (DOC) stresses these devices serve as deterrents rather than absolute preventative measures -

“The ankle monitor itself doesn't prevent somebody from committing another crime,” said Delila Schmidt, DOC's pretrial and probation supervisor

- they remain a core component of pretrial supervision alongside regular check-ins and treatment mandates.

The system covers 1,397 defendants statewide, with 397 felony suspects monitored in Anchorage alone. Yet high-profile incidents have highlighted both successes and shortcomings, including a recent case in Talkeetna involving removal of an ankle monitor and subsequent re-arrest read more about the Talkeetna case.

Moreover, these technologies carry structural inequities for rural and marginalized populations: participation requires a stable address, reliable phone service, and the ability to pay daily monitoring fees - a bar many cannot meet, leading to disproportionate incarceration for the poor or unhoused learn about equity and access challenges in electronic monitoring.

Below is a table summarizing DOC's pretrial supervision landscape:

Despite technology's promise, research indicates that increasing reliance on electronic monitoring does not necessarily reduce court absences or recidivism, and technical violations can funnel more individuals into incarceration rather than away from it explore national trends and system impacts.

As Anchorage continues to modernize its justice system, ongoing debate around the ethics, effectiveness, and accessibility of GPS monitoring will shape the future of criminal justice in Alaska.

Anchorage's tech sector is rapidly carving out its own path in the national landscape, blending unique local challenges with the promise of global opportunity.

With the continued rise of startups - 13 key Anchorage-based companies now boast an aggregate $101.8 million in funding, averaging $7.8 million per company (Anchorage startups to watch in 2025) - the city signals a robust innovation culture.

The story is exemplified by Anchorage Digital, a crypto-focused digital asset bank with unicorn status ($3 billion valuation as of 2021, $487 million raised from top investors like KKR and Goldman Sachs; see full details at Anchorage Digital funding rounds).

Meanwhile, civic investment grows, with the Assembly committing to port modernization and addressing housing and homelessness head-on (Anchorage Assembly Chair interview).

Yet, the embrace of technology is measured - the Anchorage Police Department chose not to adopt AI-generated police reports, noting little real time-saving and citing the need for accuracy (

“So if they saw something but didn't say it, of course, the body cam isn't going to know that.”

).

As Anchorage's entrepreneurs vie for national investment and the municipality invests in both infrastructure and inclusive growth, the city's tech identity is defined by cautious adoption, determined leadership, and an expanding ecosystem ready to harness Alaska-grown talent for global innovation.