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

Baltimore's tech landscape surged in April as the city sharpened its focus on digital equity, healthcare innovation, and youth empowerment through AI. Landmark efforts by the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity expanded access to FreeBmoreWiFi and distributed thousands of devices, with recent reports showcasing improved digital skills training and deeper nonprofit partnerships in underserved neighborhoods (Mayor Scott's Digital Equity report).

Baltimore's $5 million Digital Equity Fund, with new grants now available, is supporting community-led programs in digital literacy, IT fundamentals, and creative tech spaces to close gaps in device and broadband access, especially for low-income and minority households.

“Closing the digital divide requires an understanding that community-led solutions are key,” said Amalia Deloney, a Casey Foundation consultant. “Baltimore residents know what is needed, what will work and how to create lasting change.”

Meanwhile, at the intersection of technology and healthcare, the University of Maryland School of Medicine's recent research underscores how combining AI with traditional modeling - and ethical data sharing - can drive equity and precision in cancer care (AI in Predicting Health Outcomes).

These parallel innovations reflect Baltimore's strategic roadmap for a connected, inclusive digital future (Baltimore's Digital Equity Fund).

STEM City Baltimore has been awarded a landmark $100,000 grant by the State of Maryland to expand AI and metaverse training for local youth, in a transformative effort aimed at bridging the digital divide and preparing underserved communities for future tech careers.

The initiative, led by STEM City USA founder Tyrone Taborn and championed by Maryland State Senator Cory McCray, will provide immersive, hands-on learning modules that integrate artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and blockchain concepts within a secure, inclusive metaverse-based ecosystem.

As Senator McCray emphasized,

"By investing in their education today, we are creating a future workforce that is innovative, competitive, and reflective of the diversity that makes Maryland strong."

Classes and resources will be offered through partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and STEM City Baltimore's new brick-and-mortar innovation center.

The program aligns with national priorities - such as President Trump's executive order on AI education - and positions Baltimore as a model for equitable tech literacy.

For a detailed overview of the program and its local impact, see the official grant announcement by STEM City Baltimore; read additional analysis on educational priorities at Black Engineer Magazine's coverage of STEM City Baltimore's grant; and learn about the new innovation center's role as a hub for workforce development and community advancement in this AFRO News feature on Baltimore's innovation center.

Baltimore's colleges are swiftly integrating artificial intelligence into their curricula, offering diverse pathways for students and professionals across multiple disciplines.

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy recently unveiled a cutting-edge online Master of Science in AI for Drug Development, providing comprehensive training in machine learning, predictive analytics, and the ethical dimensions of pharmaceutical innovation (Master's in AI for Drug Development at UMB).

Similarly, the University of Baltimore launched Maryland's first M.S. in Artificial Intelligence for Business, blending technical skills with strategic business problem-solving and ethical considerations; as Dean Raju Balakrishnan notes,

“Our graduates will understand the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as the ethical considerations. This sets them apart for success in the AI era.”

(Artificial Intelligence for Business at UBalt).

Community colleges like CCBC are establishing AI-focused transfer programs, while institutions such as McDaniel College and UMSON are infusing hands-on AI tools and data science into nursing, analytics, and interdisciplinary coursework (Maryland Colleges Move Quickly to Expand AI Curriculums).

This cross-sector drive prepares Baltimore's students not just for technical roles but for leadership in a rapidly evolving AI workforce, meeting surging industry demand for graduates familiar with the technology's real-world implications.

The University of Baltimore has launched Maryland's first Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business, a pioneering program designed to bridge the gap between business acumen and technical AI expertise.

Hosted by the Merrick School of Business, this 30-credit STEM-designated degree can be completed in as few as 18 months, offering flexible formats - on-campus, hybrid, or online - to suit working professionals.

The curriculum uniquely prepares graduates to design, implement, and communicate AI and machine learning solutions within business contexts, while also addressing ethical and legal implications.

Dean Raju Balakrishnan highlights,

"Our graduates will understand the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as the ethical considerations. This sets them apart for success in the AI era."

Program roles range from business analysts and product managers to healthcare and sustainability specialists.

Maryland's rapid expansion of AI curricula is clear, with other local institutions accelerating integration across disciplines, reflecting workforce demand - over 71% of leaders now favor candidates with AI skills, regardless of experience.

For more on how UBalt is blending business and AI, visit the Artificial Intelligence for Business program overview at University of Baltimore.

To see how the degree fits into Maryland's broader AI educational advancements, explore the Maryland Daily Record's coverage of AI curriculum growth in Maryland colleges, and for additional school updates and success stories, check the Merrick School of Business News & Stories from University of Baltimore.

Key program faculty and contacts are detailed below:

Name	Title	Email	Phone
Danielle Fowler	Associate Professor	dfowler@ubalt.edu	410.837.6625
Mikhail Pevzner	Professor	mpevzner@ubalt.edu	410.837.5862
Cong Zhang	Assistant Professor	czhang@ubalt.edu	410.837.5711
Sanwar Sunny	Assistant Professor	ssunny@ubalt.edu	410.837.6315
Praneet Randhawa	Associate Professor	prandhawa@ubalt.edu	410.837.5218
William Carter	Associate Professor	wcarter@ubalt.edu	410.837.5574

Recent surveys indicate that Baltimore teens and their peers nationwide are steadily integrating artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT into their academic routines, but primarily as study aids rather than as shortcuts for cheating.

According to a University of California, Irvine and Foundry10 survey on teen AI usage, 69% of teens said AI helped them learn something new, and fewer than 6% encountered issues, such as conflicts with parents or teachers, related to AI use.

Pew Research Center reports that 26% of U.S. teens have used ChatGPT for schoolwork - double last year's share - but most teens cite tasks like researching new topics (54% say it's acceptable) over writing essays (only 18% find it acceptable), emphasizing a preference for AI as a resource for understanding rather than plagiarism (Pew Research Center survey on ChatGPT usage by teens).

This trend is reinforced by findings from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, where 61% of high schoolers reported AI provides instant homework feedback and 56% said it reduced their math stress - making learning more accessible without stigmatization (Yahoo! Tech article on AI reducing math stress).

Educators and policy experts highlight, however, that while teens embrace AI for academic growth, clear guidance and school policies are needed to address both ethical use and concerns about over-reliance.

“We were surprised by the wide variety of ways students are using AI. Some use it to check answers, others to understand concepts,”

noted Karen Bliss of SIAM, underscoring how AI is reshaping study habits but not undermining academic integrity.

Task	% Teens Accepting AI Use
Researching new topics	54%
Solving math problems	29%
Writing essays	18%

The recent deepfake scandal at Pikesville High School has ignited both policy debate and legal action in Baltimore, as former athletic director Dazhon Darien received a four-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to using AI technology to fabricate a racist and antisemitic audio recording impersonating Principal Eric Eiswert.

The AI-generated clip, which quickly went viral and caused significant distress throughout the school community, falsely portrayed Eiswert making derogatory remarks, leading to staff upheaval and widespread reputational damage.

While Darien entered an Alford plea, acknowledging the evidence without admitting guilt, he remains in custody due to pending federal charges related to child exploitation.

The incident has spotlighted the growing risks of AI misuse in schools, with Maryland legislators evaluating new legal safeguards and the targeted principal filing lawsuits against both Darien and Baltimore County Public Schools for failing to vet employees properly.

In reflecting on this ordeal, Eiswert stated,

“I am slowly rebuilding my professional career, and I'm beginning to heal. But this experience will never leave me.”

The following table outlines key aspects of the case:

Aspect	Details
Defendant	Dazhon Darien
Crime	AI-generated racist/antisemitic deepfake audio targeting principal
Sentence	4 months in jail (Alford plea)
Further Legal Action	Pending federal child exploitation charges
Civil Lawsuit	Filed by Eiswert against Darien and school district for negligent hiring

For a comprehensive account of the events and their implications for school policy, see the detailed New York Times article on the Pikesville High deepfake case, the Associated Press coverage via ABC News, and local analysis from the Baltimore Sun on the conviction and aftermath.

Baltimore's senior living sector is embracing artificial intelligence and next-generation technology to enhance healthcare and resident engagement, as local innovators lead the charge for both operational excellence and improved quality of life.

Major providers such as Erickson Senior Living, Juniper Communities, and Sonida Senior Living are evaluating and piloting new digital documentation, CRM, and EHR platforms to drive better outcomes, with notable gains including increased operating margins and streamlined resident care.

In fact, organizations like Insight Living are collaborating with Johns Hopkins University to develop AI-powered health models, while providers across the region are deploying ambient fall detection, cloud-based menus, and interoperability tools for smarter operations.

At industry-leading events such as the 2025 Senior Living Executive Conference, experts like Jordache Johnson emphasized that

“AI empowers us to be more human, not less,”

highlighting the essential need for thoughtful adoption that prioritizes both resident satisfaction and staff efficiency.

As Erickson CEO Alan Butler affirmed, the focus remains on enabling seniors to

“live their best life as part of a community,”

with investments in agile technology and concierge-style healthcare meeting evolving expectations amidst an influx of active baby boomers.

For a deeper dive, see Senior Housing News' analysis of how senior living operators find and evaluate new tech partners, learn about AI's transformative impact at the 2025 Senior Living Executive Conference, and explore practical applications in AI in Senior Living.

The table below outlines how local providers are leveraging AI and digital tools to improve senior care and engagement:

Provider	Innovation/Tech Focus	Communities Operated
Erickson Senior Living	HR & time platforms, concierge medical care, resident-focused amenities	20+ (11 states)
Sonida Senior Living	User-friendly EHR, analytics, large-scale pilots	100 (nationwide)
Insight Living	AI health models (w/ Johns Hopkins), data interoperability	23 (CA)
Jaybird Senior Living	Resident engagement software, ambient fall monitoring	38 (multiple states)
Ascent Living	Real-time data access, improved margins	6 (CO)

“What worked today or yesterday may not work tomorrow, and 2025 will undoubtedly be a year to embrace change.” – Gregg Colon, COO, Erickson Senior Living

These advances illustrate how Baltimore's senior living innovators are creating smarter, safer, and more connected communities for aging adults.

Johns Hopkins engineering students have scored a major win for both tech and baseball by collaborating with the Baltimore Orioles to revolutionize the art of measuring and optimizing baseball bats.

Utilizing AI-powered computer vision, undergraduates Kevin Wu and Xiaojian (Jason) Sun developed a system that streamlines the previously tedious process of measuring bat diameters at one-inch intervals - a significant improvement over traditional manual methods, which could take hours.

Their solution delivers 99.8% accuracy from a single iPhone photo in less than a minute, exceeding the precision required by the Orioles and setting a new benchmark for sports tech applications.

As Orioles assistant general manager Sig Mejdal praised,

"Kevin and Jason did great work. They solved a problem that others had failed at. Their computer vision work has streamlined the measurements of bats for us."

This innovation is now being set up at Oriole Park, with potential applications reaching far beyond baseball.

The collaboration marks yet another milestone in Johns Hopkins' commitment to undergraduate research, hands-on learning, and practical engineering impact, showing how Baltimore is leading in both athletic performance and AI integration.

For deeper insights on the technology and its development, visit detailed coverage by Johns Hopkins Hub, Baltimore Fishbowl, and CBS News Baltimore.

Measurement Accuracy	Process Time	Traditional Method	AI Vision Method
Up to 99.8%	Under 1 minute	Manual, hours per bat	Automated, seconds per bat

Nursing education in Baltimore is adapting rapidly to the rise of AI-driven healthcare, with the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the forefront of this transformation.

UMSON's curriculum now integrates advanced technology, such as machine-learning tools like TriageGo - which supports triage nurses without replacing essential clinical judgment - reflecting a commitment to both innovation and core nursing values.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in both patient care and nurse training, Baltimore's nursing leaders emphasize the importance of melding human empathy with technological advancement.

Recent discussions at the Maryland Action Coalition Leadership Summit explored AI's complex potential and cautioned against over-reliance, highlighting that

“our nursing skills and our clinical judgment cannot be replaced by technology. Both things need to work together.”

“We are immensely proud of our students, faculty, and staff, whose dedication and excellence continue to make UMSON a leader in nursing education,” – Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD '11, Dean of UMSON.

UMSON's consistent ranking among the top 10 public nursing schools nationwide underscores its leadership in both academic and practical innovation, supported by active faculty involvement and partnerships with local healthcare institutions.

This multidimensional approach is further enhanced by ongoing professional development webinars that address AI in curricula and digital transformation in healthcare workplaces.

For a roundup of UMSON's recent news and events, see the UMSON in the News portal; for detailed coverage of how AI is reshaping nursing education in Maryland, read Reimagining Nursing Through AI, Community Health; and for UMSON's top national rankings and program highlights, visit UMSON News & Events.

This holistic preparation ensures that Baltimore's nursing graduates are ready to lead in an AI-driven healthcare future.

The high-profile deepfake incident at Pikesville High School continues to shape Maryland's legal and legislative response to AI misuse, as the state moves to strengthen protections against malicious synthetic media.

Dazhon Darien, a former school athletic director, was sentenced to four months in jail after deploying AI-generated audio that impersonated his principal with racist and antisemitic remarks, underscoring the real-world harm caused by deepfakes in the Baltimore County school system.

The incident, which led to widespread community outrage, prompted renewed attention from lawmakers - though a bill prohibiting AI-based impersonation ultimately stalled this session.

Nevertheless, Maryland enacted new laws as one of 34 states targeting explicit deepfakes and nonconsensual image creation to address threats to privacy, election integrity, and digital safety.

The legislative surge reflects a nationwide trend: over 550 AI-related bills have been introduced in 45 states in 2025, with several specifically focusing on criminalizing unauthorized deepfake creation and improving transparency around AI-generated political content.

As tracked by recent updates, Maryland passed SB 361 and HB 525 in April 2025 to regulate deepfakes in election communications, joining a growing list of states taking bipartisan action to prevent AI-enabled voter manipulation.

As Maryland navigates the balance between technological innovation and public harm, this year's legislative activity sets a clear trajectory toward stronger safeguards and accountability for AI misuse.

Partnerships between local leaders like Johns Hopkins University and national innovators are propelling Baltimore to the forefront of healthcare AI advancement.

Recent collaborations, such as Insight Living's joint work with Johns Hopkins and Stanford to develop robust AI models for senior health, showcase the city's emphasis on practical, interoperable technology and data-driven decision-making evaluated by senior care operators nationwide.

Meanwhile, initiatives like Stanford's AIMI Grand Rounds disseminate state-of-the-art AI research in medicine, including practical sessions available for Baltimore's health professionals, fostering national knowledge exchange and competency growth through multidisciplinary lecture series.

Further reinforcing Baltimore's AI health ecosystem, industry-recognized companies such as Hippocratic AI have established collaborations with both Stanford and Johns Hopkins, focusing on ethical, safety-first AI designed to boost workforce effectiveness and patient care outcomes as featured in the Top 25 Healthcare AI Companies of 2025 report.

These joint efforts prioritize system integration, equity, data portability, and actionable insights to benefit clinicians and residents alike.

Organization	AI Initiative	Goal
Insight Living & Johns Hopkins	Resident health models	Interoperable, real-time health data
Stanford AIMI	National Grand Rounds	AI clinical integration & professional education
Hippocratic AI	Safety-first LLMs for healthcare	Patient safety & workforce augmentation

Chris Hyatt, co-CEO of New Perspective, highlights, “Operators need to see how technology fits into real-world senior living operations beyond polished demos or buzzwords like ‘AI-driven.'”

These strategic partnerships and continuous learning efforts are strengthening Baltimore's reputation as a hub for responsible, effective AI in healthcare.

As April closes, Baltimore stands at a pivotal crossroads: the city's federally recognized Tech Hub status - including a consortium of 48 organizations and universities - drives momentum for breakthroughs in predictive healthcare and equitable artificial intelligence, with Governor Wes Moore emphasizing that this investment

“will help grow a more equitable economy that will expand opportunity… and make us an internationally leading innovation hub”

(Baltimore Region Tech Hub initiative).

Yet, this progress is tempered by real challenges - highlighted by new state legislation that not only established an AI working group with strong public interest representation but also drew calls for more robust protections against discriminatory algorithms; as privacy advocates cautioned,

“studies, task forces, or working groups alone do not protect people from the harms caused by AI”

(Maryland Legislature Passes AI Working Group Bill with Public Interest Focus).

Meanwhile, grassroots innovation was on full display as NWN and Intel prepared to open Baltimore's new AI PC Lab - part of a national push to bridge the digital divide and inspire local youth, with one executive remarking,

“We celebrate our partners who are at the forefront of AI innovation, transforming industries and solving global challenges.”

(NWN Named Intel's 2025 Partner of the Year for Community Impact).

In the midst of this growth and increased scrutiny, Baltimore's tech community is reminded that sustainable progress means balancing ambition with inclusiveness, security, and ethical stewardship - laying a measured road ahead for the region's digital future.