This Month's Latest Tech News in Baton Rouge, LA - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Baton Rouge is making headlines this spring as the tech scene surges with AI-driven innovation, workforce expansion, and substantial investment. Standout startup FarmSmarter is leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize agriculture by helping farmers diagnose issues, identify plants, and apply research-backed solutions - a move that recently earned the team major wins at the 2024 J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge and the Louisiana Pelican Cup.

As co-founder Colin Raby noted,

“The agricultural consulting process looks exactly like it looked in 1950...We saw that there was a huge opportunity to use modern technology to make it all work better, faster and save money to get high-quality answers.”

This rapid progress parallels Louisiana's broader commitment to innovation, marked by the launch of the $50 million Louisiana Growth Fund and the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, designed to empower startups and upskill thousands of small businesses statewide.

Learn more about AI innovation in agriculture and get the regional economic outlook for Baton Rouge.

With more than 16,000 new jobs forecast for the region and robust funding opportunities, Baton Rouge is poised to remain a thriving hub for tech talent and entrepreneurs alike.

LSU undergraduate Alcina DaCosta is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to create safer intersections and greener cities in Baton Rouge. By leveraging the cutting-edge image recognition technology YOLO (“You Only Look Once”), DaCosta and her team are developing real-time traffic light detection systems that enable both self-driving and conventional vehicles to respond instantly to light changes, reducing the frequency of human-error-related crashes - which account for 96% of intersection accidents nationwide - and decreasing vehicle emissions by automating engine shut-off at red lights.

In hands-on trials, their YOLO-based system achieves over 90% accuracy and faster processing than traditional sensor tech by training on thousands of traffic light images in varied conditions using a Turtlebot mobile robot platform.

As DaCosta explains,

“My research takes away the human factor in traffic light collisions and optimizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by vehicles.”

The LSU research team's ultimate goal is to integrate this AI into automotive controls for automatic stopping, engine idling, and resuming movement - all without driver input.

Learn how DaCosta's innovative journey - spanning multiple degrees and a passion for environmental responsibility - positions her as an emerging sustainable tech leader in the LSU feature story on AI-powered traffic safety.

For a detailed look at how the technology works and its benefits for reducing accidents and emissions, see the local news report profiling DaCosta's team and their breakthroughs.

Dive deeper into LSU's broader efforts to harness AI for safer roads and smarter transportation by exploring their ongoing research initiatives at the LSU AI research news hub.

Meta's ambitious $10 billion AI data center project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, has taken a major step forward after a Baton Rouge judge dismissed legal challenges regarding who should participate in utility regulatory proceedings, clearing one of the final legal obstacles for this transformative venture.

The 4-million-square-foot campus, set to be Meta's largest, expects to create up to 500 permanent jobs and 5,000 construction roles, with average salaries well above local medians, while powering AI development on a scale described by Mark Zuckerberg as “so large it would cover a significant portion of Manhattan” and potentially consuming up to 15% of Louisiana's electricity output.

Entergy Louisiana, tasked with supplying this unprecedented energy demand, plans to invest more than $3 billion in building three new natural gas plants, a move sparking debate as consumer advocates warn ratepayers could face higher bills if Meta's energy needs change or the company exits before the 15-year supply contract ends, whereas the plants could operate for decades.

Sustainability remains core to Meta's strategy, with the company pledging to match all electricity use with clean renewables and to fund 1,500 megawatts in new solar and storage capacity through the Geaux Zero program.

As summarized in the table below, the economic and infrastructural impacts are significant:

Project Size	Investment
4 million sq ft	$10 billion
Permanent Jobs	Construction Jobs
~500	Up to 5,000
Energy Demand	Plant Investment
Up to 2 GW (15% of state total)	$3.2 billion (3 gas plants)

As Governor Jeff Landry affirms,

“Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector.”

Discover more about the legal milestones and local concerns at the Advocate's coverage of the court decision, explore the project's clean energy promises at Data Center Frontier's report on Meta's Louisiana AI data center clean energy strategy, and review the economic, social, and infrastructure stakes in detail at CRE Daily's in-depth analysis of Meta's $10B Louisiana AI data center project.

Louisiana is making significant strides in government efficiency with a new initiative deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to combat Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.

In partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and the Department of Government Efficiency (LA DOGE), the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is set to launch an AI and data analytics system capable of identifying irregularities in state Medicaid spending within the week, all at no added taxpayer cost due to existing ULL contracts.

The AI is trained on national datasets and peer-reviewed fraud studies, with all suspicious findings verified by LDH staff for accuracy, while cross-checks with the Office of Motor Vehicles will help confirm recipient eligibility status.

Secretary Bruce Greenstein emphasized the urgency and ambition of LDH's reform agenda, stating,

“Today, I hit the ground running... Our new initiatives will improve health outcomes while saving taxpayer money.”

This deployment is part of a broader strategy that also addresses behavioral health improvements and prescription benefit reforms, including transitioning away from a single pharmacy benefit manager for greater transparency.

For a thorough breakdown of how Louisiana's AI-powered system works and what it means for Medicaid recipients, visit the Louisiana Illuminator's detailed coverage of Medicaid fraud detection using AI, learn about the collaborative academic approach in the Baton Rouge Business Report's article on the state's AI Medicaid fraud detection efforts, and get national policy context from POLITICO's Future Pulse newsletter on Louisiana's AI Medicaid fraud initiative.

Bascom Hunter, a Baton Rouge-based leader in aerospace and defense, has announced its acquisition of Candent Technologies, a move set to significantly boost its portfolio in advanced propulsion and power systems for military and aerospace platforms.

Candent Technologies, headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana, brings expertise in turbomachinery, heavy-fuel engines, electric thrusters, heat exchangers, and energy recovery solutions to support both manned and unmanned vehicles.

With this acquisition, Candent will operate under Bascom Hunter's Xcelaero division, further enhancing the group's environmental control systems and product offerings.

According to CEO Andrew McCandless, the integration is a testament to Candent's

technical excellence and customer focus.

The expanded capabilities are expected to serve a broad spectrum of aerospace and defense customers, fueled by a strong foundation of industry certifications (AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015).

The details of this strategic expansion are covered in the official Bascom Hunter acquisition press release, and further industry insight is available from Emergent Defense's detailed report on the acquisition and Kilgore News Herald's coverage of the Bascom Hunter acquisition.

The Nexus Technology Cup is set to energize Baton Rouge's student innovators from June 17-19, providing a renewed platform for tech talent across Louisiana to shine.

Now replacing the long-running Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week, this inaugural competition invites high school and college students, independent developers, and early-stage startups to present original hardware and software projects at The Estuary @ The Water Campus.

Applications have been extended to May 7 to accommodate more teams following spring holidays, with close to 100 entries expected. Distinguished judges from major tech entities such as MIT, Microsoft, and Amazon will select winners, while a special Most Innovative Award will be chosen by the audience.

Participants stand to gain a share of $100,000 in cash prizes, professional development resources, and media exposure. The event's multi-track structure covers high school, college, and open divisions, with both software and hardware showcased.

As Nexus Louisiana CEO Tony Zanders puts it,

“Our open track is specifically designed for creative minds who are pushing boundaries, regardless of their background or affiliation. Whether you're an independent inventor, a startup founder, or someone developing a side project with potential, Baton Rouge is the place to be if you're serious about building technology.”

The competition aims not only to spotlight promising projects but also to catalyze statewide tech collaboration and growth.

For full details on prize allocations, see the table below, and to apply or find further info, visit the official Nexus Technology Cup official website, read the recent Business Report update on the Nexus Technology Cup event, or check out the LSU Digital Media Arts announcement on the LSU DMAE website.

Track	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Open	$10,000	$7,500	$5,000
College	$7,500	$5,000	$2,500
High School	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000

The Louisiana Department of Health has unveiled Project M.O.M. (Maternal Overdose Mortality), a bold, data-driven initiative aiming to cut pregnancy-associated opioid overdose deaths by 80% within three years - an effort projected to save 65 mothers annually and protect countless infants from loss or foster care placement.

Leveraging statewide expansion of successful pilot programs, enhanced screening rates at birthing hospitals, and wider access to life-saving medications like naloxone and buprenorphine, Project M.O.M. targets the state's leading cause of maternal mortality since 2018.

Importantly, the initiative will also see the number of residential treatment centers for pregnant and postpartum women grow from just three to eight by 2026.

As Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan explained,

“We don't need a new drug to solve this crisis - Louisiana already has the tools. Project M.O.M. will focus our hospitals, pharmacies, and community leaders on one mission: keeping mothers alive and families intact.”

The program also focuses on destigmatizing addiction and collaboratively improving behavioral healthcare statewide.

For a full breakdown of Project M.O.M.'s strategy and statistics, see the table below:

Key Metric	Current State	2028 Goal
Opioid overdose deaths in pregnancy (2020)	28	5-6 per year
Residential treatment sites for mothers	3	8
Substance use screening in birthing facilities	70% (pilot)	Expand statewide

Learn more about the launch and multi-faceted impact of Project M.O.M. in Stephanie Obediku's report for KPLC's official coverage of maternal mortality reduction efforts, the agency's official Louisiana Department of Health Key Initiatives page, and this concise Cenla Now summary of new health initiatives.

Hammond city leaders recently engaged in a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence, focusing on both educational opportunities and ethical risks, in step with national movements to integrate AI into K-12 and higher education.

As highlighted in the recent executive order advancing AI education, the U.S. has established a cross-agency task force to encourage AI literacy, develop teacher training, and promote public-private partnerships to ensure that both students and faculty can responsibly harness AI innovation.

This effort is supported by ongoing educator effectiveness meetings - such as the one hosted on April 8, 2025, by the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education - which provide a platform for sharing best practices and addressing community concerns.

Universities are taking the lead in promoting responsible AI, running workshops that emphasize ethical considerations, equity, and critical thinking, as seen in interdisciplinary symposiums and faculty development initiatives.

These engagements have significant regional importance, with local experts, including a Hammond-raised professor, leveraging AI and satellite technology to address infrastructure inequalities.

As one industry expert summarized during these forums,

“Empowering our students in the age of AI requires both vigilance against bias and a commitment to equity and inclusion.”

To contextualize the nationwide push, the table below outlines key aspects of the new federal AI education initiative:

Initiative	Scope	Key Actions
AI Education Task Force	National	Coordinate K-12 and higher ed AI training, teacher development
Presidential AI Challenge	Nationwide (all ages)	Recognize student/teacher innovation in AI
Workforce Development	State/local	Promote apprenticeships, certification, and lifelong learning

For more information on Hammond's civic activities and AI-related city council initiatives, visit the City of Hammond Council's official page.

The tech world is confronting a surge in “AI washing,” and Baton Rouge is no exception as former Nate Inc. CEO Albert Saniger faces federal charges for allegedly defrauding investors by misrepresenting his company's artificial intelligence capabilities.

According to U.S. Department of Justice filings, Saniger raised over $40 million by marketing the Nate app as a revolutionary AI-powered tool that could automate e-commerce checkouts, when in reality, the app's automation rate was virtually zero percent and relied entirely on hundreds of human contractors in the Philippines and Romania to process orders manually.

The investigation revealed Saniger instructed employees to conceal these manual operations, presented fabricated automation metrics as trade secrets, and even pushed for superficial development of basic bots to maintain the illusion of AI innovation.

As Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated,

“Albert Saniger misled investors by exploiting the promise and allure of AI technology to build a false narrative about innovation that never existed. This type of deception not only victimizes innocent investors, it diverts capital from legitimate startups, makes investors skeptical of real breakthroughs, and ultimately impedes the progress of AI development.”

The case, which also prompted a parallel SEC civil action, highlights intensifying regulatory scrutiny in the wake of prior settlements and underscores the risks facing both investors and genuine innovators.

For a detailed look at the indictment, visit the official U.S. Department of Justice press release on Albert Saniger's charges, and explore further analysis of growing enforcement trends at the White & Case legal firm's AI washing enforcement report.

Local and national coverage, including the consequences for Nate's investors and the ramifications for the wider tech industry, are summarized by Digital Commerce 360's report on Nate CEO fraud allegations.

Louisiana's Medicaid prescription management system is seeing substantial modernization this spring, as the Department of Health (LDH) launches key initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, reducing fraud, and saving taxpayer money.

Secretary Bruce Greenstein declared,

“Our new initiatives will improve health outcomes while saving taxpayer money.”

Major reforms include transitioning from a single pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) to a model that facilitates more direct connections between patients, providers, and managed care organizations - strengthening patient access and controlling expenses.

LDH's updated priorities also target fraud and operational waste through advanced AI-powered data analytics in collaboration with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, coupled with enhanced coordination with the attorney general's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Changes to the Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL), effective January 1, 2025, will move several drugs - including certain oncology, anticonvulsant, and ADHD medications - to non-preferred status; prescribers have been notified, and patients transitioned or advised accordingly, as detailed in the official Louisiana Medicaid Preferred Drug List change notice.

The broader context includes states missing out on hundreds of millions in manufacturer rebates due to cumbersome administrative requirements and system gaps, as explored in a recent Medicaid rebate audit; between 2008 and 2020, state agencies nationwide failed to collect $392.8 million in rebates.

For more on governance, oversight, and public participation in these reforms - including State Plan amendments and legislative oversight - visit the Louisiana Medicaid State Plan Amendments information page.

This evolving system aims for greater transparency, more robust claim management, and improved healthcare access for Louisiana's most vulnerable populations.

Congressional debate over artificial intelligence's role in government policy and transparency is intensifying, as recent hearings and new federal guidance underscore the immense opportunities and profound challenges posed by AI technologies.

At an April 2025 Senate hearing, lawmakers and leading industry figures highlighted AI's power demands - data centers could consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 - and urged a balanced approach to regulation, privacy, and national security.

A table below summarizes key projections discussed:

Topic	Fact / Figure	Source
Current Data Center Power Use	4.4% of U.S. electricity (2023)	DOE
Projected by 2028	6.7–12% U.S. electricity consumption	DOE
New Power Needed by 2030	67 GW	Congressional Testimony

Meanwhile, the White House's latest OMB memoranda aim to accelerate federal AI use and procurement through a pro-innovation lens, streamlining risk management while mandating transparency and competitive American-made solutions for government contracts.

As described in Tech Policy Press's April 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup, these policies build on but diverge from prior frameworks, with industry transparency, IP protections, and risk-based safeguards at the forefront.

Public sector testimony, such as that summarized by StateScoop's coverage of AI and public records modernization, emphasizes AI's potential to modernize public records and government efficiency, provided institutional barriers and oversight keep pace.

As Dr. Eric Schmidt warned Congress,

“If they get there [superintelligent AI] first, we will be very upset. Every one of you will see it.”

The Joint Economic Committee's most recent hearing focused on using AI to cut government waste and fraud, yet cautioned that hasty infrastructure investments or relaxed risk scrutiny could ultimately harm consumers and erode trust (read the full Joint Economic Committee hearing advisory).

These evolving policies reflect a new era where U.S. AI leadership must be anchored in robust oversight, energy-conscious strategies, and enduring democratic values.

Baton Rouge's emergence as an AI and tech hub is accelerating in 2025, catalyzed by robust public-private initiatives, record startup investments, and progressive education policies.

The Louisiana Board of Regents' recent policy expansions now recognize market-driven credentials and have embedded AI strategy at the heart of higher education, with Board Chair Gary N. Solomon, Jr.

emphasizing,

“AI will have a pervasive influence on education, employment, and every aspect of our modern lives. Creating a special committee to understand developments in this field and engage with leaders is crucial to Louisiana higher education staying at the forefront of this technological shift as we develop talent.”

Locally, Baton Rouge entrepreneurs are benefiting from new funding opportunities such as the $900,000 awarded to innovative companies via the Future Use of Energy initiative (Baton Rouge companies secure competitive energy investment), while national capital trends in AI and cybersecurity highlight promising prospects for homegrown talent (largest startup funding rounds of 2025).

Grassroots organizations and local institutions like LSU AgCenter remain pivotal in aligning agricultural advances and workforce pipelines (see AgCenter workforce initiatives), reflecting Baton Rouge's collaborative approach.

Together, these efforts set the stage for innovative job creation and inclusive tech growth, with accessible training programs - such as those at Nucamp - ensuring today's residents can upskill for tomorrow's high-demand roles.