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

June 2025 marks a pivotal month for Cincinnati's tech sector, as local innovation surges amid new regulations and record investment. Ohio lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 163 to address the risks of AI-generated content, requiring watermarks and expanding protections against deepfake fraud and identity misuse - a move that echoes broader legislative action seen in 48 states this year, with over 75 new AI-related measures adopted across the nation (Ohio Capital Journal on Senate Bill 163's AI safeguards; NCSL's summary of 2025 AI legislation).

Meanwhile, Cincinnati's startup ecosystem is thriving: nearly a third of Cincy Inno Fire Awards finalists boast University of Cincinnati ties, spotlighting deep collaborations and robust local funding, such as 80 Acres Farms with over $400M in capital and Sense Neuro Diagnostics with $18M raised for brain injury detection (UC Innovation Hub's role in startup success).

Tech hubs like Covington's SparkHaus also attract AI-centric companies, fueled by a regional spirit of collaboration and growth. As Cincinnati strengthens its position in the “Silicon Heartland,” the city balances technological ambition with a cautious regulatory approach, ensuring that innovation and public trust move forward hand in hand.

Ohio is taking decisive steps to regulate artificial intelligence in healthcare, with a new bill in the works seeking to establish an Ohio AI Healthcare Regulatory Committee to oversee the use of AI in hospitals and ensure patient safety and transparency.

Spurred by concerns over lawsuits against insurers allegedly using algorithms to deny care, pre-law student Paisley Tuel and Case Western Reserve's Sabrina Soto spent six months researching the regulatory gap - culminating in a 50-page law journal paper and legislative draft.

The proposed legislation would certify and monitor AI tools, enforce safety standards, require explicit patient consent for AI-involved decisions, and include a diverse committee of medical, legal, technological, and patient advocates.

As Tuel explained,

“We want AI tools to be tested and monitored for widespread use in Ohio hospitals because that has not happened yet. We want patients to know when AI is involved in their health care decisions.”

Ohio joins a national wave of AI-related bills, as 48 states and Puerto Rico introduced new legislation in 2025 alone - yet a proposed 10-year federal moratorium on state-level AI laws has sparked debate about the future of local oversight and innovation.

For a summary of how states are approaching AI policy, including health sector measures on testing, transparency, and anti-bias, see the full Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation report.

Delve deeper into Ohio's AI healthcare regulation journey and the remarkable young advocates behind it by reading the in-depth coverage from local reporting at The Canton Repository's article on Ohio AI healthcare legislation.

Microsoft has paused its ambitious $1 billion investment to construct three data center campuses in Licking County, Ohio - spanning New Albany, Heath, and Hebron - in a move reflecting both a strategic reassessment of global AI infrastructure needs and regional demand forecasts.

The company will retain ownership of the 600+ acres acquired but will temporarily revert some of the land to agricultural use and uphold commitments to fund roadway and utility upgrades, while pledging continued investments in local digital skills programs and community initiatives.

Analysts suggest the slowdown is partly due to a potential oversupply of data center capacity, as Microsoft adjusts infrastructure pacing to better match evolving market and technological requirements; meanwhile, changes in the company's partnership with OpenAI have also contributed to a shift in long-term strategy.

As DatacenterDynamics reports on Microsoft's data center investment pause in Licking County, Ohio, this is part of a wider pattern, with Microsoft redirecting investment resources globally and pausing several other major data center projects.

Local media outlets, such as the Columbus Dispatch coverage of Microsoft's Licking County data center plan halt, report that the tech giant's initial plans included $700 million for building costs and $300 million for machinery, with projections for hundreds of new jobs once operational.

In the words of Microsoft Cloud President Noelle Walsh:

“Any significant new endeavor at this size and scale requires agility and refinement as we learn and grow with our customers. What this means is that we are slowing or pausing some early-stage projects.”

For a broader analysis of the pause's impact, including energy and job growth implications for Central Ohio, see AP News article on Microsoft's data center pause in Ohio.

Site	Acreage	Planned Start	Status
New Albany	197–200 acres	July 2025	Paused; land used for farming
Heath	227 acres	Summer 2025	Paused; land used for farming
Hebron	223 acres	2026	Paused

Cincinnati-area law enforcement is rapidly expanding the use of AI-powered surveillance, drones, and robotic systems, positioning the city at the leading edge of tech-driven public safety while igniting a vigorous privacy debate among residents and advocacy groups.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deploys a fleet of 16 drones as "first responders" for certain 911 calls, leveraging autonomous dispatch and high-resolution optics to improve response times and reduce manpower hours by about 20% using Skydio drones (Skydio drone deployment reduces manpower).

Dublin Police have invested nearly $500,000 in four drones and $238,000 in two patrol robots, providing rapid aerial and ground surveillance with advanced features like 360-degree cameras and two-way communication (Cincinnati and Ohio police expand AI, drone, and robot use).

Columbus Division of Police is integrating a "real-time crime center" to collate live feeds from city and private cameras for real-time investigations. However, these efforts have drawn concerns from the ACLU of Ohio, which warns that enhanced surveillance could erode privacy, especially for marginalized groups, and advocates for robust state-level regulation and community oversight.

As one official noted,

“We can have a drone over top of any location within the city... within 90 seconds or less to give our officers, dispatchers or firefighters the ability to overview a scene before responders would arrive.”

Transparency, audit trails, and legal clarity remain top priorities as communities balance safety and civil liberties.

For further perspective on both technological and ethical dimensions of police surveillance, readers should consult ACLU of Ohio's analysis on police surveillance and civil liberties in Ohio.

The following table summarizes key deployments:

Police Agency	Technology Used	Purpose	Privacy/Legal Notes
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office	16 drones, AI	First response, surveillance, evidence gathering	Audit trails, transparency stressed
Dublin Police Department	4 drones, 2 robots	Rapid response, patrol, communication	Public oversight, fast deployment
Columbus Division of Police	Integrated camera network	Evidence, missing persons, crime solving	Internal policies, background checks

Dayton Children's Hospital has emerged as a national leader by integrating Abridge's ambient AI documentation platform, transforming pediatric care by allowing clinicians to focus more on patients and less on paperwork.

As one of the first pediatric systems to adopt this technology, Dayton Children's leveraged Abridge's real-time transcription and contextual reasoning engine, producing highly accurate, specialty-tailored notes that integrate directly into the Epic EHR system and support over 50 specialties and 28 languages.

The adoption has delivered improvements ranging from streamlined clinic workflows and reduced provider burnout to making care conversations clearer for families; notably, parents have welcomed the move, saying, “If it helps you, it helps me.” As Becker's Hospital Review details the AI integration at Dayton Children's Hospital, CIO J.D. Whitlock highlighted the swift and positive response from clinicians and praised Abridge's deep Epic integration and product roadmap.

Abridge's purpose-built pediatric templates use generative AI to capture the nuances of well visits for different age groups, generate accessible summaries at an eighth-grade reading level, and help clinicians stay engaged with families - key factors in driving satisfaction and reducing follow-up messages as noted by the Abridge leadership interview on pediatric care transformation.

These innovations position Dayton Children's as a model for other institutions nationwide; as Digital Health News reports on Abridge's AI-powered clinical documentation, hundreds of clinicians rated the technology 4.5 stars on average, and Abridge recently secured $250 million in funding at a $2.75 billion valuation.

The integration underscores a shift where ambient AI is fast becoming “the expected functionality for providers,” as Whitlock summarized in a recent statement:

“The question for health systems is not really, ‘Should we do ambient AI?' because ambient will very quickly be the expected functionality for providers. The question is, who is the best strategic partner for ambient?”

Feature	Abridge at Dayton Children's
Specialties Supported	50+
Languages Supported	28+
Pediatric Well Visit Documentation	AI-adapted for age and context
Average User Rating	4.5 stars
Funding (2025)	$250M Series D ($2.75B valuation)

Visa's latest rollout of AI-powered agents is poised to transform the consumer payments landscape, making checkout seamless and deeply personalized. With the launch of Visa Intelligent Commerce, users set spending limits and preferences while AI agents - created in partnership with OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, and others - search, recommend, and securely purchase products on their behalf using tokenized, AI-ready cards.

This new agentic commerce approach not only enhances convenience but also brings built-in security, authentication, and real-time transaction controls. Visa's collaboration with leading chatbot developers marks a strategic move to rival tech giants Amazon and Google, giving AI firms the trusted payment infrastructure they need for broad adoption.

As Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer Jack Forestell put it,

“Soon people will have AI agents browse, select, purchase and manage on their behalf. These agents will need to be trusted with payments, not only by users, but by banks and sellers as well.”

The pilot program began in April 2025, with real-world use expected to expand throughout 2026, even as Visa's advanced fraud models - responsible for blocking $40 billion in fraud last year - safeguard every step.

Recent surveys show strong consumer interest: 65% want AI agents to buy at target prices, though only 24% are comfortable sharing data with AI shopping assistants.

For developers and merchants, the integrated API suite streamlines payment flows, and for shoppers, AI agents promise to handle everyday tasks - from groceries to travel bookings - at their command.

For a deeper dive, see Visa's Intelligent Commerce API and learn how Visa's secure partnerships enable trusted AI payments.

AI Agent Support (Q1 2025)	Percentage
Organizations Piloting AI Agents	65%
Shoppers Interested in AI Securing High-demand Items	66%
Consumers Offering Data to AI Shopping Assistants	24%

Meta's decision to train its AI models on public Facebook and Instagram posts from adults - beginning May 27, 2025 - has sparked privacy debates in Cincinnati and across Europe, as regulators, users, and advocacy groups weigh the implications for user control and transparency.

While Meta contends its “legitimate interest” in using public content aligns with EU data laws, significant concerns remain surrounding the ease of opting out, how user data (including photos, captions, comments, and AI interactions) will be processed, and whether AI can truly “unlearn” information if users later object.

As reported, users have until the May 27 deadline to object by filling out an opt-out form for each platform; those with linked accounts need only submit one form, and a confirmation email follows successful requests.

Notably, private messages and under-18s' data are excluded from training, but individuals tagged by others may still have their data incidentally swept into the models.

Regional variations in regulatory support were recently underscored when a German court ruled in Meta's favor, while privacy advocates continue to challenge the legitimacy of sweeping data usage for AI purposes.

As Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, noted,

“You do actually have rights that you can exercise. It's not super easy to exercise them, but you can do it. And that's luckier than most people on the planet.”

For a breakdown of the opt-out and regulatory context, see the table below.

To stay informed or take action, Cincinnati residents can review comprehensive coverage from Meta's official announcement and data policy updates, obtain step-by-step guides on the process and legal response via Euronews' in-depth report, and follow regulatory analysis at Taylor Wessing's legal insight.

Key Aspect	Details
Data Used	Public posts, photos, captions, comments, queries with Meta AI; excludes private messages and minors' data.
Opt-Out Deadline	May 27, 2025 (form submission required by platform or linked account).
Legal Position	Meta relies on “legitimate interest”; German and Irish authorities support, others remain skeptical; opt-out process under review for effectiveness.

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and Cincinnati-based IoTco are making Ohio history by launching the state's first Bachelor of Science in “AI + X” - a pioneering degree enabling students to combine advanced artificial intelligence coursework with a chosen focus area, such as computer science, mathematics, physics, history, journalism, or public relations.

Approved by BGSU's Board of Trustees in May and anticipated to begin in Fall 2025 pending state approval, the program is designed in direct response to workforce demands and trends showing AI-related job postings are growing 3.5 times faster than others.

Through a collaborative agreement with IoTco and Kata Solution LLC, BGSU will also embed hands-on, Industry 4.0 experiences into the curriculum, giving students exposure to smart technologies transforming Ohio's manufacturing and tech landscape.

As BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers notes,

“This program in AI + X will empower students to design their degree around a specific focus to drive innovation in workforce and industry, leading to great careers and great lives.”

Key features of the program include courses in Python, machine learning, AI ethics, and field-specific applications, all housed in BGSU's renowned Computer Science department.

A table below outlines the program's structure and opportunities:

AI + X Degree Options	Career Paths	Key Partners
Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, History, Journalism, Public Relations	AI Developer, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Industry Analyst	IoTco, Kata Solution LLC

This initiative exemplifies how higher education and industry collaboration can address regional talent gaps and position Ohio as a leader in applied AI education.

Learn more about the nation's first AI+X bachelor's degree at BGSU, the industry partnership driving smart technology careers, and how BGSU's innovation is shaping education's future.

Cincinnati-headquartered Benchmark Gensuite is earning national recognition as a generative AI powerhouse in Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and sustainability solutions.

The company was recently honored with the 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces award, celebrated for its people-first culture and commitment to employee well-being, professional development, and community engagement according to their official press release.

Their AI innovation is turning heads across the industry, winning the Vista Equity Partners Endeavor Fund's prestigious Gen AI Breakthrough Award for integrating generative AI into nearly 20 applications and deploying its Genny AI Helpers platform-wide, enhancing future workplace safety and operational efficiency.

As CEO R. Mukund puts it:

“Rapid advancements with Gen AI are ushering in new possibilities for a safety-first workplace. This award is a testament to our team's relentless pursuit to urgently improve incident prevention and reduction.”

Benchmark Gensuite's suite of solutions - which now also includes the award-winning Responsio tool for automating ESG and EHS disclosure management - serves over 3 million users globally and continues to gain industry accolades, including recognition in the Cincinnati Business Courier's Fast 55 and multiple product innovation awards as detailed by Business Wire.

The table below highlights their recent distinctions and core AI capabilities:

Award/Recognition	Focus	Year
USA Today Top Workplaces	Employee satisfaction, culture	2025
Gen AI Breakthrough Award	Generative AI in EHS platform	2025
E+E Leader Product Award (Responsio)	AI for ESG/EHS disclosure automation	2025

Learn more about Benchmark Gensuite's industry-leading AI-driven solutions and award-winning workplace by visiting their official awards and recognition page.

Cincinnati is establishing itself as a leader in preparing K-12 schools for the integration of generative AI, with local experts like Rebecca Dwenger from Hamilton County Educational Service Center tapped as national Lead Trainers in CoSN's Building Capacity for Generative AI in K-12 Education initiative.

This effort, supported by leading educational organizations, employs a train-the-trainer model to empower district teams - especially those in small and rural communities - to assess AI readiness and develop responsible strategies using the comprehensive K-12 Gen AI Maturity Tool.

The tool evaluates seven domains: leadership, operations, data, technology, security, legal/risk, and academic AI literacy. As Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, explained:

“Navigating this complex topic requires thoughtful attention to both risks and opportunities. Our Lead Trainers are uniquely equipped to support districts in developing thoughtful, mission-aligned strategies for Gen AI. They will also mentor Regional Trainers who will help scale this work across the country.”

Backed by recent momentum - such as Ohio's statewide AI Toolkit for schools and new policy recommendations - Cincinnati's regional expertise contributes to the national groundwork for ethical, scalable AI adoption in education.

For more on CoSN's K-12 AI resources and events, explore their AI in Education hub, or get a detailed account of local leadership and upcoming national summits in this feature on national AI readiness in K-12 schools.

CommercializeIQ, a Cincinnati-based proptech startup founded by Alex Taylor, is making headlines with its AI-powered business intelligence platform aimed squarely at transforming commercial real estate (CRE) operations.

Recently opening its doors in the Over-the-Rhine district, CommercializeIQ enables real estate owners and operators to connect scattered asset data, streamline reporting, and derive actionable insights in real-time, addressing a long-standing industry challenge where “most commercial real estate decisions are made using data that is at least 30 days old,” as Taylor explained.

“Commercialize IQ collects and aggregates data using AI, eliminating hundreds of manual hours spent. This allows you to make better decisions based on real-time data.”

The platform's subscription pricing - ranging from $50 to $250 per property monthly - caters to portfolios of all sizes and includes features like predictive analytics, customizable dashboards, and collaborative tools for executive and investor reporting.

The company launched officially at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in May 2025 following a $2.5 million fundraise and is already seeing adoption from early users.

For a full breakdown of plan pricing and capabilities, see the table below. This growth signals Cincinnati's rising status as an AI innovation hub for CRE. Learn more about CommercializeIQ's mission and expansion from the 3CDC announcement of their OTR office, explore details of their funding and market reach via Cincy Inno's coverage of the startup's $2.5M raise, or request a platform demo directly at CommercializeIQ's official site.

Plan	Monthly Price (per property)	Key Features
Core	$50	Core data tools, 2 org teams, up to 5 dashboards, unlimited users
Professional	$100	All Core features, 5 org teams, advanced analytics/reporting, up to 10 dashboards
Enterprise	$250	All Professional features, unlimited org teams, AI-driven analytics, up to 20 dashboards, priority support

This month's crescendo of AI initiatives in Cincinnati underscores the city's emergence as a national force in defining artificial intelligence's next chapter.

As Cincy AI Week 2025 returns with a widened lens - spotlighting responsible AI, cross-sector leadership, and regional collaboration - the city cements its place at the heart of Midwest innovation.

Notably, last year's Cincy AI Week drew 1,500 attendees and 400 companies, and this year, its success is fueling expansion into eight U.S. cities, reflecting how local progress is shaping national discourse (Cincinnati AI Week expansion).

The convergence of forward-thinking AI events, leadership summits, grassroots meetups, and a growing pipeline of upskilling opportunities makes Cincinnati an exemplar for AI readiness and ethical adoption.

As highlighted at the CDO Magazine's Global AI Leadership Summit, “the conversation was well on point, covering practical topics on AI execution in the enterprise, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to do so, effectively”

“I especially appreciated the keynote topics covering some of the pitfalls of AI implementations, outlining some important lessons learned, ending with a great talk on data monetization.” - Todd Henley, Former Northwest Bank Chief Data Governance & Privacy Officer

(Cincinnati AI Leadership Summit insights).

Looking ahead, the city's ongoing commitment - from leadership awards and ethical symposiums to continuous bootcamp education - ensures that Cincinnati not only adapts to AI's transformative potential but stands poised to guide its equitable, responsible growth for all.