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

Clarksville is rapidly establishing itself as a regional hub for AI and tech innovation, spurred by major investments and strategic partnerships. The announcement of an additional $1 million in state funding through the Transportation Network Growth Opportunity Initiative empowers collaborations - like those between the University of Tennessee and global partners DENSO and LG CNS - that are deploying AI to enhance urban mobility and smart infrastructure.

As Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development notes, these projects, including a smart crosswalk system and predictive traffic safety solutions, leverage both local expertise and global tech leaders for safer, smarter cities.

Further boosting Clarksville's profile, Google's $600 million data center investment brings cutting-edge cloud infrastructure, clean energy commitments, and skilled jobs to the area, supporting tech education and connectivity initiatives (Google's $600 Million Tennessee Data Center Investment).

Simultaneously, Tennessee's venture investment climate is surging, with a 23.9% quarterly funding increase and AI startups like Authentrics.ai drawing investor attention - demonstrating why the Southeast is now seen as an enduring innovation hub (Launch Tennessee's 2025 Deal Report on Tennessee Venture Investments).

Clarksville's trajectory as a leader in AI is clear, offering growing opportunities for entrepreneurs, technologists, and future-focused talent.

Tennessee has moved to the forefront of the national debate on AI regulation, as Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti co-led a coalition of attorneys general from 39 states and territories in urging Congress to reject a proposed federal moratorium on state-level oversight of artificial intelligence products.

This bipartisan effort, detailed in the public letter to Congress from Tennessee Attorney General, opposes a 10-year prohibition embedded in a budget reconciliation bill that would block states from enforcing any AI-related laws, citing concerns that the legislation would strip away critical consumer protections, particularly as rapid AI innovation introduces unanticipated risks such as privacy violations, exploitation, and election interference.

Tennessee's leadership on this issue reflects ongoing state action - such as the landmark ELVIS Act and new deepfake criminalization laws - demonstrating that local governance is actively addressing evolving AI challenges.

As Professor Mark Williams of Vanderbilt University's AI Lab explains:

“The stakes are getting that big... It's about the general supremacy of who is going to be the leader of the free world.”

This tension between state expertise and calls for a unified federal standard is fueling broader national discussion, with Tennessee and its allies maintaining that state AGs are best positioned to respond quickly to threats in their jurisdictions.

For a comprehensive analysis of the coalition's push and the legal and policy implications, see The Tennessee Star's detailed report on AI oversight legislation and background coverage by the Nashville local news on Tennessee AG's bipartisan coalition.

The outcome of this battle could set a significant precedent for how AI is governed across the U.S.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) has announced a bold $51,000 investment to launch a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) training initiative, aimed at future-proofing its campus community for the rapidly evolving tech workforce.

Approved by the Board of Trustees, the three-phase initiative will provide structured AI training and certification for faculty, staff, and students, leveraging a “train the trainer” approach and culminating in a campus-wide AI symposium in October 2025.

The program aligns with Tennessee's ambition to lead the global data economy and responds to strong demand: a recent campus survey found most participants familiar with common AI tools, but hungry for effective, ethical, and accessible education.

As part of its strategic focus, APSU is also rolling out an MBA concentration in AI for Fall 2025, ensuring graduates are poised for leadership in industries like healthcare, transportation, and data science.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 40% of small businesses are now using generative AI - an increase from 23% last year - underscoring the pressing need for such workforce-ready training.

APSU President Mike Licari summarizes the vision:

“This investment exemplifies Austin Peay's commitment to preparing our campus community for the technological evolution reshaping our workforce… By adopting a strategic approach to AI integration, we're positioning our students and the university to thrive in an AI-enhanced future.”

For more insight on the university's strategic direction, visit the official APSU announcement on its AI initiative, explore how local news outlets are covering the rollout of campus-wide AI training, and review additional details on the program's phases and community impacts.

As AI becomes embedded in everything from business to criminal justice, APSU's proactive strategy stands to make Clarksville a model for tech-forward education in the Southeast.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) is set to launch a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) concentration within its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program starting Fall 2025, reflecting a growing trend among Tennessee universities to integrate cutting-edge technology into graduate education.

The nine-hour AI elective track will focus on practical and ethical AI applications in business, equipping students with sought-after skills for an evolving workforce.

As school officials note, the AI concentration is only the second specialty introduced to the MBA, following Responsible Human Resource Management last year, and signals a commitment to continual curriculum innovation.

Dr. Amye Melton, Director of the MBA program, affirmed APSU's mission:

“Technology continues to change the way we do business. It's critical for our students to have skills and experience with AI. Austin Peay and the College of Business are committed to ensuring graduates are at the forefront of practical AI integration in business.”

This addition comes as APSU invests $51,000 in a campus-wide AI training initiative to bolster student, faculty, and staff readiness for AI-powered careers (read more about the university's AI readiness strategy).

APSU's move aligns with national and state trends, joining ranks with schools like Vanderbilt and Lipscomb in offering advanced AI curricula. For a comparative look at regional program offerings, see the overview of top MBA programs bringing artificial intelligence to the business classroom.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has become a leading advocate for artists' rights in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, co-sponsoring the bipartisan NO FAKES Act alongside fellow lawmakers.

This landmark bill seeks to create a federal intellectual property right over an individual's voice and likeness, holding both creators and platforms liable for unauthorized digital replicas generated by AI, while including vital exemptions to protect free speech and parody.

As Senator Blackburn stated,

“Artists' rights to their voice, image, and likeness must be protected under the law, and the NO FAKES Act is an important first step in protecting our creative community against the misuse of generative AI.”

The urgency for such protections has been heightened by incidents involving deepfake songs mimicking major artists and a dramatic rise - 1,325% year-over-year - in reports of generative AI abuse.

Crucially, the NO FAKES Act's development drew broad bipartisan and industry support, with backing from the Recording Industry Association of America, major tech firms like OpenAI and YouTube, and artist advocates.

Senator Blackburn's stance also has state-level resonance: Tennessee pioneered the ELVIS Act, the first state law to safeguard voice and likeness from AI misuse, prompting her to oppose federal efforts that would block states from enacting their own AI protections until a national standard is in place.

Read more on Senator Blackburn's legislative vision at the official NO FAKES Act announcement by Senator Marsha Blackburn, discover testimony from artists and witnesses including Martina McBride and YouTube's Suzana Carlos in the Senate hearing transcript on AI deepfakes and the NO FAKES Act, and see industry perspective in the Recording Academy's policy update on protecting human creativity with the NO FAKES Act on how the legislation aims to safeguard human creativity in the digital era.

Clarksville, TN is solidifying its status as a manufacturing powerhouse as LG Electronics announces a $100 million expansion that will nearly double its current facility size and add approximately 80 new jobs to the local economy.

The new 560,000-square-foot warehouse, set to begin construction in June 2025 and complete by Q3 2026, will support increased automation and manufacturing flexibility, including space for a potential refrigerator assembly line - a move aligning with LG's broader U.S. investment strategy and local innovation goals.

Clarksville's original LG smart factory, which opened in 2018 with a $360 million investment, currently employs around 740 people and produces more than 6,000 washing machines daily using hundreds of robots for advanced manufacturing.

Over the past six years, LG has proven to be an outstanding industry partner, and this $100 million investment not only reinforces their long-term commitment to Clarksville but also highlights the strength of our local workforce and infrastructure,

said Josh Ward, Executive Director of the Industrial Development Board.

The impact goes beyond appliances, as LG Chem is concurrently building a $3.2 billion electric vehicle battery materials plant in the area, creating another 860 jobs and aiming to supply key EV technologies by 2028.

The following table summarizes the key figures from these major LG investments in Clarksville:

Project	Investment	Facility Size	Jobs Created	Completion
LG Electronics Warehouse Expansion	$100 million	560,000 sq ft	80	Q3 2026
LG Chem EV Battery Materials Plant	$3.2 billion	420 acres	860	2028 (full capacity)

For more on this expansion and its transformative impact on Clarksville's economic growth and workforce, see in-depth reporting from Clarksville Now's detailed LG Electronics warehouse expansion article, detailed coverage at Business Facilities' report on LG Electronics $100M Tennessee investment, and insights into LG Chem's battery plant progress from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development announcement on LG Chem investment.

Visa has joined forces with AI powerhouses such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Samsung to launch Visa Intelligent Commerce, a new platform that enables seamless and secure payments by AI agents acting on behalf of consumers.

This initiative aims to let users set spending limits and preferences, allowing AI-powered agents to research, select, and purchase goods or services autonomously - eliminating traditional checkout hassles and enhancing fraud protection through features like tokenization and payment passkeys.

The technology's reach is already extensive: Visa's robust tokenization framework supports over 200 countries and partners with leading developers and fintechs including Stripe, IBM, and Perplexity, with pilot programs now underway.

The chart below outlines the key building blocks introduced by Visa Intelligent Commerce:

Feature	Purpose
Authentication	Confirms AI agent is authorized for a specific consumer
Tokenization	Replaces card data with secure tokens
Payment Instructions	Enables preset dollar limits, merchant categories, and approval prompts
Personalization	Allows AI to rank offers based on spend data (with consent)
Signals	Streams real-time transaction data to trigger risk controls

This is transformational - comparable to the advent of e-commerce.

- Jack Forestell, Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer

Visa's trusted payments infrastructure and machine learning-driven fraud defenses are expected to accelerate adoption of AI-powered shopping, minimizing risk for banks, merchants, and consumers alike.

Read more about Visa's broader digital payments and AI-powered innovations at the Visa Payments Forum 2025.

This month, U.S. export controls on AI chips are dramatically reshaping the global semiconductor landscape, with far-reaching implications for companies like Nvidia and local tech ecosystems.

Recent restrictions have effectively barred Nvidia's H20 chip from the massive China market, leading to a staggering $5.5 billion write-down - one of the largest in chip industry history - and slashing Nvidia's China GPU market share from 95% to 50% in just four years (analyst coverage of Nvidia earnings and export curbs).

Despite these setbacks, Nvidia has launched a suite of China-compliant chips, including the H20, L20, L2, and the upcoming B20 Blackwell chip, aiming to offset losses through global demand and innovation.

However, these stringent controls are spurring China to accelerate domestic chip development - with firms like Huawei, Biren, and Enflame rapidly closing the technological gap - raising concerns that the current policy may ultimately undermine U.S. tech leadership (ITIF's policy analysis on export controls and AI chip competitiveness).

The market's volatility was succinctly captured by Kevin Cook:

“We basically had a flash crash, and it's right back up... It's such an irony that they could have this issue with China - whether or not they can sell - and it basically gets shrugged off, right?”

As Clarksville tracks these global shifts, local opportunities arise for AI-driven startups and manufacturing - underscoring the need for regional talent pipelines and R&D as global supply chains and investment patterns adapt (TechCrunch's deep dive into Nvidia's strategic pivots amid export restrictions).

AI adoption is surging at Austin Peay State University (APSU), where a campus-wide, $51,000 artificial intelligence training initiative is rapidly transforming faculty, staff, and student experiences.

This strategic program features a three-phased approach - structured professional development for faculty, AI integration training for staff, and industry-focused certification pathways for students - all designed to position graduates for success in a workforce increasingly shaped by AI. According to a recent campus survey, while most respondents are familiar with common AI tools, many face challenges keeping pace with evolving technologies and seek enterprise-level access and training on responsible use.

As President Mike Licari notes,

“This investment exemplifies Austin Peay's commitment to preparing our campus community for the technological evolution reshaping our workforce. By adopting a strategic approach to AI integration, we're positioning our students and the university to thrive in an AI-enhanced future.”

APSU's initiative complements notable trends regionally - 40% of small businesses in the area now use generative AI, nearly doubling from the previous year - and is supported by robust faculty resources from the Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence.

For students, a newly launched MBA concentration in Artificial Intelligence opens further opportunities for specialized training in business-savvy AI applications.

The table below summarizes APSU's multifaceted AI strategy:

Initiative Phase	Focus Area	Key Activities
Faculty	Curriculum Integration	Professional development, AI workshops
Staff	Student Support	AI workplace applications, risk-aware training
Students	Career Preparation	AI certifications, hands-on learning

Explore a comprehensive look at the AI initiative's implementation and ambitions at Austin Peay State University, discover faculty and student perspectives on AI's impact at APSU in this local news feature on AI adoption in Clarksville, and learn about the new MBA AI concentration preparing students for tomorrow's workplace.

This month marks a seismic shift in the national dialogue around AI regulation, as the U.S. House passed a budget package featuring an unprecedented 10-year moratorium on state-level AI laws, igniting fierce debate over states' rights and regulatory oversight.

The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” prohibits all states from enacting or enforcing AI-related regulations, a move that proponents claim will foster innovation and spare businesses from navigating a patchwork of conflicting rules.

However, opponents - including a bipartisan group of lawmakers and 40 state attorneys general - argue the moratorium threatens public safety, privacy protections, and accountability for algorithmic harms like discrimination and deepfakes.

The federal bill underscores a dramatic policy departure, rolling back the Biden administration's more cautious approach and amplifying the influence of tech companies within government.

As summarized in Brookings' analysis on the coming AI backlash, transparency and accountability remain crucial for maintaining public trust amidst growing concern over privacy risks, algorithmic bias, and security breaches.

Meanwhile, case law is beginning to adapt: a federal court allowed a nationwide collective action lawsuit to proceed against Workday over alleged age bias in its AI-powered hiring tools, highlighting the real stakes of algorithmic decision-making (read the full federal court summary).

For a state-by-state breakdown of pending and enacted AI laws, and a critical discussion of the policy's impact on healthcare, housing, and digital rights, see the detailed overview from AGG's healthcare regulatory team.

As the Senate reviews the bill, Tennessee's own Senator Marsha Blackburn and other national lawmakers lead the effort to balance innovation with the need for effective - and locally responsive - AI oversight.

The rapid advance of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the music industry, bringing both exciting potential and significant legal and ethical concerns.

Tennessee recently made headlines as the first U.S. state to pass the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, which extends property rights to artists' names, voices, and likenesses - responding to incidents where AI-generated songs imitated stars like Drake and The Weeknd without permission.

Governor Bill Lee emphasized,

“Tennessee is the music capital of the world, & we're leading the nation with historic protections for TN artists & songwriters against emerging AI technology.”

The new law, effective July 2024, introduces civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized digital cloning and deepfakes, reinforcing protections for the state's industry that supports over 61,000 jobs and 4,500 music venues.

Despite this, national lawsuits continue: the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), alongside major labels, recently filed landmark cases against AI music services Suno and Udio for mass unauthorized scraping of sound recordings, raising the question of copyright infringement versus fair use.

As a recent NPR report explains, legitimate uses of AI have enabled iconic acts like The Beatles to release new music, while others, such as Grimes, invite creative remixing with AI for a royalty share.

But the RIAA lawsuits and Tennessee's legislative lead highlight the potential harm - oversaturation of streaming platforms with AI-generated content could undermine the value and livelihood of local artists.

For a detailed analysis of how the ELVIS Act changes state law and how Tennessee compares to other states, read this expert overview from Dickinson Wright.

The evolving landscape underscores how Clarksville and the region are at the forefront of shaping new rules for technology and creativity.

Clarksville is firmly positioning itself on the map as a forward-looking technology hub, with recent investments and regional dynamics signaling robust growth in artificial intelligence and innovation.

Austin Peay State University's newly launched campus-wide $51,000 AI training initiative exemplifies the city's proactive approach to workforce readiness, blending faculty, staff, and student-focused programs that include certifications and an upcoming AI symposium.

Broader trends show Tennessee's startup ecosystem thriving, thanks to organizations like LaunchTN, with AI-driven ag-tech, health tech, and SaaS companies drawing attention statewide; Hypepotamus recently spotlighted several startups leveraging cutting-edge AI, including platforms for workforce analytics and sustainable manufacturing (Tennessee startups to watch in 2025).

Meanwhile, venture capital inflows to the region are up nearly 52% year-over-year, heavily concentrated in health tech and scalable SaaS, and 2025 is projected to deliver larger Series A/B rounds for proven AI ventures, according to the Q1 2025 Tennessee Deal Report.

The following table highlights key funding rounds shaping Tennessee's tech landscape this quarter:

Company	Location	Amount Raised	Description
Imagine Pediatrics	Nashville	$37.6M	Virtual pediatric care
360 Privacy	Brentwood	$36M	Digital identity protection
Vori Health	Nashville	$53M	AI-driven musculoskeletal care
Visalaw.ai	Memphis	$1.6M	AI legal assistant

As President Mike Licari states,

“By adopting a strategic approach to AI integration, we're positioning our students and the university to thrive in an AI-enhanced future.”

With local talent pipelines expanding, fresh capital for innovation, and cross-sector partnerships taking root, Clarksville and the wider region appear set to anchor the next wave of AI and tech opportunity across the Southeast.