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

Columbus is experiencing both remarkable momentum and strategic recalibration as the city navigates the dynamic realities of AI and tech innovation. This month, Microsoft paused a $1 billion investment in three Licking County data center campuses - New Albany, Heath, and Hebron - to align infrastructure expansion with shifting global demand for cloud and AI services.

Despite the pause, Microsoft emphasizes that it will continue community investments, including funding for roadway and utility upgrades and digital skills development.

As Noelle Walsh, Microsoft's Cloud President, explains,

"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."

Even amid these changes, Microsoft's long-term commitment to AI infrastructure remains robust, with more than $80 billion planned in global investments for 2025 and an intention to retain and eventually develop the Licking County sites.

For a detailed breakdown of the project and local impact, visit Microsoft pauses $1bn data center plans in Licking County, explore local insights at Microsoft not pursuing Licking County projects at this time, and see national context through Microsoft Says It's 'Slowing or Pausing' Some AI Data Center Projects.

This adaptive approach keeps Columbus well-positioned for future waves of digital growth.

Microsoft confirmed it is pausing its ambitious $1 billion plan to build three data centers in Licking County, affecting projects in New Albany, Heath, and Hebron, amid a strategic reevaluation of global infrastructure needs.

The company retains ownership of over 700 acres in the region and will allow farmland use at two sites, while continuing to fund agreed roadway and utility upgrades.

According to Microsoft Cloud President Noelle Walsh, this decision reflects the company's need for “agility and refinement as we learn and grow with our customers,” noting,

“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.”

Local leaders, including Hebron Mayor Valerie Mockus, expressed hope that Microsoft's ongoing engagement and infrastructure commitments may still benefit the region in the long term.

This pause comes as other major tech investments in the area, such as Intel's semiconductor project, face similar delays, and signals a broader industry shift as Microsoft evaluates data center supply against evolving AI service demands.

For further details on Microsoft's announcement and the potential regional impact, read the Engineering News-Record analysis of Microsoft data center pause in Ohio, local coverage from NBC4 Columbus report on Microsoft Licking County project pause, and industry insight from Data Center Dynamics coverage of Microsoft Licking County data center delay.

Billionaire Les Wexner is forecasting a transformative era for Columbus, declaring the city poised to become a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence (AI) and medical technology.

At a recent Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center board meeting, Wexner predicted that “probably the largest AI investment in the world will happen in Columbus,” with upwards of 100 new medtech companies expected to join the region's burgeoning ecosystem.

“Our belief is we're way ahead of the curve in the race for AI,”

Wexner stated, underscoring Columbus's rapid, yet underpublicized, growth as Ohio's largest city.

The city's innovation hub is fueled by anchor institutions like Ohio State and Nationwide Children's Hospital, four major health systems, and significant infrastructure investments such as OSU's nearly $2 billion hospital tower.

The momentum is further accelerated by major biotech developments, including Amgen's $900 million expansion and Pharmavite's new $250 million gummy vitamin facility, both in nearby New Albany.

Ohio State University is also intensifying its AI leadership, spearheading federally funded institutes and joining a 14-member global research consortium funded by OpenAI. For a deeper look into how Wexner's vision is shaping Central Ohio, read the Dispatch's coverage of Columbus's rise as an AI and medtech destination, explore the Business First analysis of Wexner's AI and medtech boom prediction, and see AOL's detailed report on the region's biotech landscape.

Recent Investments & Initiatives	Amount	Location
Amgen Pharmaceutical Plant Expansion	$900 million	New Albany
Pharmavite Manufacturing Facility	$250 million	New Albany
OSU Hospital Tower Construction	~$2 billion	Columbus

Columbus's tech scene marks a major milestone as a weather-forecasting startup - spun off from The Ohio State University and employing advanced AI - has been acquired, highlighting both Central Ohio's innovation and the region's draw for global investment.

AI-powered storm prediction tools have made significant leaps in accuracy and speed, with cutting-edge models like Aurora now generating multi-day forecasts in seconds on standard hardware - a capability described in Science News' coverage of Aurora's real-world performance.

These improvements are crucial as climate change creates more extreme storms, and even a single day's advance warning can mean the difference between safety and disaster.

According to a New York Times report on AI weather tools, the latest systems are not only more accurate for events like hurricanes but can also be adapted to predict air pollution, floods, and renewable energy market dynamics.

As funding for weather startups remains robust - over $1 billion invested in just 2.5 years, and with pure-AI players like Tomorrow.io and WindBorne Systems each securing tens of millions in recent rounds as detailed by Crunchbase's weather-tech funding analysis - Ohio's ecosystem is poised for continued leadership in applied AI. The pace of local innovation, fueled by OSU's research partnerships and a thriving startup community, reinforces why Columbus is increasingly viewed as a magnet for the next wave of AI-driven breakthroughs in weather and disaster resilience.

This month, Columbus marks a pivotal milestone in freight technology with the launch of self-driving semi-truck platooning along the I-70 corridor, connecting Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

The joint initiative by the Ohio Department of Transportation's DriveOhio, Indiana Department of Transportation, Ease Logistics, and Kratos Defense adapts military-grade platooning technology for the commercial trucking sector.

Platooning electronically links two trucks so that the lead driver controls speed and direction, while the follower truck automatically steers, accelerates, and brakes - supported by cameras and sensors for object detection and safety overrides by professional drivers.

A distinctive purple light signals when trucks are digitally connected in platooning mode. The $8.8 million project, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is designed to improve freight efficiency, reduce driver stress, and validate system performance in challenging Midwest weather conditions.

According to ODOT Director Pam Boratyn,

“Everything we do at ODOT is driven by safety. We're committed to reducing deaths on our roadways and vehicle automation technologies can be part of the solution.”

The table below summarizes key project attributes:

Attribute	Details
Lead Operator	Ease Logistics
Technology Provider	Kratos Defense
Funding	$8.8 million (partially USDOT grant)
Main Benefits	Improved safety, reduced fuel use, addressing driver shortages

For a deeper look at how platooning works and the partnership approach, read more in the Commercial Carrier Journal's launch coverage of semi-autonomous truck platooning, explore the technology's civilian and military development via IEEE Spectrum's detailed analysis of truck platooning in Ohio and Indiana, and review local perspectives on safety and expansion plans at Heavy Duty Trucking's feature on truck platooning operations on I-70.

Columbus-based x-hoppers has clinched the prestigious “Anti-Theft Security Solution of the Year” at the 2025 RetailTech Breakthrough Awards, recognized for its innovative AI-driven platform that reduces retail shrink by up to 60% through real-time detection and alerting.

Launched in 2024, x-hoppers integrates wireless headsets, advanced gesture-recognition, and smart shelf alerts, fostering instant team communication and theft prevention without compromising customer experience.

The latest suite upgrades have enabled detection of up to 26 theft incidents per store daily, a 35% sales increase from streamlined service, and a 50% cut in staff onboarding time, as affirmed by industry reports such as The AI Insider.

Highlighting their mission, CEO Ian Rowan stated,

"Our AI-driven platform empowers retail teams with real-time communication and proactive security alerts, creating a frictionless shopping experience, reducing losses, and improving operations."

x-hoppers' platform - trusted by major retailers and powered by over 250 integrations - continues to set new standards in shop-floor security and efficiency.

For more about their award-winning system and impact on modern retail, visit the x-hoppers official website.

Columbus has taken a major step toward inclusive, AI-powered emergency response with the rollout of Next Generation 911 (NG911) features that blend real-time text translation across 55 languages and live video sharing for its one million residents.

The upgrade, powered by Intrado's multilingual and multimedia platform, lets callers text 911 in their native language and receive instant translations - crucial support for Columbus' diverse community, which includes the nation's second-largest concentration of Somali residents and nearly 20% non-native English speakers.

In 2024 alone, the Emergency Communications Center handled over 31,000 text messages and 1.4 million calls, demonstrating the scale of need for such accessible technology.

Equally impactful is the new video-to-911 capability: with the caller's consent, dispatchers can now view live scenes from emergencies, expediting first responder action and improving situational awareness.

As Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther declared,

“No one should be unable to call for help when they need it most. These inclusive technologies will help make our city even safer and stronger through more equitable access to emergency services.”

The innovation comes as part of a $1.5 million citywide Intrado contract and positions Columbus as a leader among U.S. cities modernizing emergency infrastructure.

For a deeper look at the technology's rollout and community impact, visit Columbus Dispatch's detailed coverage of 911 system upgrades with text translation and video sharing, read about the city's partnership with Intrado in the official Intrado press release on NG911 upgrades in Columbus, and see feedback from diverse residents in New Americans Magazine's report on new 911 text and video capabilities.

Feature	Details
Text-to-911 Translation	Supports 55 languages, real-time auto-detection, bi-directional translation
Video-to-911 Sharing	Live video feed from caller's phone with consent, ends when call ends
Annual ECC Volume (2024)	1,412,355 calls (671,341 emergency, 709,381 non-emergency), 31,633 texts

This month, Columbus and greater Ohio are seeing rapid adoption of AI and robotics by law enforcement, spurring both operational transformation and urgent privacy debates.

Police agencies, including Columbus, Dublin, and Hamilton County, are deploying AI-enhanced surveillance centers, fleets of drones, and patrol robots - technologies credited with helping solve crimes and accelerating response times.

For example, Dublin Police's new robots and drones can reach any site in the city in under 90 seconds, while Hamilton County's drones identify license plates from half a mile away.

However, the expansion of these tools - including advanced video analytics and non-biometric tracking, as highlighted in MIT Technology Review's report on AI-based tracking - is raising new questions about civil liberties.

The ACLU warns these practices can erode privacy, especially as agencies increasingly use pooled public-private camera networks, without adopting facial recognition but still accumulating vast real-time data, as seen in Columbus' newest downtown surveillance partnership.

Structured data below shows technology adoption and privacy approaches across Ohio's major police agencies:

Police Agency	Technology Used	Purpose	Privacy / Legal Notes
Hamilton County Sheriff's	16 drones, AI (no facial recognition)	First responders, surveillance	Audit trails, transparency stressed
Dublin Police	4 drones, 2 robots with 360° cameras	Patrol, rapid response	Two-way communication, quick deployment
Columbus Division of Police	Real-time crime center	Crime solving, evidence location	Policies, background checks, user permission
Cleveland Division of Police	AI facial recognition	Suspect identification	Evidence rejected in court, legal challenges

Privacy advocates emphasize the need for robust regulation and transparency.

As Amy Gilbert of the ACLU put it,

“In an age where AI and facial recognition technology have become pervasive, with limited oversight and regulation, courts must recognize the dangers and unreliability of this evidence in issuing search warrants.”

For a comprehensive analysis of how these trends are unfolding and the resulting legal clashes, see WOSU's feature on AI and robotics in Ohio policing.

Ohio is on track to join a growing number of states tackling the potential harms of artificial intelligence with Senate Bill 163, landmark legislation designed to regulate deepfakes and AI-produced content.

The proposed law would prohibit the creation of AI-generated child pornography, expand identity fraud statutes to penalize those who use replicas of individuals' voices or likenesses for deception or reputational harm, and require all AI-generated media to feature watermarks identifying it as such.

Supporters, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, praised its “three-pronged approach” - criminalizing harmful content, extending legal safeguards against AI identity fraud, and introducing transparency through mandatory watermarks - emphasizing the need for action as “these are the kinds of things that keep me up at night.”

“We think that's a fight worth having,”

added Lou Tobin of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, referencing careful legal tailoring meant to avoid First Amendment conflicts amid ongoing national legal challenges.

The bill is still making its way through committee, but if passed, Ohio would align with 38 other states that have enacted laws to combat AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

For a broader look at the bill's progression and its full text, visit the official Ohio SB 163 bill page; in-depth legislative background is available in Ohio Capital Journal's coverage of the AI restrictions debate; and comparative data on AI regulation nationwide can be found at the NCSL's Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation Tracker.

Below is a summary table of SB 163's core provisions and its current legislative status:

Key Provision	Description
Prohibits AI-generated child sexual abuse material	Bans creation/distribution of deepfake CSAM by expanding obscenity definitions
Extends identity fraud laws	Includes voice/likeness replicas used for fraud or reputational harm
Mandates watermarks on AI-created media	AI media must display watermark; removing watermark enables civil lawsuits
Legislative Status	Introduced; referred to Senate Judiciary Committee; not yet law

Columbus universities are at the forefront of cross-disciplinary AI education, rolling out innovative programs and collaborative initiatives to prepare students, educators, and researchers for an AI-driven future.

At Ohio State University, the Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI) launched the "AI in Your Research" workshop series, attracting faculty from diverse academic backgrounds and offering hands-on training in Large Language Models, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, with sessions on image and time series analysis slated for later this year.

TDAI AI Workshop Series. Complementing these efforts, the OSU Center on Education and Training for Employment leads statewide initiatives to boost AI literacy - delivering professional development for educators and families, designing immersive learning experiences with VR technology, and laying the groundwork for a new AI Education Institute; as director Ana-Paula Correia notes,

“AI is here to stay, and as an education and training center, it's our responsibility to equip educational communities with the skills and knowledge needed to engage with AI technologies safely and responsibly. At the same time, it's imperative that we maintain a critical perspective on all aspects of AI in education and training, recognizing that it's not without its challenges.”

Read more about CETE's AI Literacy Mission.

Expanding degree and certificate options, Ohio University introduced the state's first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and a forthcoming AI in Business graduate certificate, combining training in machine learning and data analysis with interdisciplinary coursework in psychology and engineering, and offering multiple career tracks from algorithm engineering to AI product management.

Explore Ohio University's AI Programs.

These initiatives highlight an integrated approach, fusing technical, ethical, and domain-specific learning to fuel AI leadership across Ohio's academic community.

The rapid integration of AI into hiring processes among Columbus employers is raising urgent questions about fairness and bias. While 88% of companies now use AI to screen candidates and about a quarter employ it for interviews, evidence shows these tools often perpetuate existing inequities rather than remove them.

A recent public radio investigation on AI in hiring technology found AI-driven Applicant Tracking Systems can make flawed, biased decisions - sometimes weeding out candidates based on irrelevant or discriminatory criteria like gendered keywords or minor resume formatting issues, and sometimes amplifying historical biases present in training data.

Echoing these concerns, Ohio State's Dean Ayanna Howard notes that “AI trains on biased data which may not be universal … AI decisions could be biased toward populations with more wealth and access, leading to inequality.”

“AI can wrongly associate irrelevant patterns … discrimination emerging around gender, age, and national origin.”

Legal risks are mounting, as illustrated by a nationwide lawsuit against Workday alleging AI-driven age and racial discrimination, which a court recently allowed to proceed and could impact millions of job seekers (legal update on AI hiring lawsuits for employers).

Studies also show similar bias in other high-stakes AI decisions, such as mortgage approvals, where Black applicants - despite identical profiles to white applicants - faced higher denial rates and less favorable terms.

For example, a Lehigh University study revealed white applicants with low credit scores were approved for mortgages 95% of the time versus less than 80% for Black applicants with the same score (study on AI mortgage bias in Ohio).

As Ohio and other states introduce regulations to address “algorithmic discrimination,” the consensus is clear: transparent oversight and a “human in the loop” are essential to ensure AI hiring is both efficient and just for all.

Columbus stands at the forefront of an AI-powered transformation, propelled by unprecedented investments from global tech giants and a robust biotech sector. As highlighted by industry leaders at the recent Columbus Dispatch article on AI and medical technology growth, the region is poised to become an international hub for artificial intelligence and medical technology - an outlook reinforced by billions in data center commitments from Amazon, Cologix, Google, and Microsoft.

These investments are reshaping the regional economy, as detailed in the Central Ohio Emerging as a Leading Data Center Hub report, driving both the expansion of digital infrastructure and the creation of new tech jobs.

Meanwhile, policymakers continue to debate the best path forward for AI regulation; while Ohio and other states introduce targeted legislation balancing innovation and public trust, federal proposals suggest a potential 10-year ban on state-level AI laws - a move stirring robust discussion among lawmakers and industry (see the Broadband Breakfast coverage of AI regulatory debates).

Despite these regulatory uncertainties, Columbus's momentum is clear, with leaders and companies alike recognizing the city's deep talent pool and strategic advantages.

As Les Wexner boldly stated,

“Our belief is we're way ahead of the curve in the race for AI.”

For aspiring tech professionals and entrepreneurs, this ecosystem offers fertile ground to build the future - making now a pivotal moment to acquire AI, software, and cybersecurity skills to navigate and shape Columbus's AI-fueled future.