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

Fayetteville stands at a pivotal intersection of AI innovation and community resilience, as North Carolina's leaders adopt broad, responsible frameworks to integrate generative AI into state operations and services.

Initiatives like the NCDIT Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework are helping agencies modernize child welfare, streamline service delivery, and protect sensitive data.

Community engagement thrives through regional events such as Tech ID Day, where local startups showcase innovative AI, unmanned systems, and cybersecurity solutions addressing public and defense challenges.

The city's entrepreneurial spirit is further propelled by deep tech collaborations, as North Carolina's biotech and innovation sectors generate billions in revenue and thousands of jobs, supported by organizations like the NC Biotechnology Center and First Flight Venture Center (explore the full economic impact here).

As summarized by NCDIT's Chief Privacy Officer Cherie Givens,

“We are excited by the significant opportunity that generative AI presents to modernize our state's government services. But government has a responsibility to adopt and advance these technologies in ways that will benefit society while mitigating risk and harm to the people we serve.”

MatchAwards has unveiled a groundbreaking AI and blockchain-powered platform designed to optimize how veteran-owned small businesses discover and secure government contracts.

The platform's intelligent matching system leverages artificial intelligence to connect businesses with government opportunities that align with their skills and experience, making procurement more accessible and streamlined for underrepresented entrepreneurs (AI-powered government contract discovery platform).

In a significant move to foster legal compliance and responsible blockchain adoption, MatchAwards has partnered with the Blockchain Legal Institute (BLI), providing users with centralized access to BLI's extensive repository of legal resources, educational outreach, and industry best practices.

As Michael Noble, COO of MatchAwards, emphasizes:

"Blockchain is transforming industries worldwide, and having a strong legal foundation is crucial for its responsible growth. Our partnership with Blockchain Legal Institute ensures that businesses and professionals have the resources, insights, and legal guidance they need to thrive in this space."

This collaboration supports not only advanced compliance but also global advocacy, education, and risk management for small business owners, enabling a confident embrace of blockchain technology (MatchAwards and Blockchain Legal Institute partnership details).

Additionally, the MatchAwards platform offers real-time data insights, simplifying access to grants and loans and equipping veteran entrepreneurs with the knowledge to remain competitive in a continually evolving procurement landscape (AI-powered tools for winning government contracts).

In response to a troubling surge in gun violence - including three shootings within six hours downtown and disruptions at the long-running Dogwood Festival - Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin has announced plans to introduce sweeping new measures leveraging AI-driven surveillance.

During a special City Council meeting set for May 5, the mayor will propose a package that includes declaring a public safety state of emergency, instituting a 9 p.m.

curfew for unattended minors, and enacting stricter penalties for parental non-compliance. Key technology initiatives feature expanding Fayetteville's camera network with license-plate readers, facial recognition, and advanced AI tools, complementing restrictions such as mask and backpack bans at public events and heightened physical security.

The city also aims to incentivize public cooperation by raising Crime Stoppers rewards to $5,000 for information leading to arrests. As Mayor Colvin emphasized,

“Fayetteville is a resilient city, and our greatest strength is our unity. Together, we are committed to keeping our community safe - and to those who attempt to spread havoc and fear, we are coming for you.”

For a detailed breakdown of the proposed safety enhancements and their context, review local reporting from the Fayetteville Observer's comprehensive coverage of curfews and surveillance proposals, the official Mayor's message announcing AI-driven public safety measures, and the ABC11 report on Fayetteville's enhanced citywide public safety efforts.

North Carolina has reached a groundbreaking settlement with Cortland Management, the state's second-largest landlord, prohibiting the use of AI-powered rent-setting tools after allegations that the company conspired with others through RealPage software to artificially inflate rental prices.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cortland - managing over 5,000 units statewide - must cease using non-public data from competitors via RealPage or similar software, report regularly to the state Attorney General's Office, and submit to compliance inspections, while paying $100,000 for attorney fees and consumer education.

The settlement marks the first such restriction in a broader antitrust lawsuit led by Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who emphasized,

"Today's settlement means one less landlord is using RealPage's unlawful AI software to charge North Carolinians unfair rents. We're going to keep fighting this case to make sure all landlords and property managers play by the rules and people can afford rent."

Litigation continues against five other landlords collectively managing over 70,000 units statewide, with officials in multiple states collaborating on enforcement and monitoring.

According to a summary of settlement details, the company did not admit fault but has agreed to significant constraints on applying AI to rent calculations, reflecting a major step forward in consumer protection and housing market fairness.

For a comprehensive overview of the settlement and ongoing litigation, see the reporting from WRAL's coverage of the Cortland AI rent manipulation case, the Justice Department's official announcement, and the detailed report from Spectrum News summarizing enforcement and legal actions.

North Carolina's sprint toward AI leadership relies on resolving a critical challenge: sustainable energy for its rapidly expanding data center infrastructure.

Drawing from a recent analysis by Steve Rao in WRAL TechWire on AI growth and energy demands in North Carolina, the state is witnessing immense pressure on its power grid from AI-driven data centers, prompting calls for a coordinated strategy blending renewable expansion, grid modernization, and AI-driven efficiency tools.

Industry leaders like Duke Energy are responding with plans for new solar, natural gas, and offshore wind capacity to meet the needs of consistent, energy-intensive customers such as high-load data centers.

Apple's $175 million Maiden campus expansion - powered entirely by renewables - signals a model for low-carbon growth, as detailed at the DataCenterDynamics news site on Apple's renewable-powered data center expansion.

Still, regional and state policies remain in flux, with new legislation threatening to limit solar incentives and increase siting challenges for large solar arrays on farmland (PV Magazine USA's overview of North Carolina solar growth policy changes).

Supporting data indicates the importance of flexibility: Duke Energy can potentially add multiple gigawatts of new load with modest curtailments and distributed storage, deferring the need for massive infrastructure investments.

Consistent public-private collaboration, ambitious clean energy targets, and innovative load management will determine whether North Carolina's AI ecosystem flourishes sustainably - or struggles with rate spikes and grid vulnerabilities.

The national conversation on AI fairness has shifted dramatically as political scrutiny intensifies in Washington, with federal agencies moving away from established equity and bias mitigation efforts.

Recent House and Senate hearings highlight not only the scale of this transition but also the stakes for innovation, economic competitiveness, and consumer protection.

The Commerce Department has rewritten its AI directives, deleting references to fairness and “responsible AI” in favor of mandates to reduce “ideological bias” - a pivot reinforced by House subpoenas to major tech companies probing diversity and equity initiatives in AI development (Tech Industry Tried Reducing AI Bias).

Industry experts like Harvard's Ellis Monk express concern that political backlash may halt progress in combating systemic AI bias, a fear echoed by over 200 researchers who recently reaffirmed the scientific consensus that “AI can exacerbate bias and discrimination in society, and governments need to enact appropriate guardrails” (Researchers Defend the Scientific Consensus on Bias and Discrimination in AI).

Meanwhile, state-level legislation flourishes - with over 550 bills introduced nationwide in 2025 targeting algorithmic discrimination, transparency, and responsible use, even as federal momentum slows (Summary of Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation).

As policy language diverges, the core challenge remains: whether AI systems are shaped by scientific best practices and consumer protections, or by shifting political priorities.

“Fundamentally, to say that AI systems are ideologically biased is to say that you identify, recognize and are concerned about the problem of algorithmic bias.” - Alondra Nelson

Issue	Trend
Federal AI Policy	Deprioritizes fairness, focuses on ideology
State Legislation	550+ AI-related bills, bipartisan bias protections
Scientific Consensus	AI bias is a documented risk for discrimination

Fayetteville's small businesses are facing an unprecedented cybersecurity crossroads as AI-fueled attacks surge in sophistication and scale, putting local firms at heightened risk for financial and reputational harm.

According to the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2025 Phishing Report, while global phishing volume dropped by 20%, attackers are striking deeper with generative AI - crafting near-flawless lures and targeting business-critical operations like HR, IT, and payroll.

As noted by Zscaler's CSO Deepen Desai,

“The phishing game has changed. Attackers are using GenAI to create near-flawless lures and even outsmart AI-based defenses.”

SMBs are especially vulnerable: Forbes reports almost one in five could close after a cyberattack, yet many lack dedicated security personnel and suffer from underinvestment.

Research by Malwarebytes highlights that AI-driven attacks are now automating phishing, voice-cloning, and ransomware tactics, with infostealer malware and credential compromise on the rise.

The table below summarizes recent SMB cyber risk data:

Key Statistic	Figure
SMBs facing cyber closure risk	1 in 5
Phishing apps on Android in 2024	22,800+
Ransomware targeting SMBs (2024)	82% of victims <1,000 employees
Average breach cost for SMBs	$1.6 million

Experts urge Fayetteville's SMBs to adopt Zero Trust architecture, invest in continuous employee training, and deploy endpoint security to counter these evolving threats.

For further guidance on emerging AI-driven cyber risks and defense strategies, see the FortiGuard Labs 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report.

Duke Energy is intensifying its push toward a resilient, AI-ready power grid with more than $500 million committed to battery energy storage projects throughout the Carolinas - a move driven by surging demand from data centers and new industrial loads.

The utility's new PowerPair program, offering up to $9,000 in incentives and additional monthly bill credits for North Carolina homeowners who pair solar panels with battery storage, exemplifies its two-pronged approach to expand both utility- and residential-scale storage.

According to the program's official announcement, residents will receive significant rebates and participate in grid support programs like Power Manager® and EnergyWise®, allowing temporary Duke-controlled use of their batteries for broader grid stability.

This strategy is further propelled by the deployment of large battery installations, such as the 11 MW system in Onslow County and the ambitious plan to have 1,600 MW of battery storage operational by 2029, addressing both daily flexibility and crisis resilience (details on recent deployments).

"PowerPair gives Duke Energy an added tool to provide more reliability to solar energy which in turn benefits all customers as North Carolina grows in population... These programs enable Duke Energy to maximize the use of popular consumer technologies to support the overall energy grid," said Lon Huber, Senior Vice President at Duke Energy in a recent statement.

As data centers drive higher demand, battery storage supports Duke's broader energy diversification, aligning with a resource plan that includes 3.5 GW of new solar, 1.1 GW of battery storage, and 3.6 GW of gas generation to ensure reliability and renewables integration (regulatory details here).

Investment	Storage Target by 2029	Residential Incentive (max)	Recent Utility-Scale System
$500M+	1,600 MW	$9,000	11 MW (Onslow County)

The Town of Morrisville is making headlines as it deploys generative AI in its public services, budgeting this year for Microsoft Copilot-powered solutions to enhance staff document search and launching a resident-facing chatbot, "Morris the Cricket." These efforts are part of a broader North Carolina initiative, led by State Treasurer Brad Briner, testing OpenAI's ChatGPT over a 12-week pilot to streamline processes such as summarizing reports, identifying financial risks in local government data, and uncovering unclaimed property, all while respecting strict data privacy boundaries.

As described by Briner,

"ChatGPT is not replacing human expertise, it is augmenting our capabilities and enabling us to make more informed, data-driven positions."

In parallel with these government advancements, Microsoft is rapidly evolving Copilot features for public sector productivity, with updates now empowering real-time document analysis, enhanced chat capabilities, and seamless cross-app integration.

For a closer look at Morrisville and North Carolina's responsible AI deployment, visit the article on North Carolina's OpenAI pilot program and generative AI in public services, and learn more about the state's broader AI strategy and energy sustainability challenges in Steve Rao's analysis of balancing innovation with infrastructure in North Carolina.

For an overview of recent Copilot tools enhancing governmental workflows, check out the detailed April 2025 Copilot Studio feature roundup for public sector productivity.

This wave of responsible experimentation positions Morrisville - and North Carolina at large - on the front lines of AI-driven community service improvements.

Rexas Finance is capturing national attention with its upcoming initial token offering, slated for June 19, 2025, and stands to redefine opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses in Fayetteville and beyond.

The RXS token has already seen a remarkable 567% price increase during its presale, rising from $0.03 to $0.20, with a planned exchange debut at $0.25 across at least three Tier-1 exchanges - a testament to robust community support and market anticipation.

Designed to democratize investing, Rexas enables fractional ownership of real-world assets such as real estate, art, and commodities, providing simpler access to assets traditionally out of reach for smaller investors.

In contrast to projects relying on institutional backing, Rexas employs a zero-VC approach to safeguard retail buyers while deploying unique features like no-code token creation tools, QuickMint for easy asset minting, and AI Shield for enhanced smart contract security.

Notably, its $1 million token giveaway campaign has drawn nearly 1.9 million entries, underscoring significant grassroots momentum. As highlighted in Coinpedia's Q1 2025 roundup of trending cryptocurrencies, industry analysts deem Rexas a top contender for disruptive growth.

For a detailed breakdown of its presale achievements and technology stack, readers can consult the TechBullion's deep dive into RXS's market strategy.

Expert forecasts even compare Rexas's long-term ROI to Solana's exponential pathway, further amplifying its appeal to the veteran business ecosystem. The following table summarizes key presale data:

Token	Presale Price Range	Current Presale Status	Listing Price	Funds Raised
RXS	$0.03 - $0.20	91.7% sold out	$0.25	$47.7 million+

To explore how tokenization could reward and empower veteran entrepreneurs, visit Rexas Finance's official website for project updates and participation details.

As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates in Wake County and across North Carolina, surging data center power needs are putting local infrastructure to the test.

Data centers now account for more than 4% of total U.S. electricity consumption and could spike to 9–12% by 2030, with North Carolina's “Data Center Corridor” experiencing rapid big tech investment and grid strain from Apple, Microsoft, and other tech companies.

According to an NC Newsline detailed analysis on AI and data centers power consumption, the electricity required to power new AI data centers can rival that of 750,000 homes, intensifying challenges for Duke Energy and utilities tasked with keeping rates reasonable and service reliable amidst local grid limits.

The issue is national, as the U.S. Department of Energy anticipates data center demand could overwhelm grids if unchecked; some regions like northern Virginia, already the global leader in data center density, are imposing new zoning and regulatory limits.

Driving sustainable solutions in Wake County means modernizing grid infrastructure, investing in renewables and battery storage, and fostering collaboration between public leaders, tech firms, and utilities, as highlighted in Steve Rao's in-depth WRAL report on AI growth and energy demand in North Carolina.

As one industry expert stated,

“Each one of these AI models has to sit on a server somewhere, and they tend to be very, very big. So if your millions or billions of users are talking to the system simultaneously, the computing systems have to really grow and grow and grow.”

The table below summarizes key stats from 2025 projections:

Metric	2025/Projected Value
Data centers' share of US electricity	4–12% by 2030
AI data center energy for 1 model	Equals 100 U.S. homes/year
Forecasted U.S. data centers	3,600+ (80% in 15 states)
New large center's grid impact	~750,000 homes' electricity

As Fayetteville and North Carolina surge ahead in the era of artificial intelligence, local leaders and communities face the balancing act of fostering innovation while maintaining equity, safety, and sustainability.

Large-scale investments - such as Apple's $175 million expansion of its Maiden data center (fully powered by renewables), Bit Digital's $53M high-performance computing pivot, and PMR USA's AI-powered Gastonia facility - demonstrate the region's role as an emerging hub for AI infrastructure and green technology.

Yet, this rapid digital transformation brings challenges: AI-enabled data centers, which already account for 2% of U.S. energy demand and could reach 10% by 2027, place significant stress on local grids and risk higher energy bills for residents.

According to Duke University's research, much of this demand can be managed without new gas plants if utilities employ load flexibility and targeted curtailment, avoiding costly overbuilding and rate hikes.

As noted by energy consultant Kathy Kunkel,

“There is a significant risk of Southeast utilities overbuilding power plants and pipelines in response to projected data center energy demand. Utilities already are financially incentivized to overbuild infrastructure.”

State and local officials, including Duke Energy, are investing in renewable energy and smarter grid solutions, while opinion leaders like Steve Rao urge an AI Government strategy to optimize services, upskill workers, and ensure ethical deployment, as detailed in this WRAL TechWire analysis.

Meanwhile, developers and county officials weigh the impacts of permitting new data centers, with a Duke study showing up to 100 GW of new AI industry load could be accommodated without new gas infrastructure - a $2 trillion market opportunity if managed with sustainability at the forefront.

The region's future will depend on collaboration between public and private sectors and purposeful infrastructure planning, as shown by the latest investments and policy debates documented by Port City Daily.

For those seeking to build in-demand tech skills and participate in this transformation, programs like Nucamp's Web Development, Full Stack, and Cybersecurity bootcamps - complete with scholarships and flexible financing - provide essential pathways for equitable access and workforce development.