This Month's Latest Tech News in Las Vegas, NV - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Las Vegas has experienced a transformative month at the intersection of AI innovation, tech policy, and economic growth. The 2025 NAB Show drew over 60,000 attendees, spotlighting tools like Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve 20 with over 100 new AI-driven features and Adobe Premiere Pro's Firefly-powered automation, showing how AI is revolutionizing media production and content creation; as Karen Chupka, EVP of NAB, remarked,

“The future of content and entertainment will take center stage at the 2025 NAB Show – redefining how content is created, distributed, and consumed around the world.”

At the same time, the Nevada legislature tackled over a dozen bills regulating and expanding AI use in sectors ranging from policing and education to insurance, balancing innovation with consumer protections and economic competitiveness, as documented in this detailed analysis of Nevada's AI legislative efforts.

For entrepreneurs, the April AWS-backed AI Pitch Competition hosted by the Nevada SBDC offered up to $35K in partner funding, further energizing the local startup ecosystem (learn more at the official SBDC event page).

Collectively, these advances and policy moves underscore how Las Vegas is rapidly positioning itself as a leading hub for AI and technology. For a comprehensive look at industry advancements, visit the NAB 25 recap with an AI innovation focus.

The NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas has established itself as the premier global event for media and entertainment professionals by putting artificial intelligence at the heart of its innovations.

Drawing over 60,000 attendees from 160 countries and nearly 1,100 exhibitors, this year's show featured the AI Innovation Pavilion as a central hub for transformative AI-powered solutions in content creation, workflow automation, and audience engagement.

NVIDIA, alongside industry giants such as Adobe, AWS, Sony, and Dell, showcased real-time AI and intelligent media workflows, from accelerated video search and summarization to AI-driven localization and automated editing pipelines, reflecting a trend toward smarter, more integrated production ecosystems (NVIDIA demo at NAB 2025).

Conference sessions and workshops highlighted hands-on applications of generative AI, ethical considerations, and new business strategies for the rapidly evolving creator economy.

“The future of content and entertainment will take center stage at the 2025 NAB Show – redefining how content is created, distributed, and consumed around the world,” - Karen Chupka, EVP of Global Connections and Events, NAB

Emphasized.

Major hardware and software launches - including Blackmagic Design's 12K camera and Sony's live broadcasting equipment - underscored the convergence of creativity and technology.

As AI's projected economic impact in media and entertainment may exceed $100 billion by 2030, the table below summarizes key attendance and technology highlights from NAB Show 2025:

Metric	2025 Value
Registered Attendees	60,000+
Countries Represented	160
AI-Powered Startups (PropelMe)	80% of 22 featured startups
Exhibitors	~1,100

For a full breakdown of this year's innovations and industry impact, visit the official NAB Show 2025 press release.

A landmark entertainment event is set for Las Vegas this August as “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” reimagines the 1939 film classic using groundbreaking AI technologies from Google, in partnership with Warner Bros.

Discovery and Sphere Studios. Debuting at the 17,600-seat Sphere on August 28, 2025, this immersive experience leverages generative AI models - Gemini, Veo, and Imagen 3 - to upscale the original Technicolor negatives, outpaint backgrounds for the venue's colossal 16K LED wraparound display, and digitally recreate characters so seamlessly that viewers are surrounded by high-definition, expanded scenes in every direction.

Google's Gemini AI alone enhanced over 90% of the film, overcoming challenges like reconstructing intricate details and enabling characters to appear together in ways the original never allowed.

The collaboration processed over 1.2 petabytes of data, demonstrating the power of cloud infrastructure and creative AI working in tandem. As Sphere CEO James Dolan remarked,

“When we first thought about doing The Wizard of Oz, we realised we needed the best AI. We went to six different companies, but Google was the only one that could make this vision a reality.”

This ambitious project respects the integrity of the original while showcasing what's possible at the intersection of AI and artistry.

For an in-depth look at the technical innovations, see Google Cloud's behind-the-scenes report on the Sphere's ‘Wizard of Oz' experience.

Explore the industry implications and the dawn of immersive, AI-powered entertainment in Aragon Research's analysis of Google and Sphere's “yellow brick road” to innovation, and read Variety's coverage on how advanced computing is redefining cinematic storytelling at the Sphere in Las Vegas in ‘The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' uses AI to reimagine a classic.

Nevada has taken a significant leap in shaping the future of K-12 education with the release of its comprehensive “STELLAR Pathway to AI Teaching and Learning: Ethics, Principles, and Guidance,” a 52-page guide developed via months of collaboration between the Nevada Department of Education, local educators, parents, students, and community stakeholders.

The STELLAR framework - standing for Security, Transparency, Empowerment, Learning, Leadership, Achievement, and Responsible use - emphasizes equitable access, data privacy, bias mitigation, and the vital role of teachers in the age of AI. Dr. Steve Canavero, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction, stated,

“With the Nevada AI Alliance, we are creating ethical guidelines and resources to ensure AI enhances education while maintaining equity, privacy, and the central role of educators. The ultimate goal is to empower every Nevada student to succeed in a future shaped by technology.”

The document offers actionable strategies for districts, such as regular AI tool risk assessments, clear communication with families about AI use, fostering student creativity and ethical decision-making, and maintaining academic integrity.

Nevada's initiative aligns with national calls for responsible AI integration, preparing students for evolving workforce demands while bridging the digital divide.

For detailed principles and guidance, review the official press release from the Nevada Department of Education, or explore an in-depth overview and the full guidance at GovTech's coverage of Nevada's STELLAR AI principles.

To see how these principles fit within broader educational technology reforms and evolving national policy, see the summary at Las Vegas Sun's report on ethical AI in Nevada schools.

Below is a summary table of the STELLAR principles:

STELLAR Principle	Focus
Security	Limit data collection, regular AI risk assessments, work with trusted vendors
Transparency	Clear communication and explanations about AI use in education
Empowerment	Equitable access to AI, encourage creativity and problem-solving
Learning	Promote curiosity, self-direction, and ethical judgment
Leadership	AI for strategic planning and educational improvement
Achievement	Personalized pathways, automate tasks, provide real-time feedback
Responsible Use	Uphold integrity, define policies, mitigate bias and shortcuts

This April, Nevada State Senator Dina Neal is spearheading a significant legislative push for AI accountability with Senate Bill 199 (SB199), responding to mounting concerns about the societal impacts of artificial intelligence across sectors like law enforcement, education, housing, and employment.

SB199 sets robust requirements for AI companies - including mandatory registration with the Bureau of Consumer Protection and protocols to mitigate bias, bullying, hate speech, fraud, and misinformation.

The bill addresses specific use cases: it initially sought to ban AI-generated police reports and lesson plans but has shifted toward requiring agencies and schools to develop AI policies and responsible guidelines, while maintaining prohibitions on landlords using AI-generated nonpublic data for rent pricing to prevent algorithmic price fixing similar to cases seen in other states.

Sen. Neal underscored the need for "accountability and transparency in AI data usage," warning that, “traditional jobs could face significant shedding within five years because of AI.”

Notably, Nevada's approach aligns with a broader national movement, as at least 45 states have introduced or enacted 550+ AI-related bills addressing risks from discriminatory algorithms to housing and insurance, following precedents set in Colorado and beyond.

Business organizations have voiced concerns that the bill could discourage tech investment in Nevada, but supporters point to the need for responsible innovation.

For those interested in more detail, see the official SB199 Nevada legislative overview, a thorough Nevada Current analysis of AI guardrails, and a cross-state summary of U.S. AI legislation in 2025.

VERB Technology Company's $8.5 million acquisition of AI-driven video commerce platform Lyvecom marks a pivotal shift toward empowering brands with omnichannel livestream shopping in Las Vegas and beyond.

The integration of Lyvecom's technology into VERB's MARKET.live platform puts full control of the shopping experience - audience, content, data, and conversions - directly in brand hands, addressing persistent concerns about social media algorithm changes and the 40% of consumers wary of making purchases through third-party platforms due to privacy.

Notably, the platform leverages advanced AI to enable real-time user-generated content, automated video repurposing, and predictive analytics, while partnerships with names like Shopify, Tapcart, and Klaviyo bolster reach into fast-growing mobile and direct-to-consumer segments.

As Lyvecom's CEO Maxwell Drut puts it,

“With this integration, we're giving power back to the brands with a true omnichannel approach that connects all their channels while retaining full control over their audience, content, and conversions and allowing their customers to engage directly with the brand while shopping wherever and however they are most comfortable.”

This strategic move positions VERB to capitalize on the global online video platforms market, projected to reach $117.35 billion by 2034 at a 25.2% CAGR.

Deal Components	Details
Upfront Cash	$3,000,000
SAFE Repayment	$1,125,000
Loan Satisfaction	$100,000
Restricted Shares	184,812 ($1,000,000)
Potential Earn-Out	Up to $3,000,000 (24 months)

For further insight, read VERB's official acquisition announcement on their VERB Technology investor relations page, a market analysis of this brand-owned live shopping shift on Movavi News covering VERB and Lyvecom deal, and details on the AI-powered social commerce platform expansion from MarTech Cube's report on VERB's acquisition of Lyvecom.

Las Vegas's gaming tech scene is taking a major leap forward as DevLand AI champions the development of open-source, transparent artificial intelligence for game development and real-time gameplay.

As the global gaming industry surges toward a projected $300 billion valuation in 2025, the demand for AI/machine learning specialists - particularly those versed in ethical, explainable systems - continues to grow, allowing indie and major studios alike to compete on a level playing field.

This trend aligns with Las Vegas's broader push in AI innovation, exemplified by a thriving local ecosystem of highly rated firms such as ELEKS, Openxcell, and Centre Locus (see the top Las Vegas AI companies and their client ratings).

According to recent hiring analysis, studios now seek talent with expertise in AI integration, backend infrastructure, and cross-platform optimization, with the United States - particularly tech-centric hubs like Las Vegas - emerging as magnets for global gaming talent.

The 2025 gaming hiring trends underline the need for transparency and access to middleware tools, which DevLand AI's open-source approach directly addresses.

For a closer look at how generative AI is reshaping game design and empowering human creativity, check out the latest updates from industry leaders in generative AI gaming.

The collaborative, open-source momentum spearheaded by DevLand AI strengthens the city's role as an originator of responsible tech innovation in the global gaming space.

This month, major players in the AI sector - Nvidia, Microsoft, and Intel - captured headlines against a backdrop of heightened market volatility. Nvidia, while reporting record quarterly and annual revenues ($39.3 billion for Q4 and $130.5 billion for FY25), faced a stock slump of around 20% year-to-date as export restrictions to China, rising competition from Huawei, and supply chain challenges impacted investor sentiment.

The company remains a cornerstone for AI infrastructure, with CEO Jensen Huang commenting,

“Demand for Blackwell is amazing as reasoning AI adds another scaling law - increasing compute for training makes models smarter and increasing compute for long thinking makes the answer smarter.”

Microsoft, Nvidia's largest customer, boosted AI infrastructure spending, reporting non-GAAP capital expenditures of $16.75 billion for the quarter - a 53% annual increase - and signaled continued partnership in AI-driven cloud innovation.

Meanwhile, at Intel Vision 2025 in Las Vegas, Intel highlighted ecosystem collaboration and client success stories, showcasing how new processors and AI accelerators are fueling advancements from weather prediction to generative AI in enterprise and defense applications.

As shown below, Nvidia's financials remain robust despite market weakness and shifting demand patterns:

Quarter	GAAP Revenue ($M)	Net Income ($M)	Stock Performance 2025 YTD
Q4 FY25	39,331	22,091	↓ ~20%
FY25 Total	130,497	72,880	-

Looking forward, Wall Street analysts continue to rate Nvidia a "Strong Buy" despite macroeconomic pressures and technological disruption posed by solutions like DeepSeek's resource-efficient AI models.

For deeper market details and context on Nvidia's challenges with export controls and Huawei competition, review Nvidia shares slump 20% in 2025 due to geopolitical and market factors, while a comprehensive review of Nvidia's recent financial performance is available at Nvidia Q4 and Fiscal 2025 Financial Results.

For insights on Intel's strategic approach and the significance of its Las Vegas event, read Intel Vision 2025 Event Highlights and Ecosystem Collaboration.

Las Vegas is rapidly emerging as a hub for autonomous AI agents, with companies across diverse sectors deploying these technologies to deliver real-world impact.

At the Google Cloud Next 2025 conference, held at Mandalay Bay, attendees saw enterprise AI agents move from theoretical pilots to implementations powering customer service, cybersecurity, and multi-cloud integrations, backed by innovations like the Gemini model that

“can also natively use tools like Google Search to access real-time information, and DeepMind's Project Mariner has demonstrated that agents built with the Gemini model can complete tasks using a web browser”

(hands-on AI agent advancements at Google Cloud Next 2025).

In hospitality, Otonomous Hotels is set to open this summer, offering a one-of-a-kind AI-powered guest experience - from creating personalized digital avatars to automating everything from room setup to service delivery, ensuring each returnee's preferences are remembered and fulfilled (AI-powered hospitality at Las Vegas hotels).

Meanwhile, local and global enterprises are acting on breakthroughs like Google's Agent2Agent protocol and Microsoft's Copilot Studio, enabling AI agents to collaborate across platforms, operate GUIs autonomously, and revolutionize workflows for industries ranging from field services to finance (integration of AI agents for business transformation).

Christian Kletzl, CEO of UserGems, shared at the Human[X] conference: “88% of organizations are exploring AI agents.”

The table below highlights key features and applications seen in Las Vegas this month:

AI Agent Use Case	Sector	Notable Benefit
Gemini AI Agents (Google Cloud)	Enterprise/Cloud	Task automation, real-time info access, governance
Otonomous Hotels' Digital Avatars	Hospitality	Hyper-personalized guest journeys, seamless experience
Agent2Agent Protocol/AgenticOS	Enterprise IT	AI interoperability, end-to-end process automation

Las Vegas businesses are setting the pace for a future where autonomous agents seamlessly augment human work across sectors.

Amazon's unexpected bid to acquire TikTok has sent shockwaves through the tech and retail industries just as the U.S. imposes a crucial deadline mandating TikTok's divestiture or national ban.

The offer, made mere days before the April 5 cut-off, was confirmed in an official letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. While the timing has led some insiders to question the seriousness of Amazon's proposal, the move reflects Amazon's ambition to dominate the exploding world of social commerce - particularly as TikTok boasts more than 170 million users and operates a rapidly growing TikTok Shop platform tightly interwoven with Amazon's own e-commerce ecosystem Amazon Said to Make a Bid to Buy TikTok in the U.S. – The New York Times.

Competition is fierce, with other major bidders such as Oracle, private equity firm Blackstone, and AppLovin proposing various structures to address national security concerns linked to TikTok's Chinese-owned parent, ByteDance Battle For TikTok: Amazon, AppLovin Join Oracle And Others Vying To Buy It – Forbes.

For Las Vegas businesses and creators, the result could dramatically reshape strategies as platforms battle for dominance in social shopping, encouraging diversification across alternatives like Instagram Shopping, Facebook Shops, Pinterest Shopping, and YouTube Shopping.

These platforms collectively offer massive reach and unique features for brands aiming to stay relevant and resilient in a shifting landscape, as shown in the table below.

4 TikTok Alternatives for Ecommerce Businesses In 2025 – Shipfusion.

Platform	Unique Audience/Feature	Checkout Capability
Instagram Shopping	Strong Gen Z presence, influencer-driven	In-app via Shopify (U.S. only)
Facebook Shops	Loyal 30+ user base; integrated storefronts	In-app (U.S. only)
Pinterest Shopping	Affluent, discovery-driven shoppers	No native checkout
YouTube Shopping	Video-first; strong adult reach	In-app via Shopify

At this year's NAB Show in Las Vegas, press freedom took center stage as industry leaders addressed growing political pressure and evolving regulatory landscapes.

Curtis LeGeyt, CEO of NAB, strongly defended First Amendment protections in response to recent actions that saw media outlets like the Associated Press temporarily barred from White House access, and NBC reporters removed from Pentagon offices - an escalation of press restrictions that has alarmed the media community.

The convention featured dedicated sessions on safeguarding journalistic integrity, with key speakers highlighting the urgent need to uphold ethical reporting in the face of media bias accusations and government intervention.

Simultaneously, the NAB challenged the FCC's longstanding national TV ownership cap, filing for a complete repeal to allow broadcasters a competitive edge against digital and streaming giants like Google and Netflix.

The NAB's letter argued, “There is simply no good reason to maintain any artificial limits on the reach of TV station groups,” underscoring a call for modernization as local advertising revenue increasingly shifts online.

Issue	NAB's Position	Regulatory Context
Broadcast TV Ownership Cap (39%)	Complete repeal sought	NAB argues rules are outdated; broadcasters frozen at 39% national audience reach
Foreign Ownership Rules	Seeking updates, flexibility above 25%	FCC reviewing rulemaking procedures
Royalties (2026-2030)	Proposal for gradual increase	From $0.0028 (2026) to $0.0032 (2030) per performance

Industry consensus, voiced at multiple press events and panels, emphasized that “this rule has been argued to harm competition, diversity, and localism rather than protect it” (see NAB FCC ownership filing coverage).

Karen Chupka, Executive Vice President of NAB Show, reflected on the event's role:

“This year's show provided a global platform for innovation, diverse voices, and forward-thinking conversations that will shape the future of storytelling and empower everyone to become a content creator.”

With an eye on law and policy, participants explored the balance between deregulation and public interest, making NAB Show 2025 a critical forum for defending media independence in a volatile climate.

Las Vegas has firmly established itself as a driving force in AI and technology innovation, with its ecosystem now home to over 400 top-ranked startups such as Filevine, Boxabl, and AI-focused Amira Learning, contributing to a #26 national and #69 global ranking among tech hubs.

The city witnessed a landmark funding moment with TensorWave's $43 million SAFE round - the largest in Nevada history - which accelerates cloud-based AI computing and deepens partnerships with AMD for next-generation GPU deployment.

Community-led initiatives thrive, from Tech Alley's nonprofit events supporting diverse founders to high-impact investments like Global Gaming League's $10 million round, fueling a multi-title gaming entertainment platform at a new 43,000-square-foot Las Vegas campus (learn more about GGL's mission and partnerships).

With marquee conferences like CES and Ai4, and a robust set of bootcamps and scholarships from programs such as Nucamp, Las Vegas is lowering tech's barrier to entry and expanding pathways to high-demand careers.

As summarized by StartupBlink's April 2025 index of Las Vegas startups, the city is “fostering innovation and offering solutions geared towards efficiency and accessibility.” Looking ahead, the synergy of investment, talent, and educational opportunities cements Las Vegas's status as a vanguard city for the next era of AI and digital entrepreneurship.