This Month's Latest Tech News in Miami, FL - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

Miami's AI and tech scene continues to flourish as a burgeoning "star hub," recognized for its dynamic integration of innovation and education. The city leads nationally with Miami-Dade County Public Schools pioneering the largest generative AI rollout, equipping over 105,000 students and 1,000 teachers with Google's Gemini chatbots to foster critical thinking and ethical AI use in classrooms, as detailed by The New York Times article on Miami's AI education initiatives.

This educational momentum complements Miami's growing AI startup ecosystem, with ventures like Bliss Aesthetics raising $17.5M for AI-powered plastic surgery platforms and Cast AI securing $108M to optimize cloud computing costs, highlighting increasing venture capital investments highlighted by the South Florida Business Journal's coverage of Miami's AI ecosystem.

Universities in the region are also ramping up AI curriculums and workforce training to meet demand, contributing to a collaborative tech ecosystem noted in Purple Horizons' analysis of AI development in Miami.

As Miami builds an inclusive pipeline, addressing AI skill gaps particularly among women and minorities, initiatives like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp offer practical training to harness AI across industries, empowering the local workforce to thrive in an AI-driven economy.

On May 1, 2025, Miami Dade College (MDC) proudly hosted its first-ever AI Student Showcase at the AI Center on the Wolfson Campus, spotlighting the innovation and talent of its students in artificial intelligence.

Sixteen student teams presented pioneering projects that leveraged the latest AI models across diverse sectors including finance, blockchain, healthcare, education, and cybersecurity.

With an attendance of over 300 visitors comprising educators, venture capitalists, employers, and community leaders, the event highlighted the depth and breadth of MDC's AI programs, which have served more than 200 students ranging in age from 18 to 60.

Pedro Santos Acosta, Executive Director of Emerging Technologies at MDC, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative, stating,

“Students at MDC aren't just learning about artificial intelligence. They're using it to reimagine industries, solve real-world problems, and shape a smarter, more innovative tomorrow.”

The showcase underscores MDC's commitment to bridging the gap between education and employment through partnerships like the lead sponsor Miami Tech Works, fostering a sustainable tech talent pipeline in Miami's evolving AI ecosystem.

For more on the event, visit the official MDC AI Student Showcase page and detailed reporting by WLRN News on Miami Dade College AI Showcase.

Explore Miami Dade College's broader AI initiatives at their AI Center site supporting community-wide AI education and innovation.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third-largest district in the U.S., is leading a national effort to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into K–12 education, deploying Google's Gemini chatbot to over 105,000 high school students while training more than 1,000 educators on responsible and ethical AI use.

Initially cautious, the district shifted from banning AI tools over concerns about cheating to embracing them for personalized learning, critical thinking, and workforce preparation, with the support of initiatives like the AI Institute - a cohort-based program providing extensive AI training to teachers and principals.

Innovative classroom applications include role-playing historical figures and receiving instant feedback on writing assignments, helping students enhance their skills while learning to evaluate AI-generated content critically.

The district rigorously tested multiple AI systems for accuracy, fairness, and privacy before selecting Gemini for its robust safety features, ensuring student data is not used to train AI models.

This forward-thinking approach aligns with President Trump's national mandate to incorporate AI into K–12 curricula and reflects Miami-Dade's commitment to preparing students for an AI-driven future without compromising educational integrity.

As school board member Roberto J. Alonso emphasizes,

“Every student should have some level of introduction to A.I. because it's going to impact all of our lives.”

Explore how Miami-Dade is transforming education with AI in The New York Times' detailed coverage of AI in Miami schools, learn about their innovative AI training programs for educators, and see how educators are leveraging Google's Gemini tools to personalize learning at scale in Forbes' feature on AI innovation in schools.

Miami Dade College (MDC) is rapidly expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) educational offerings to meet growing employer demand, underscored by an enrollment surge to over 300 students in AI courses spanning certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs.

As the first college in Florida to offer an associate degree in applied AI, MDC emphasizes practical skills for AI technician and machine learning specialist roles, catering largely to non-traditional students with 70% over age 26 and 30% over 41.

The college's AI Centers at the Wolfson and North campuses are equipped with advanced resources, including partnerships with Amazon Web Services for cloud computing.

MDC's comprehensive AI curriculum covers lifecycle management, ethical AI design, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Scholarships enhance accessibility, and ongoing curriculum updates ensure alignment with the evolving AI industry.

Additionally, MDC is utilizing Microsoft 365 Copilot to boost student success and faculty productivity, reporting a 15% increase in pass rates and 12% lower dropout rates.

The college's leadership highlights the importance of workforce readiness through AI skills, stating,

“Miami Dade College is committed to staying up-to-date with a program that really helps people understand the latest on AI that is useful for a workforce environment and to land good high-paying jobs,”

said Antonio Delgado, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Partnerships.

Also, MDC leads a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant to develop the National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium, supporting scalable AI education nationwide.

For details on MDC's innovative programs, visit the Miami Dade College AI Center programs page, explore the AI National Conference 2025 hosted by MDC, and read more on their transformative AI adoption in education at EdTech Magazine article on Miami Dade College's AI initiatives.

The University of South Florida (USF) is set to launch the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing this fall, marking a significant milestone in South Florida's workforce development and AI education landscape.

Backed by a historic $40 million gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini, this pioneering college will address the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals and advance interdisciplinary AI research, fostering innovation that fuels regional and national economic growth.

The inaugural summer research program engaged undergraduate scholars working on cutting-edge projects such as robotic hardware integration and prompt engineering for large language models, exemplifying hands-on experience that prepares students for AI-driven careers.

As USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra emphasized, this initiative

is creating a national model for preparing leaders in this rapidly evolving field.

The Bellini College aims to produce up to 1,000 graduates annually equipped with skills vital to sectors from defense to healthcare, bolstered by partnerships with industry leaders like ReliaQuest and government agencies.

Additionally, collaborations with institutions like the University of Rhode Island expand its educational reach. This bold initiative positions Tampa Bay as an emerging "Cyber Bay" and reflects broader trends across Florida universities, such as UCF's new Institute of Artificial Intelligence, enhancing the state's competitiveness in AI technology and workforce readiness.

Learn more about USF's groundbreaking program and its impactful role in South Florida's tech ecosystem through the USF Bellini College overview, the USF summer research program details, and UCF's complementary Institute of AI launch announcement.

From May 5–7, 2025, the 3rd annual Infobip Shift Miami Conference convened at the Perez Art Museum to unite developers and tech leaders around the transformative power of artificial intelligence.

As Miami cements its reputation as an innovation hub, this boutique AI-focused event offered hands-on workshops, insightful panels, and networking opportunities aimed at shaping the future of software development.

Speakers such as Robert Brennan (All Hands AI) and Adrienne Tacke (Viam) highlighted how AI empowers developers to craft cutting-edge products and industry solutions.

Infobip, a global cloud communications platform recognized as a leader in AI and CPaaS technologies, emphasizes the conference as a unique platform to explore AI's role in today's economy.

Ethan Gustav, Infobip's North America Group President, remarked,

“Infobip Shift Miami brings top developers and tech pioneers together to transform the global tech landscape... attendees can look forward to engaging in highly interactive discussions and hands-on experiences that will shape the future of software.”

Below is a summary of Infobip's recognized leadership in the tech sector, underscoring the conference's credibility and vision:

Developers and professionals interested in leveraging AI for software innovation can find registration and further details on the official Infobip Shift Miami press release and explore event highlights and talks on the Shift Conference YouTube channel.

The event not only strengthens Miami's tech ecosystem but also sets a precedent for developer-centered AI conferences in the region.

Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach has implemented Artisight's AI-powered Smart Hospital Platform in 160 inpatient rooms, significantly enhancing patient care through advanced computer vision, voice recognition, and multi-sensor networks.

This technology enables 24/7 remote patient monitoring, proactive fall prevention, and real-time audio-video communication, allowing nurses to focus more on direct care while reducing administrative tasks and burnout.

According to Dr. Alon Weizer, Chief Medical Officer,

“The fusing of Artisight into our nurses' day-to-day schedule not only helps make the hospital run more efficiently, but it allows for patients to have a smoother experience and for our nurses to experience less burnout.”

The deployment has resulted in measurable improvements such as a 94% nursing satisfaction score, 26% reduction in nursing overtime, and 45% reduction in nurse turnover.

Beyond workflow optimization, Artisight's platform captures real-time, patient-specific data locally and integrates seamlessly with clinical environments to deliver personalized, human-centered care.

Labcorp Venture Fund highlights Artisight as a transformative solution that automates tasks like discharge planning and admission assessments to relieve workforce strain while improving outcomes.

For more detailed insights, visit the Nucamp May 2025 Miami Tech News blog post, explore Artisight's official website for platform capabilities, or read the South Florida Hospital News report on AI integration at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

On March 28, 2025, the University of Miami School of Law's Miami Law & AI (MiLA) Lab hosted "Prompting Legal Solutions," a pioneering conference and competition designed to prepare legal professionals and students for the evolving role of AI in legal practice.

Held at the Newman Alumni Center in Coral Gables, this free event brought together law students, practitioners, faculty, and legal tech enthusiasts to explore responsible AI integration through expert panels, hands-on workshops, and live demonstrations of cutting-edge legal AI tools.

The conference featured keynote speaker Judge Lisa Walsh and specialized sessions such as "Prompt Engineering in Legal Practice" led by industry experts Melissa Ballesteros and Aníbal Abarca.

A highlight was the AI Lawyering Student Competition, where participants tackled real-world legal scenarios using AI in a two-phase, expert-judged contest streamed live and offering cash prizes.

MiLA Lab director Or Cohen-Sasson emphasized the urgency of adapting to AI's transformative impact:

“The question isn't whether AI will transform legal practice, but how quickly you'll adapt.”

To foster dialogue and practical skill-building at this critical intersection of law and technology, the event encouraged networking and collaboration among attendees.

For more details on the event and the MiLA Lab's initiatives, visit the Prompting Legal Solutions conference page or the University of Miami news release.

Legal professionals looking to deepen their AI proficiency can also explore the Artificial Intelligence in Law Practice 2025 program, which supports lawyers in navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.

Meta Florida alumni are playing a pivotal role in guiding the next generation of students interested in careers at the intersection of technology policy and artificial intelligence.

Reflecting Meta's forward-thinking approach, the company recently announced plans to incorporate AI assistants during coding interviews, signaling a shift in how technical talent is evaluated and prepared for future roles in AI-driven development environments.

This initiative aligns with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision that AI will not replace engineers but rather augment creativity and productivity, with AI potentially handling much of the coding in the near future.

Meanwhile, key US tech policies continue to evolve, including federal guidelines on AI use and procurement, efforts to address privacy and ethical risks in AI, and bipartisan legislative actions like the TAKE IT DOWN Act seeking to regulate AI-generated content responsibly.

Meta's aggressive investment in AI infrastructure and talent recruitment, as evidenced by their Q2 2025 financial results and strategic hiring, underscores the importance of cultivating informed leaders who can navigate the complex regulatory and ethical landscapes emerging alongside AI advancements.

For those interested in exploring these developments firsthand, Meta Careers offers opportunities to engage with cutting-edge tech and policy challenges, while insights from the April 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup provide broader context on the national AI regulatory environment.

Together, these initiatives highlight Miami's growing prominence as a hub where tech innovation, policy expertise, and educational mentorship converge, empowering students to thrive in AI-centric careers.

Learn more about Meta's AI-assisted coding interviews.

Miami-based startup Bliss Aesthetics, co-founded by celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer - known as "Dr. Miami" - has raised $17.5 million in a seed funding round led by Shine Capital to develop an AI-driven platform transforming the cosmetic surgery experience.

The platform leverages generative AI, Stable Diffusion, and computer vision to enable patients to visualize potential cosmetic outcomes realistically, intelligently match with board-certified surgeons tailored to their goals, and access financing options, thereby boosting patient engagement from 40% to 80%.

Addressing a rapidly growing $200 billion cosmetic procedure market expected within a decade and a surge in male clients (+55% projected), Bliss now supports providers across six states including Florida and Texas, with plans for further expansion.

Co-founder and CEO Gal Yosef highlights the platform's ability to reduce administrative burdens for doctors while enhancing patient decision-making, stating,

“By combining intelligent matchmaking with AI tools, we equip patients to make informed, confident, and financially savvy decisions and give doctors the ability to deliver better outcomes to more patients.”

Dr. Salzhauer adds,

“It's simply a game changer for cosmetic and plastic surgery,”

emphasizing the platform's role in streamlining patient management and improving surgical satisfaction.

Additional investors such as Synchrony Ventures support Bliss's integration of transparent financing solutions, aiming to reshape cosmetic surgery through technology.

For more details, visit the Bliss Aesthetics official site, read the PR Newswire funding announcement, or explore the South Florida Business Journal coverage.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing to unveil a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory framework within the next few months, addressing what he calls society's “biggest issue.” Highlighting concerns about AI's potential to cause “major, major upheavals in jobs,” especially in white-collar sectors, DeSantis argues for cautious implementation of AI guardrails to prevent misuse and societal harm.

He warned that unregulated AI could enable false narratives through manipulated data, stating,

“If you wanted to manipulate and create false narratives, and you're in control of one of these AI, you just put garbage in the data set - garbage in, garbage out.”

His approach emphasizes protecting Floridians from the dominance of large tech companies and maintaining the ability to “live and pursue happiness” without undue interference.

DeSantis has already signed legislation like Brooke's Law, requiring social platforms to remove nonconsensual AI-generated deepfake images within 48 hours, demonstrating his commitment to child protection and digital safety.

While details on the AI policy remain forthcoming, the initiative may include new legislation to provide proper safeguards. Critics caution over potential economic downsides, with models suggesting stringent AI regulations could cost Florida up to $38 billion in economic activity.

Despite these concerns, DeSantis stands firm on state-level involvement, opposing federal measures like the “Big Beautiful Bill” that initially sought to block state AI regulations for a decade.

For further in-depth coverage, visit the Florida Phoenix report on DeSantis' AI approach, the Orlando Sentinel's update on AI policy concerns, and an analysis on the economic impact of AI regulations in Florida.

Miami is solidifying its position as a burgeoning AI and technology powerhouse through dynamic community engagement, innovative applications, and an expanding ecosystem of events and education.

The city hosts vibrant gatherings like the AI & Tech Networking Miami event, fostering collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors in a relaxed yet goal-driven setting.

Local industries are embracing AI integration, as highlighted by advancements in parking operations where real-time data and predictive analytics have significantly optimized staffing and customer service, exemplifying Miami's commitment to smart city transformation in the digital age (The Future of AI and Parking article).

Moreover, Miami serves as a hub for diverse AI conferences, including the celebrated Infobip Shift Miami 2025 conference, which draws developers and executives to explore AI's economic impact, underscoring the region's growing influence in tech innovation.

Supporting this momentum, Nucamp's practical AI training bootcamps - from the 15-week AI Essentials for Work to the 30-week Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur program - equip professionals with skills to harness AI tools and launch tech ventures, meeting workforce demands in this evolving landscape.

Through its strategic emphasis on education, networking, and implementation, Miami exemplifies a forward-looking city driving technological growth while preparing its talent pipeline for a future defined by AI.