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

Miami's tech scene is surging this spring, marking new milestones in AI innovation, investment, and education. Major funding rounds led by local standout Cast AI's $108 million Series C funding are fueling the city's reputation as a cloud and AI automation hub, with over 2,100 enterprise customers and a valuation close to $900 million.

At the institutional level, the Frost School of Music's partnership with Suno AI sets a new standard in creative education, merging AI tools with musical training:

“As such, we view it as an internal mandate to jump into what's new and emerging within the music industry... Our partnership with Suno AI is just one example of how we're closely collaborating with other industry leaders,” said Dean Shelly Berg.

Miami's startups raised an impressive $900 million in Q1 of 2025, ranking 8th nationwide, with AI-driven ventures dominating the landscape and global giants like Apple expanding locally.

See the full investment trends and AI ecosystem rankings in the latest Miami funding report:

Q1 2025 VC Raised	# of Deals	Global Ranking
$900M	67	16th worldwide

Miami's momentum cements its role as a national leader driving AI adoption, entrepreneurship, and global tech partnerships.

Miami Dade College (MDC) made headlines this week as it hosted its inaugural Student AI Showcase, where students proudly displayed trailblazing projects in machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing at the AI Center on its Wolfson Campus.

The event provided a platform for MDC students to present AI-driven solutions grounded in real-world needs, blending technical expertise with creative problem-solving.

In the words of Pedro Santos Acosta, MDC's Executive Director of Emerging Technologies,

“The AI Student Showcase is a bold reminder that the future isn't something we wait for - it's something we build.”

Attendees experienced firsthand how MDC integrates AI into education, offering pathways from certificates to bachelor's degrees, making advanced tech education accessible for both new and returning students.

The showcase is just one example of MDC's commitment to technological advancement - further demonstrated by nationally recognized initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence for Business Innovation and Sustainability (AIBIS) project, recently highlighted in the EDUCAUSE Horizon Report for embedding hands-on AI learning into the curriculum.

For more on this landmark event, see the WLRN News story on MDC's Student AI Showcase.

Explore details and future events via the official Miami Dade College events calendar, and learn how MDC is setting education standards nationwide with projects like AIBIS in the President's Innovation Fund award highlights.

Mount Sinai Medical Center has introduced the Artisight AI-powered virtual nursing platform to 160 inpatient rooms at its Miami Beach campus, marking a significant advancement in patient care and nursing support.

Artisight's smart hospital technology leverages advanced computer vision and real-time audio-video capabilities to enable 24/7 remote patient monitoring, proactive fall prevention, and immediate response to patient needs, all while streamlining clinical workflows and reducing administrative burden.

As Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alon Weizer notes,

“The fusing of Artisight into our nurses' day-to-day schedule not only helps make the hospital run more efficiently, but also allows for patients to have a smoother experience and for our nurses to experience less burnout. It's a great piece of innovation that betters the workflow, reduces the administrative burden, and ultimately improves our patient care.”

Artisight's impact extends beyond efficiency, boasting a 94% nursing satisfaction score, a 26% reduction in nursing overtime, and a 45% decrease in turnover, as detailed on the Artisight official platform page.

Compared to other virtual care solutions, Artisight stands out with comprehensive integration features, including ambient documentation, predictive analytics, and multisensory intelligence.

See the key results in the table below:

Metric	Value
Nursing Satisfaction Score	94%
Reduction in Nursing Overtime	26%
Reduction in Nursing Turnover	45%

This deployment echoes Mount Sinai's broader strategy to use AI as “augmented intelligence” that enhances clinical decision-making without replacing the essential human touch, as highlighted in their recent AI nursing innovation blog.

The Artisight rollout positions Mount Sinai at the forefront of smart hospital transformation, joining health systems nationwide in leveraging AI and IoT to deliver safer, more personalized care, as reported by South Florida Hospital News.

The Infobip SHIFT Miami Developer Conference, returning May 6–7, 2025 at the Pérez Art Museum, is poised to deepen Miami's reputation as a thriving tech hub by focusing on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in software development.

Drawing top innovators like Stefania Druga (Google DeepMind), Albert Brennan (All Hands AI), and Adrienne Tacke (Viam), the third annual SHIFT Miami offers an exclusive forum for developers, product owners, and startup founders to explore AI's impact on digital products, industry transformation, and creative processes.

Organizers emphasize the conference's hands-on learning approach, offering talks, panels, an EXPO hall, and workshops designed to foster practical AI skills and professional connections.

Ivan Brezak Brkan, Director of Developer Experience and Content, underscored the event's mission by stating,

“AI has become a vital tool for developers, unlocking endless opportunities for innovation.”

With Miami rapidly establishing itself as a center for tech innovation, attendees can expect meaningful networking and knowledge-sharing that will help shape the city's - and the country's - AI-driven future.

For more on the lineup and to register, visit the official SHIFT Miami 2025 Developer Conference site, read about the conference's impact and featured speakers in the ShiftMag AI Takes Over Miami feature, and explore event highlights and perspectives from organizers on Infobip's official engineering blog.

The rise of AI-driven fraud in South Florida has prompted Barry University to launch a pioneering Ethics & Anti-Fraud AI Center, aiming to educate and empower the community in the fight against increasingly sophisticated scams.

AI-powered technologies now facilitate a range of frauds - from deepfake impersonations targeting residents with phony phone calls, texts, and job offers, to sophisticated catfishing schemes using AI-generated videos and voices, resulting in reported losses of over $12 million in Florida last year alone (AI-driven scam calls and impersonation frauds in South Florida).

Barry University Vice-Provost Bogdan Daraban underscores,

It is very important for us to understand at a fundamental level how this technology operates and what it is capable of doing.

The university's initiative responds to a global landscape where over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams in 2024, and deepfake-related crimes have surged dramatically, making scams more difficult to detect (latest scams you need to be aware of in 2025).

Dr. Rob Hammond from USF highlights this concern: AI now delivers tailored interactions at scale, enabling one scammer to target hundreds with highly convincing, empathetic bots, a trend that contributed to $1 billion in romance scam losses in 2023 (AI sophistication in romance scams).

By focusing on awareness, ethical responsibility, and critical thinking, Barry University's new center aims to build the local and national capacity to mitigate AI-driven fraud's growing impact.

The University of Miami's MiLA Lab has made history by launching Florida's first legal AI conference and student competition, “Prompting Legal Solutions,” aimed at bridging the gap between artificial intelligence and legal practice.

Bringing together students, practitioners, and industry experts, the event featured expert-led panels on the practical integration of AI in law, hands-on workshops, and an innovative student competition where teams used AI tools to draft due diligence documents and develop client intake agents under time constraints.

Judge Lisa Walsh encapsulated the event's ethos, stating,

“AI can never justify laziness. It cannot replace dedication, immersion, brainstorming, emotion, or your unique genius.”

Pioneers Patricia Abril and Or Cohen-Sasson emphasized the urgency for the legal community to adapt to AI's intellectual augmentation.

The MiLA Lab's cross-disciplinary initiatives aren't limited to events - they've introduced Bluebook AI for automated legal citations, ClassInsight for classroom analytics, and AEGIS to protect confidentiality in AI interactions.

Competition outcomes spotlighted top talent from multiple universities.

Place	Team	School
1st	Brhea D'Mello & Riya Goel	University of Miami
2nd	Dax Sotero & Sunny Patel	Florida International University
3rd	Nailah Morris, Johnathan Kramer, Tomás Borenszteyn	Nova Southeastern University

Learn more about the MiLA Lab's AI and law initiatives at their insightful event recap, explore details on the future of AI and Law at the University of Miami, and review the lab's recent innovations in AI-driven legal education and practice.

The University of South Florida (USF) is set to significantly boost Florida's technology sector with the launch of its Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, the first college of its kind in the nation and made possible by a historic $40 million gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini.

Opening in Fall 2025, the college will blend cutting-edge AI and cybersecurity programs, producing job-ready graduates to address the existing gap in tech talent - especially with nearly 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions nationwide and the U.S. losing $12 billion to cybercrime last year.

As USF President Rhea Law notes,

“As AI and cybersecurity quickly evolve, the demand for professionals skilled in these areas continues to grow, along with the need for more research to better understand how to utilize powerful new technologies in ways that improve our society.”

Notably, USF will hire 15–20 new professors, integrate AI curricula across other disciplines, and send out nearly 500 graduates annually, with aims to double that number to meet workforce needs.

The Bellini College will initially leverage existing resources and transform into a collaborative hub for industry partnerships and interdisciplinary learning, helping Tampa Bay strengthen its reputation as “Cyber Bay.” For more on the college's impact, curriculum plans, and record-setting philanthropy, visit the official USF Bellini College announcement, review details of the $40 million Bellini gift and national model for AI education, and explore further insights into USF's plans to propel academic and workforce excellence in AI and cybersecurity.

Papa Johns has launched a bold pilot in Miami, leveraging Google Cloud's cutting-edge AI to overhaul the pizza chain's customer experience across digital and in-store touchpoints.

The newly formed PJX innovation team is spearheading initiatives such as AI-based chatbots, hyper-personalized loyalty rewards, predictive ordering, and a cloud-based POS system, designed to increase order frequency, tailor promotions, and optimize delivery routes for local customers.

As CEO Todd Penegor put it,

“Our partnership with Google Cloud will enable us to take personalization to the next level. We're not just reacting to orders – we're anticipating our customers' needs and proactively providing tailored recommendations and offers.”

The collaboration promises AI-powered features including customized recommendations for occasions like birthdays and sporting events, real-time personalized digital experiences, automated marketing offers, and AI-driven route dispatching for faster, more efficient delivery.

This initiative places Papa Johns in line with other major brands ramping up tech investments and underscores Miami's growing role as a hotbed for digital transformation in foodservice.

For a closer look at how Papa Johns is shaping this digital evolution in partnership with Google Cloud, explore the official Papa Johns and Google Cloud partnership announcement, a summary of industry coverage on Papa Johns AI-driven online ordering upgrades, and the latest insights on Papa Johns AI investments in faster delivery.

Key innovations are summarized below:

Feature	Technology	Benefit
Order Suggestions	BigQuery, Vertex AI, Gemini	Automated, occasion-based push notifications
Personalized Loyalty	Generative AI	Dynamic website/app offers and discounts
Optimized Delivery	AI-Driven Dispatch & Routing	Faster, more efficient pizza delivery

Miami's tech scene reached a major milestone this April as Bliss Aesthetics, co-founded by the renowned Dr. Michael Salzhauer ("Dr. Miami"), secured a $17.5 million seed funding round to propel its AI-powered plastic surgery platform.

Led by Shine Capital and supported by Synchrony Ventures, Sheva Ventures, and others, Bliss offers patients personalized previews of cosmetic enhancements, streamlined surgeon matching, and integrated financing options, all powered by cutting-edge generative AI models like Stable Diffusion and computer vision.

According to South Florida Business Journal's coverage of Bliss Aesthetics' seed funding, the platform is already available in six states and plans to expand nationally.

The company reports remarkable outcomes - including a 500% growth in its provider base since launch and a jump in conversion rates from 40% to 80%, showing the robust demand for AI-driven, patient-centric healthcare solutions.

Dr. Salzhauer comments,

“For physicians, the next-generation platform streamlines patient management and positions surgeons to deliver more precise patient outcomes and improve satisfaction.”

As Bliss Aesthetics joins the dynamic ranks of AI health innovators, it meets a growing U.S. market where about 25% of Americans have undergone cosmetic procedures and industry demand is set to exceed $200 billion in the coming decade, according to Calcalist Tech's report on cosmetic procedure industry growth.

To see Bliss Aesthetics' funding progress alongside other leading AI deals globally, visit Crescendo.ai's roundup of 2025's top AI venture capital rounds.

Here's a snapshot of the latest numbers:

Platform	Funding Amount	Lead Investor	States Available	Key Features
Bliss Aesthetics	$17.5 million (Seed)	Shine Capital	FL, TX, IL, AZ, MI, NC	AI previews, surgeon matching, financing

Margaret Brisbane, Chief Information Officer and Director of the Information Technology Department for Miami-Dade County, has earned national recognition as one of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers in Government Technology for 2025.

Leading a team of over 900 IT professionals, Brisbane has propelled major initiatives such as the “No Wrong Door” project to streamline public services, pioneered responsible AI adoption - including tools like the Pawfect Match pet adoption app - and championed workforce development through partnerships with local institutions.

Her mentorship extends beyond Miami-Dade's workforce, fostering talent and digital inclusivity through programs with high schools, Miami Dade College, and Florida International University.

Brisbane's accolades, such as the South Florida CIO ORBIE Award and the Female Technology Leader of the Year title from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, spotlight her influential leadership and lasting community impact, as detailed in her official Miami-Dade government profile.

Emphasizing her philosophy that

“technology is a powerful enabler,”

Brisbane continues to advance digital equity and operational efficiency across the county.

Readers can discover more about her career achievements and leadership roles in the broader context of government IT innovation through the Agile International bio and recent conference features.

Miami's tech ecosystem is accelerating its ambitions through a robust blend of high-impact events, strategic partnerships, and expanding data infrastructure. The 2025 Infobip SHIFT Miami conference, happening May 5–7, is uniting global developers, executives, and AI leaders to shape the future of software with interactive workshops and expert talks on cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications.

As Ethan Gustav, Infobip's Group President of North America, noted,

“Infobip Shift Miami brings top developers and tech pioneers together to transform the global tech landscape... highlighting [AI's] applications for developers and the creative processes that drive its evolution.”

Simultaneously, the city is elevating its role as a digital gateway with Iron Mountain breaking ground on its first Miami data center, a 150,000-square-foot facility set to open in 2026 and powered entirely by carbon-free energy, cementing Miami's position as a hub connecting the U.S. with Latin America and the Caribbean (Infobip SHIFT Miami: Leading the Future of Software by Uniting Developers with AI; Iron Mountain Breaks Ground on Its First Data Center in Miami).

These efforts are further amplified by initiatives like the Smart Cities MIAMI 2025 conference, where data science and urban design are being leveraged to forge more equitable, human-centric city solutions that address both growth and inclusivity (Smart Cities MIAMI 2025 Conference).

The combined force of marquee gatherings, collaborative partnerships, and world-class digital infrastructure is propelling Miami to the forefront of tech innovation for Spring 2025 and beyond.

Miami's tech and AI ecosystem continues its impressive trajectory, positioning the city as a nationwide leader fueled by robust public-private partnerships and major investments.

Recent collaborative initiatives - such as a regional partnership between Miami, West Palm Beach, and key organizations like the Florida Council of 100, eMerge Americas, and Related Ross - are driving substantial infrastructure projects, amplifying global investment, and expanding entrepreneur access through accelerator programs.

As highlighted at the eMerge Americas Conference & Expo, Miami's tech renaissance is powered by 20,000+ conference attendees from over 60 countries and a focus on themes including AI, cybersecurity, and fintech.

“This is more than an economic development project - it's a global statement that Florida is ready to lead in innovation.” - Michael Simas, President & CEO of the Florida Council of 100

Public and private investors are also collaborating with universities - backed by a $10 million federal grant for Miami Tech Works - to grow talent pipelines in coding, cybersecurity, and analytics.

The impact is tangible: Southeast Florida drove 94% of the state's VC funding, with $4.13 billion invested in 2024 alone, and successful projects such as AI-driven traffic management have reduced congestion by 15%.

For aspiring tech professionals, programs like Nucamp's Cybersecurity Fundamentals Bootcamp and a host of web and software development tracks, paired with targeted scholarships for women and underrepresented groups, broaden access to Miami's fast-evolving digital workforce.

For a comprehensive look at the region's strategic tech expansion, read the Florida Trend report on Miami's new global tech partnership and discover why collaboration and inclusive education are at the heart of Miami's rise.