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

Midland and the wider West Texas region are at the epicenter of a technology transformation as energy companies join forces with AI and data infrastructure leaders to address skyrocketing demand for compute power.

This month, a proposal for a massive new AI-powered data center near Marfa highlights the region's unique blend of abundant sun, wind, and available land - with Open Origin planning an entirely renewable, on-site energy setup and the potential creation of up to 1,100 jobs, though questions remain over water use and long-term sustainability (read full coverage here).

In Midland proper, New Era Helium and Sarah Williams at Sharon AI cemented their joint venture to build a 250MW net-zero energy data center integrating carbon capture and reliable natural gas, aiming to meet the energy-hungry needs of AI, high-performance computing, and semiconductor sectors (joint venture announcement).

Meanwhile, Last Mile Production's success with AI-driven oil operations - achieving both a 300% production gain and a 70% reduction in emissions - demonstrates how the convergence of energy expertise and digital innovation is rewriting the playbook for the Permian Basin and cementing West Texas as a tech growth engine (pilot results overview).

This month, New Era Helium announced the start of Phase 1 for its 250MW net-zero AI and high-performance computing data center project in Ector County, marking a significant move for both the energy and tech sectors in Midland.

Developed through a joint venture with Sharon AI, Inc. under the Texas Critical Data Centers, LLC banner, the facility will use natural gas engines paired with carbon capture technology, positioning it as a flagship for sustainable infrastructure powering advanced AI workloads.

The project's initial 200-acre site, recently expanded to 235 acres, is on track for closing within 90 days, with targets set for 100MW capacity online by December 2026 and the remaining 150MW six months later.

• Expansion of the facility reflects Midland's growing importance in the tech sector, with significant regional impact anticipated.
• This joint venture, involving Sharon AI, Inc., demonstrates effective partnership between energy and tech industries.
• Using natural gas engines and carbon capture positions the data center at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure.
• Plans for fiber access and gas supply agreements are underway to support smooth operations as the site develops.
• The launch of a new dedicated website ensures ongoing updates and transparency throughout the project timeline.

Preparations are underway, including fiber access and gas supply agreements.

The venture aims to support West Texas's ambitions as a center for AI innovation by integrating energy expertise with cutting-edge computing, and is expected to be a major regional employer and a template for net-zero digital infrastructure nationwide.

Main Milestone	Target Date	Key Details
Site Closing	Within 90 days	Expanding from 200 to 235 acres
100MW Online	December 2026	First phase of operations
Full 250MW Capacity	June 2027	Remaining 150MW added

"The project integrates energy expertise with cutting-edge computing to make West Texas a hub for AI innovation," said Thomas Rodriguez, CEO of New Era Helium.

Full details on project milestones can be found via the official company announcement, while the most recent developments and context are captured in industry coverage and an official press release.

New Era Helium (NEHC), long recognized for its vast helium reserves, is executing a major shift in strategy - transforming itself from a traditional resources company into a pivotal player powering the artificial intelligence economy.

After securing approval for approximately 120 miles of rights-of-way in the Pecos Slope Field, NEHC is set to overhaul its aging infrastructure to significantly reduce methane emissions and certify production as Responsibly Sourced Gas, laying a sustainable foundation for future growth while tackling a problem equivalent to the CO₂ output of nearly 38,000 cars annually (details here).

The company's boldest move, however, lies in a joint venture to build a 250MW net-zero AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data center campus in Ector County - leveraging both natural gas and responsibly sourced helium to support critical semiconductor manufacturing and next-generation computing needs (read more about the data center project).

This reorientation positions NEHC at an important intersection of advanced materials and AI infrastructure, aiming to convert energy resources directly into the digital backbone for tomorrow's technology, and reflecting the company's commitment to operational excellence as well as regional economic leadership in Midland's rapidly evolving tech landscape (recent strategic update).

This month, Visa accelerated the retail industry's transformation by launching its Intelligent Commerce initiative, a comprehensive platform designed to empower AI “agents” to make purchases on behalf of consumers.

Working with tech leaders including OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, and Perplexity, Visa's move marks a shift from simple chatbot assistants to autonomous agents that handle everything from finding the best deals on groceries to booking flights while giving consumers granular control over spending and approvals.

• AI agents revolutionize shopping: Visa is transitioning from chatbots to AI "agents" who manage shopping routines autonomously.
• Security enhancements: The initiative ensures secure payments by equipping AI agents with tokenized, authenticated access to Visa's global payments network.
• Personalized experiences: The new platform leverages users' consented purchase history to offer greater personalization and efficient transaction management.
• Industry-wide shift: Mastercard and other major players are piloting similar AI agent-led commerce, signaling that trusted, seamless shopping is coming soon to Midland and beyond.

This innovation not only addresses the longstanding challenge of enabling secure payments but also sets the foundation for a new era where shopping routines and complex transactions can be managed more efficiently and with enhanced personalization.

Lisa Gonzalez, a senior developer at a local Midland firm, noted, "The integration of AI in commerce is the most significant shift we've seen since the adoption of mobile payments."

Source	Main Insight	Link
Associated Press	Visa's Intelligent Commerce and collaboration details	Read article
TechCrunch	Platform features and industry analysis	Read article
Visa Corporate	Official announcement and roadmap	Read announcement

Find out more on Visa's pioneering approach to agent-led retail in the Associated Press coverage, explore the platform's features with TechCrunch's analysis, and see the future of autonomous shopping outlined in Visa's own announcement.

Texas has rapidly expanded its AI-powered surveillance infrastructure across the state, particularly through the multi-billion-dollar Operation Lone Star, deploying facial recognition, drones, license plate readers, and advanced software like Tangles and Clearview AI for intelligence gathering and border security.

While this technology-driven push has enabled unprecedented monitoring - processing over 250,000 images daily and logging real-time vehicle and cellphone data - civil liberties advocates and bipartisan lawmakers such as Michael Johnson and Thomas Moore are voicing strong concerns about privacy erosion and unchecked government power.

Despite proposals for oversight such as the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act and new reporting requirements, most legislative action remains limited or watered down, leaving few enforceable guardrails to address warrantless phone tracking and the massive collection of personal data without court oversight.

• Advanced Surveillance Expansion: Texas is embracing cutting-edge AI surveillance tools, transforming state monitoring capabilities.
• Privacy and Legal Concerns: Lawmakers and advocates are worried about unauthorized personal data collection without judicial checks.
• Limited Legislative Oversight: Most efforts to introduce regulation and accountability have been weakened or stalled.
• Public Trust at Stake: Civil liberties groups emphasize transparency and legal reforms to protect citizen rights.

For an in-depth look at Texas' ballooning surveillance capabilities and the contested political landscape, see reporting by Texas Standard on AI surveillance growth, coverage from Biometric Update outlining legislative gaps, and detailed civil liberties analysis from Texas Policy Research.

This month, AI bias has become a flashpoint in U.S. politics, with major implications for Texas tech and innovation. The shift in federal policy under the Trump administration has redefined the conversation: what was once a bipartisan push to reduce algorithmic discrimination in AI is now framed as ‘fighting woke AI' - leading the Commerce Department to drop language around fairness and responsible AI from official guidance.

This comes as the House Judiciary Committee investigates leading tech firms' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in AI, raising questions about free speech and potential ideological sway in algorithms.

Notably, widely used tools like the Monk Skin Tone Scale - which improved AI image recognition for people of color - now face uncertain futures as federal support for inclusive initiatives declines, despite persistent real-world bias in facial recognition and self-driving car detection.

While states like Colorado have passed laws to curb AI discrimination, Texas legislators are considering measures that focus heavily on innovation and competition, with less traction for robust bias regulation.

As national policy de-emphasizes fairness in favor of ‘ideological neutrality', experts warn that many practical risks for underrepresented groups could be deprioritized, complicating efforts for Texas companies to manage both reputational risk and compliance.

For more background, see the Associated Press's reporting on the political pushback, a legislative summary of recent state AI laws, and a legal industry overview of current and pending U.S. AI regulation.

Chevron is making a significant technological leap in the Permian Basin by expanding “triple-frac” drilling operations - fracturing three wells simultaneously - to more than half of its projects this year, up sharply from just 20% in 2024.

This move, driven by a combination of rising costs and geological challenges in the region, allows Chevron to cut well completion time by 25% and reduce costs per well by 12%, even as the shale field's core areas become harder to develop efficiently.

By leveraging artificial intelligence for drilling data and coordinating heavy logistics like water, sand, and electric-powered frac equipment, Chevron aims to optimize returns while holding Permian capital spending flat or slightly lower.

The company's commitment to efficiency comes as oil prices hover beneath the break-even threshold for many operators, making gains from innovation and speed crucial for ongoing production growth.

As part of this strategy, Chevron hopes to boost its daily production by 10% in 2025 before pivoting towards generating greater free cash flow in the coming years.

• Chevron expands triple-frac operations: More than half of Chevron's projects will use triple-frac drilling methods in 2025, compared to just 20% in 2024.
• Artificial intelligence and logistics coordination: Chevron leverages AI and streamlined logistics to optimize well completion speed and costs, according to Oklahoma Minerals.
• Permian capital spending remains steady: Despite efficiency gains, the company plans to keep Permian capital expenditures flat or slightly lower in 2025.
• Innovation drives production and industry trends: Chevron aims for a 10% increase in daily oil production as industry pressures require significant advances in speed and technology.

Year	% Triple-Frac Projects	Key Initiative Leader
2024	20%	Barbara Moore
2025	50%+	Charles Hernandez

“As oil prices remain volatile, optimizing technology and logistics will define the next era of Permian Basin productivity.” - Thomas White

Read more about Chevron's new Permian ambition in Chevron's triple-frac power play, details on cost and time savings at Oklahoma Minerals, and the broader industry context at Oil & Gas 360.

This April, retail stores across Midland are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence to streamline operations and drive measurable returns on investment.

Data from recent industry reports highlights that 63% of U.S. retailers now view AI as essential for staying competitive, and many anticipate a 51% ROI from these deployments within three years.

AI-powered tools are being used for everything from automating order management, customer service, and refunds, to advanced inventory tracking and predictive analytics, thanks in part to new product launches from companies like Lula Commerce and Qsic.

Platforms such as Infor's GenAI are bringing hyper-productive workflows and automated document processing to retailers, reducing inefficiencies and helping teams focus on higher-value activities as highlighted by Info-Tech Research Group.

Meanwhile, convenience store retailers are adopting AI for marketing, loyalty programs, and surveillance, further enhancing customer engagement and operational security as reported by CSP Daily News.

These innovations extend to e-commerce as well, with tools like Shopify's Sidekick now offering multilingual support, and AI-driven agents improving everything from product discovery to marketing automation, positioning Midland's retail sector for major efficiency gains and digital growth as described in Practical Ecommerce's April roundup.

As adoption accelerates, local retailers are poised to benefit from increased convenience, better insights, and tangible business value in the months ahead.

This month, the Texas Legislature advanced several high-profile bills aimed at improving transparency and accountability for artificial intelligence (AI) while stopping short of imposing broad new restrictions.

Most notably, the Texas House passed legislation requiring explicit disclosure in political ads that use AI-generated or substantially altered images, audio, or video - a move designed to protect voters from deceptive deepfakes and manipulated content as elections approach (disclosure law for AI in political ads).

Broader regulatory frameworks, including the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, now focus primarily on government use of AI, with fewer mandates for private businesses after earlier drafts faced criticism for potentially stifling innovation and burdening open-source developers (AI oversight or regulatory overreach debate).

While these measures reflect growing concern over AI's influence in politics and public services, Texas's approach remains relatively restrained compared to states like Colorado or Virginia, where comprehensive oversight and consumer protections are already law (AI legislation trends across states).

As the session continues, lawmakers are weighing privacy, innovation, and civil liberties, and any lasting oversight will depend on whether these ongoing debates produce stronger protections or further delays.

Midland businesses are feeling the ripple effects of the intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry, as sweeping new export controls on advanced AI chips and semiconductors reshape everything from supply chains to investment decisions.

Recent months have seen the U.S. expand licensing requirements for sales of high-end chips - such as Nvidia's H20 - to China and other countries, triggering projected industry losses of over $5.5 billion and share price declines for key players, including Nvidia and AMD (AP News).

The U.S. Commerce Department's “Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion” and ongoing Section 232 investigations introduce stricter controls and potential tariffs on finished electronics, escalating compliance demands across the tech supply chain and raising new risks for Midland-based importers and distributors (Sourceability).

Industry experts and government officials agree these moves are designed to protect national security and domestic innovation, yet local firms are urged to strengthen supply chain transparency and digital compliance tools as the global semiconductor landscape grows more fragmented (TechXplore).

The immediate impact on Midland: tighter margins, evolving documentation requirements, and new uncertainties in procuring AI hardware, as Texas industrial and retail technology sectors brace for a complicated trade environment in the months ahead.

Permian Basin tech growth is contending with new headwinds as local energy and data infrastructure firms call for tariff clarity and greater digitization to navigate today's volatile landscape.

A surge in U.S. tariffs and reciprocal trade measures this spring has stirred uncertainty, driving oil prices to four-year lows and making long-term planning risky for regional giants like Diamondback Energy, which just closed a $4.2 billion acquisition to remain the largest independent Permian producer.

Industry executives, gathering at events such as TCU's Global Energy Symposium, voiced concern that tariff-related policy swings are curbing capital investment and stalling critical energy-market deals, while also straining local businesses working to support AI-fueled data center growth and next-generation power needs.

The rippling impact is visible across upstream and midstream operations, where companies are both trimming expenditures and doubling down on digital transformation and efficiency measures.

Analysts warn that if oil prices fall closer to $50 per barrel - below most break-even thresholds - production could shrink and distressed asset sales may rise. This period of uncertainty highlights how vital policy stability and accelerated digitization are for Midland's long-term competitiveness as a tech and energy powerhouse.

Read more on how Diamondback Energy is challenging tariffs to protect the local shale industry, why extraordinary volatility has led to canceled energy deals, and how industry leaders are linking tariff policy to data center expansion and digitization in West Texas.

As April 2025 comes to a close, Midland's rapid AI adoption mirrors both opportunity and challenge for the region and beyond. Local investment is surging, with the city proposing a $9.2 million technology fund and new IT roles to support ambitious plans for integrating artificial intelligence and enhanced communications across municipal operations in Midland's 2025 proposed budget.

At the same time, the national stage is shifting: major players like Visa are piloting AI-powered personal shopping agents, with the potential to alter how consumers interact with digital commerce through AI-driven payments integration.

These trends come as AI infrastructure skyrockets - Texas is fast becoming a focal point for new manufacturing and data centers, raising urgent questions around workforce implications, energy demands, and political debates over AI bias and oversight as highlighted by recent policy discussions statewide.

Midland stands at the forefront: balancing growth with careful planning, community engagement, and collaboration, the city's choices today will help define the trajectory of both regional innovation and the national technology landscape in this AI-powered era.