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

Milwaukee's AI momentum is surging this April, balancing headline-grabbing innovation with the real-world complexities it aims to address. The city's annual NMDSI Symposium at Marquette University united industry, academia, and community leaders to tackle questions surrounding AI's impact on the workforce - separating myth from reality and focusing on practical change in sectors like healthcare, education, and finance.

Meanwhile, AI-driven proposals to solve Milwaukee County's $50 million budget gap showed AI can generate creative solutions, but local experts remind us true progress “requires strong political will and thoughtful compromise among citizens, officials, and leaders,” blending technology with community values.

The Milwaukee School of Engineering's AI Week is also spotlighting applied AI, from patient care to student-led innovations, cementing the city's role as an emerging tech hub.

As Milwaukee pushes AI forward, residents and leaders alike are engaging deeply with the technology's potential - and its limits - for meaningful civic and economic progress.

Milwaukee County's persistent budget crisis, projected to near $50 million by 2026, has spurred civic leaders to evaluate artificial intelligence as an aid for closing the gap.

While an AI-driven analysis using Perplexity AI proposed a comprehensive set of strategies - including transit restructuring, public-private sponsorships, and consolidation of county services - experts noted the process illuminated rather than solved the core fiscal challenges.

As Rob Henken of the Wisconsin Policy Forum explained, community values and state mandates often shape budget realities beyond the reach of pure analytics.

“Difference between balancing a spreadsheet and navigating the community's priorities.”

Notably, the county's 2025 budget deficit has shrunk from $7.6 million in March to $3.7 million as of April, thanks in part to higher-than-expected sales tax revenue and lower fringe benefit costs, but a $46.7 million shortfall looms for 2026.

To bring residents into the budgeting conversation, officials launched the Balancing Act app for Milwaukee County's budget deficit engagement, empowering citizens to engage directly with spending priorities and trade-offs.

Simultaneously, local leaders are exploring collaborative, multi-stakeholder workgroups and referencing best practices outlined in high-impact case studies, such as those detailed by EY-Parthenon's urban fiscal recovery case study.

As policymakers blend technology, community engagement, and fiscal discipline, Milwaukee's path forward will require both innovative tools and tough policy decisions, as summarized in a recent deep dive on AI's role in Milwaukee County's budget process.

Marquette University hosted the 2025 Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) Symposium on April 15, exploring the profound impact of artificial intelligence on workforce transformation and job automation across sectors such as education, health care, finance, insurance, and real estate.

This hybrid event, titled “Navigating AI: Transforming Industries and Careers,” featured a keynote by Tia White, an executive at Amazon Web Services, who emphasized the enduring relevance of generative AI and the importance of embracing change for future benefits.

A highlight of the symposium was the panel “AI and Job Automation: Reality vs. Myth,” where local industry leaders dispelled common misconceptions and shared sector-specific insights.

As detailed in the official Marquette University announcement for the 2025 NMDSI Symposium, the NMDSI is a collaborative initiative between Northwestern Mutual, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, aiming to position southeastern Wisconsin as a national tech hub by addressing AI-related challenges in research, business, and workforce development.

For an overview of the event and its significance for Milwaukee's evolving tech landscape, see this UWM News brief on the NMDSI AI symposium.

Panelists agreed that while AI will reshape many roles, humans remain essential to interpreting results and driving innovation - offering reassurance as the region navigates automation.

Details on speakers and session topics are available in Marquette's news coverage of Navigating AI in industries and careers.

This month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum across Wisconsin's K-12 schools, establishing the White House Task Force on AI Education to guide federal and local efforts and prioritize AI literacy for students and teachers alike.

The order directs the Secretary of Education to favor AI-related teacher training and the creation of public-private partnerships to bring AI resources into classrooms, with special attention to ensuring early exposure for students and professional development for educators see the official White House fact sheet on AI in schools.

In Milwaukee, teachers are navigating the challenges of integrating AI while maintaining students' critical thinking skills, as highlighted by English teacher Abbey Osborn:

“If you want to use AI to proofread something, I think that's OK. But if you want to use AI to write your whole essay, not so much.”

State guidance encourages responsible use, with Superintendent Jill Underly emphasizing the importance of preparing students for an AI-driven future.

Key objectives of the order, summarized below, point to sweeping changes in both curriculum and professional training:

Directive	Implementing Body	Timeline
AI Teacher Training & Professional Development	Department of Education	Grant priority within 120 days
K-12 AI Curriculum Integration	White House Task Force	Rolling, with partnerships and resources ready in 180 days
Expansion of AI-related Apprenticeships	Department of Labor	Growth mandates within 120 days

Amid praise and skepticism - from those advocating for workforce preparation to educators concerned about diminishing creativity - the initiative is set to accelerate AI competency across Wisconsin's school systems.

For additional analysis on the order's nationwide implications, visit Education Week's comprehensive breakdown of Trump's AI executive order and see how Wisconsin teachers are adapting at Wisconsin Public Radio's examination of local classroom responses.

The 2025 NMDSI Symposium at Marquette University drew regional attention as leading experts debated how AI-driven automation is reshaping the workforce across sectors like education, health care, and finance.

Panelists explored both the realities and misconceptions behind accelerating job automation, spotlighting a dual narrative: while swifter AI integration is causing layoffs in roles vulnerable to automation, substantial opportunities are emerging for those with skills in AI development, cybersecurity, and data analysis.

According to a General Assembly survey, over half of hiring managers anticipate job cuts due to AI, yet 70% remain optimistic about new roles arising as organizations invest heavily in upskilling and reskilling programs.

The World Economic Forum estimates that, globally, up to 75 million jobs could be displaced by AI, but 133 million new positions may be created, especially in tech-driven fields - a dynamic illustrated in the table below.

Jobs Displaced	Jobs Created
~75 million	~133 million

Discussions also touched on the necessity of lifelong learning and the critical need for both technical and soft skills to remain resilient in a continually evolving digital economy.

Upskilling and reskilling are vital as roles change, and organizational and governmental support is essential.

For a closer look at the NMDSI panel and its takeaways, read Marquette University's official event recap on AI and Job Automation Panel Discussion at Marquette University, review workforce transformation data in Tech Layoffs and AI's Impact on the Workforce, and explore additional symposium coverage from UWM News on NMDSI AI Symposium.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) research is shining a critical light on trust issues in AI chatbots and advanced voice clones, revealing crucial nuances for businesses and consumers alike.

Scott Schanke, an assistant professor at UWM's Lubar College of Business, has demonstrated that humanizing chatbots can increase user engagement and sales in retail contexts, but such design choices carry trade-offs: bots with more human-like traits prompt users to negotiate harder, while machine-like bots foster acceptance of lower offers.

In emotionally charged fields like charitable giving, Schanke's findings show that simple, bot-like interactions outperform anthropomorphic and emotional appeals.

These observations are summarized in the following table:

Context	Anthropomorphic Chatbot Outcome	Bot-like Chatbot Outcome
Retail (Buyback)	Increased sales, more negotiation	Greater offer acceptance, less suspicion
Charitable Giving	Counterproductive, lowered donations	Higher conversion rates

On the frontier of voice technologies, UWM's research highlights that voice clones - capable of mimicking real human voices - are perceived as trustworthy by users, even when people are aware the voices are synthetic or their own voice is being used.

As Schanke notes,

“Bots that disclosed they were AI still retained high trust levels.”

The findings amplify the call for legislative protections as the same technology can be used for scams or fraud.

For an in-depth account of this important research, see UWM's analysis on AI-powered chatbots and trust, watch expert discussions in the April 2025 CACM feature on digital worker chatbot trust, and learn about the UWM community's broader AI response in this university news roundup.

The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is launching its first-ever AI Week from April 22 to 26, 2025, bringing together students, faculty, industry leaders, and the public for a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence's real-world impact.

With the theme “AI: The Future is Now,” the week features keynote speakers from industry giants such as NVIDIA and Vanderbilt University, as well as local healthcare providers and innovators.

Highlights include sessions on generative AI in education, cutting-edge healthcare applications, and the Rosie Supercomputer Super Challenge. Dr. Jules White of Vanderbilt University will serve as a distinguished lecturer, focusing on how “augmented intelligence” can amplify human creativity - a concept he describes as "a new computing paradigm that centers human ideas, enabling systems responsive to human intent and collaboration across disciplines."

Dr. White emphasizes, “The focus is on augmented intelligence - amplifying human creativity and problem-solving rather than replacing it.”

The lineup also showcases student research, lightning talks on data science, and a deep learning workshop in partnership with NVIDIA. All events are free to attend, and registration is required due to limited seating.

For a full schedule, event registration details, and accreditation information, visit the official AI Week at MSOE page.

For a closer look at the event's significance and industry partnerships, see AI Week at MSOE shines spotlight on transformative technology.

If you're interested in broader MSOE initiatives in AI education and infrastructure, including the upcoming $76.5 million Engineering Innovation Center with a focus on AI integration, read more at Milwaukee School of Engineering plans AI-integrated learning facility.

Date	Event	Location
April 22	Generative AI in Education | Data Science Lightning Talks | AI in Healthcare Panel	Diercks Hall & MSOE Welcome Center
April 23	AI Alumni Networking | Rosie Supercomputer Challenge Finals	Diercks Hall
April 24	Student Voices Presentations | Dr. Jules White Lecture	Diercks Hall & Direct Supply Innovation Center
April 26	NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute Workshop	MSOE Welcome Center

Amid Milwaukee's rapid AI adoption, local experts are voicing caution about the widening gap between “AI hype” and genuine technological progress. Decades of computing experience underscore how current AI branding frequently exaggerates capabilities - today, even simple automation can be labeled “AI,” fueling unrealistic expectations and potential backlash.

As one observer notes,

“Using ChatGPT is like having a frustratingly unmotivated intern who continues to disappoint, but on rare occasions accidentally proves to be useful.”

Meanwhile, industry analysis reveals that while over 65% of organizations globally have experimented with generative AI, actual large-scale enterprise implementation remains rare: only 5.4% have achieved full rollout (Generative AI adoption statistics and reality report).

The challenges facing businesses include data quality, integration, and regulatory hurdles, often slowing progress compared to the optimistic rhetoric (Analysis of agentic AI hype versus enterprise implementation).

For creative professions like 3D artists, AI's rise has amplified rather than erased the need for skilled human expertise, with companies now favoring hybrid models that blend automation's speed with professional oversight (Impact of generative AI on 3D artists in 2025).

As Milwaukee's leaders point out, sustainable progress depends on measured expectations and honest evaluation - treating AI as a tool to be carefully integrated, not a magic solution arriving fully formed.

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has officially joined the Ryght AI Global Site Network, marking a significant step forward in Milwaukee's leadership in AI-driven healthcare innovation.

This collaboration positions MCW - the only academic cancer center in its area serving medically underserved populations - within a rapidly growing network of thousands of academic and community sites worldwide, aiming to streamline site activation, patient enrollment, and clinical trial compliance in real time.

Ryght's secure generative AI platform is designed to address critical challenges in drug development, such as staff burnout, administrative inefficiencies, and lengthy research timelines.

As highlighted in a CB Insights company analysis of Ryght, the platform offers both free and enterprise tiers and has raised $5.83 million to power its work with top academic, commercial, and healthcare partners.

The partnership was celebrated by Dr. Mary Horowitz, Professor of Hematologic Research at MCW, who stated,

“Joining the Ryght Research Network affirms our commitment to advancing cancer research... accelerates development of life-saving therapies.”

For a deeper look at MCW's new role and Ryght's broader impact across life sciences, visit the official Ryght AI press release and the Ryght AI newsroom.

The table below summarizes key details about the initiative and Ryght AI's offerings:

Feature	Description
Network Scale	Thousands of academic and community sites worldwide
Primary Focus	AI-powered clinical trial optimization
Key Challenges Tackled	Staff burnout, patient enrollment, trial compliance, drug development timelines
Funding Raised	$5.83 million (Angel round)
Main Products	Ryght Preview (free), Ryght Enterprise (paid tiers)

Milwaukee classrooms are experiencing divergent approaches to artificial intelligence as President Trump's recent executive order mandates AI education in all K-12 schools nationwide, prompting districts to both embrace and scrutinize the new policy.

While the Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth executive order establishes a White House Task Force and public-private partnerships to integrate AI into curricula and teacher training, local educators in Milwaukee voice mixed reactions.

Some schools, like Milwaukee Montessori, champion digital fluency and responsible technology use, crediting advanced AI tools for supporting student achievement, as noted in their focus on independent learning and achievement metrics.

However, teachers such as Abbey Osborn caution that, despite AI's utility for tasks like proofreading or image generation, it should not replace critical thinking or original student work.

This concern is echoed by language arts educators advocating for handwritten first drafts to foster creativity and authenticity. As Wisconsin Public Radio reports on AI education in Wisconsin, state leaders released new AI guidance encouraging responsible use while underscoring the vital role of human educators:

“We want to empower educators to embrace the opportunity to teach students how to use AI responsibly...Ultimately, our jobs are to prepare Wisconsin's kids for the future, and it's likely that AI will play a large role in that future.”

Recent surveys suggest 86% of students already use AI in their studies, but community activists and education leaders alike debate how to balance innovation, student creativity, and public oversight.

For a broader look at strategy and educator perspectives nationwide, review the expert analysis on AI adoption and readiness in K–12 schools.

The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is making headlines with its announcement of a new $76.5 million engineering and artificial intelligence center slated for downtown Milwaukee, a pivotal move expected to strengthen the city's position as a tech innovation hub.

Supported by a recent $20 million investment from NVIDIA, this new facility is part of MSOE's ongoing commitment to integrating AI into real-world problem solving and workforce preparation, expanding on its prior advances such as the Diercks Computational Science Hall and the deployment of the "Rosie" supercomputer for AI education.

With MSOE already recognized as offering the best graduate salaries in Wisconsin, and a consistent record of community STEM engagement, cybersecurity research, and hands-on AI initiatives, the university continues to play a key role in shaping Milwaukee's high-tech future.

As noted by the MSOE in the News page, the center will enhance both research and degree offerings, aiming to close skill gaps and offer students exposure to emerging technologies.

For a deeper dive into this landmark development and how it fits into the city's broader tech landscape, see this article covering MSOE's $76.5M engineering center.

The following table summarizes major MSOE campus expansions since 2017:

Year	Initiative/Event	Description
2019	Diercks Computational Science Hall	$34M facility for AI & robotics education, home to "Rosie" supercomputer
2021	Hermann Viets Tower	$37M residence hall renovation providing modern living-learning spaces
2023	Kendall Breunig Center	Redevelopment of former Homeland Security building
2025	Engineering & AI Center	$76.5M new hub, with additional $20M from NVIDIA

To read about MSOE's multifaceted educational outreach and expanding AI initiatives, visit the comprehensive MSOE News site.

Milwaukee's tech scene is accelerating toward a dynamic future, channeling both innovation and caution as new AI initiatives reshape the local economy. The MKE Tech Hub Coalition's Synapse program exemplifies the city's strategy - helping mid-market manufacturers keep pace with rapidly evolving industrial technology by connecting them with a collaborative network of advisors, industry veterans, and tech partners.

As CEO Kathy Henrich remarked,

“Synapse ensures these vital businesses can confidently evaluate and implement AI solutions that drive real business value.”

Meanwhile, a vibrant startup landscape supports continued diversification and opportunity, with companies like EdTech leader Fiveable ($15M+ funding) and AI-centric Part Analytics making headlines.

A snapshot of 2025's top startups is shown below:

Startup	Industry	Funding
Fiveable	EdTech	$15M (Series A)
Part Analytics	AI, SaaS	$4M (Series)
GOLGIX	AI, IoT, Manufacturing	$1M (Seed)

Workforce needs are evolving as 40% of working hours face AI-driven transformation, with surges in roles like machine learning specialists and data analysts predicted by global and regional thought leaders.

Still, experts urge responsible adoption: cultivating employee buy-in, establishing ethical frameworks, and continuously upskilling to avoid pitfalls while realizing productivity gains.

Milwaukee's approach combines strong community engagement, practical upskilling, and public-private partnerships, all designed to ensure that the city's transition to a tech-forward economy benefits business, workers, and education alike.

Read more about implementation strategies and the business case for AI in the region's manufacturing sector at BizTimes' detailed report on AI implementation for manufacturers.