This Month's Latest Tech News in New Orleans, LA - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

New Orleans is rapidly cementing its role as a tech and AI leader, thanks to transformative initiatives such as Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), which recently unveiled a $100 million Growth Fund and the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, aiming to help 5,000 local small businesses harness AI for greater competitiveness.

As highlighted in the Center Square's recent reporting on LED's AI push, this strategy is attracting major investments like Meta's $10 billion data center, while also fostering grassroots innovation through new funding, mentorship, and high-impact partnerships.

Tulane University's latest New Orleans Startup Report confirms the momentum: 37% of area startups say AI will have the greatest long-term impact, with machine learning and generative AI seen as both key opportunities and risks.

The collaborative spirit driving LA.IO is evident in its public-private network, uniting organizations ranging from Ochsner Louisiana's Innovation Fund to The Idea Village - a model praised by state innovation leaders who note,

“Facilitating the right connections and offering coaching to innovators and startups are just as vital as the funding that's being made available.”

For a complete rundown of Louisiana's AI and innovation acceleration, read the deep dive at BABL AI's coverage of Louisiana's innovation initiative.

Louisiana is taking a significant leap in modernizing healthcare oversight by deploying artificial intelligence to combat Medicaid fraud and improve maternal health outcomes.

The Department of Health's new partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) leverages an AI-powered data analysis tool, trained on peer-reviewed studies and national datasets, to identify fraud, waste, and abuse in the state's Medicaid program at no additional cost to taxpayers through existing contracts.

The “Fighting Fraud, Waste and Abuse” task force, working with the Governor's Department of Government Efficiency and enhanced collaboration with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, will verify the AI's findings and maximize recoveries.

In addition, the state has launched Project MOM (Maternal Overdose Mortality) with the aim to reduce pregnancy-associated overdose deaths by 80% within three years, a pressing need given that overdoses have been the leading cause of maternal death since 2018.

The project increases access to life-saving medications, expands treatment availability, and trains healthcare providers in opioid use disorder management. As Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan stated,

“We don't need a new drug to solve this crisis - Louisiana already has the tools. Project M.O.M. will focus our hospitals, pharmacies, and community leaders on one mission: keeping mothers alive and families intact.”

Louisiana's approach includes reforms to its Medicaid prescription drug management to enhance transparency and patient access.

For further coverage of the AI rollout, see the Louisiana Illuminator report on AI for Medicaid fraud detection, details on Project MOM from the Louisiana Department of Health's official announcement, and insights about the technology partnership in the Business Report coverage of the ULL initiative.

Meta is accelerating its $10 billion AI data center project in Richland Parish, northeast Louisiana, a move heralded as a transformative leap for the region by state and local leaders.

With more than 4 million square feet - roughly the size of 70 football fields - this will be Meta's largest AI-focused facility globally and is expected to generate over 500 direct new jobs, 1,000+ indirect jobs, and up to 5,000 peak construction roles.

Public officials, such as Governor Jeff Landry, view the initiative as a catalyst for revitalizing one of the state's most economically challenged areas:

"Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future,"

Landry stated.

The center is scheduled for completion by 2030 and will be powered with 100% clean and renewable energy, supported by partnerships with Entergy to add 1,500 MW of new renewables to the grid and $200 million committed for local infrastructure.

A summary of key metrics is shown below:

Despite broad support, environmental groups have raised concerns about the local energy mix's dependence on natural gas and the potential impact on residents' utility bills - a debate that Entergy and Meta aim to address through further clean energy investments.

For more on the facility's economic implications, read this AP story on Meta's Louisiana data center, explore local workforce and infrastructure initiatives via Louisiana Economic Development's project update, and review community perspectives and leadership statements at New Orleans CityBusiness.

Eaton has finalized its $1.4 billion acquisition of Minden, Louisiana-based Fibrebond, a key manufacturer of modular power enclosures for data center, industrial, utility, and communications sectors, reinforcing its leadership in the rapidly expanding multi-tenant data center market.

The strategic deal, expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, comes as demand for energy-intensive data centers surges in the wake of expansive AI infrastructure investments, such as Meta's recent $10 billion project in northeast Louisiana.

Fibrebond's expertise in engineered-to-order power enclosures streamlines off-site equipment installation and testing, enabling faster and more cost-effective deployment - a crucial advantage as U.S. data-center construction backlogs have swelled to an estimated seven years at 2024 rates.

Eaton anticipates that Fibrebond will deliver approximately $378 million in revenue and $110 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2025, with the acquisition expected to be earnings-per-share neutral for the year.

“Fibrebond's power enclosures, in which equipment installation and testing procedures are performed off-site, enables customers to get up-and-running in less time and at a lower cost. This full-service offering allows us to better serve our customers amid accelerating demand,”

said Mike Yelton, Eaton's Electrical Sector President for the Americas.

The transaction not only highlights Louisiana's rising profile as a technology and data center hub but also aligns Eaton as a comprehensive provider of modular power solutions for hyperscale and enterprise clients.

Read more from the official Eaton-Fibrebond acquisition announcement, the in-depth analysis at Crain's Cleveland Business, and expert insights in HostingJournalist's coverage of data center industry shifts.

Black Bay Energy Capital, a New Orleans-based private equity firm, has made a strategic growth investment in Scope Computer Vision Technologies Corp, an industry leader in AI-powered inspections for heavy industry and critical infrastructure.

This move is set to rapidly scale Scope's AI inspection platform across North America and drive expansion into adjacent energy, utilities, and infrastructure markets, addressing a surging demand for automated safety and asset monitoring.

“Scope's AI-powered inspection technology is transforming how heavy industries ensure operational integrity, mitigate risks, and optimize asset performance. With this new partnership, the Company is well-positioned to advance its product offerings, scale its presence, and extend its leadership in the global inspection market,” said Tom Ambrose, Partner at Black Bay.

Founded in 2019, Scope has deployed its patent-pending computer vision platform to inspect over 100 million feet of utility stringing lines and is recognized as a pioneer in operational safety and risk mitigation through AI. This investment not only accelerates Scope's growth but also strengthens New Orleans' momentum as a regional hub for technology-driven industrial solutions.

For a detailed overview of this partnership and its impact on the industrial sector, visit Business Wire's coverage on Black Bay's investment in Scope, explore Black Bay Energy Capital's news page, or read analysis from PE Hub.

The 30th Executive War College, held in New Orleans from April 29-30, 2025, solidified the city's reputation as a crucible for healthcare innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) for clinical labs and diagnostics.

With nearly 1,000 laboratory leaders and over 169 presenters in attendance, the conference showcased transformative strategies such as digital pathology, AI-powered billing automation, and advanced revenue cycle management (RCM).

Sessions explored leveraging AI for tasks ranging from prior authorizations to diagnostic reporting, demonstrated by solutions like XiFin's Empower Platform, which optimizes everything from workflow automation to payor relations.

As demand for skilled lab professionals intensifies and healthcare financial pressures mount, industry leaders shared creative approaches to workforce development and sustainable innovation.

Robert Michel, founder of Executive War College, summed up the opportunity:

“Every clinical lab organization should have their managers and best strategic thinkers attend the Executive War College. This is the time and place for them to learn from the diagnostic profession's best innovators and gain insights they'll need to keep their laboratories at the cutting edge of clinical excellence in a financially sustainable manner.”

The event's robust program included master classes and panels on AI integration, interoperability, genomic testing, and patient-centered digital tools.

For a comprehensive overview of featured sessions and technology spotlights, visit the 2025 Executive War College agenda.

Learn how this gathering is shaping the future of lab management and healthcare delivery in New Orleans and beyond through news coverage from industry insights on Executive War College 2025 by Dark Daily, and see how AI is already delivering measurable RCM improvements in the industry, as showcased by XiFin's AI-driven revenue cycle management at Executive War College.

Tulane University is rapidly positioning itself as a leader in practical AI literacy, offering students hands-on opportunities to create, critique, and ethically apply artificial intelligence across academic disciplines.

Through popular classes such as “AI Unleashed” and “DATA 2150: Applied Generative AI,” students design AI tools for real-world challenges - transforming career planning, healthcare communication, and financial analysis - while engaging with critical discussions on ethics and the rapidly shifting job market.

Professor Julia Lang, who leads these efforts, stresses,

“AI won't replace you, but someone using AI effectively will,”

reflecting a philosophy that prepares graduates for an AI-driven workforce.

Students like Ryan Schnell and Valerie Erazo Rodriguez have built custom GPT agents to aid in stock analysis and healthcare translation, refining their projects to ensure clarity and compassion for all users.

These initiatives are part of a broader university effort spanning interdisciplinary workshops and collaborative projects, supported by Tulane's specialized centers such as the Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science, which equip students with competencies in AI research, creativity, and critical thinking.

As the university expands its offerings with future courses like “Taylor Your Life With AI”, Tulane is dedicated to fostering responsible, inclusive, and practical AI education.

For more on Tulane's student-focused AI projects, read the profile of AI Unleashed initiatives, insights from AI-driven course development and student experiences, and the broader landscape of AI classes and workshops at Tulane.

Visa has unveiled its “Intelligent Commerce” initiative, a groundbreaking set of APIs and partnerships designed to let artificial intelligence (AI) agents not just recommend products, but also securely complete purchases on behalf of users.

By collaborating with leading tech firms like Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity, Visa is aiming to bridge a critical gap in AI-driven commerce: enabling seamless, trusted payments executed by AI with consumer-defined controls.

This system uses AI-ready card credentials, payment passkeys, tokenization, and spend limits to ensure that users can safely delegate routine and complex shopping - such as booking travel or buying groceries - while maintaining oversight of budgets and approval processes.

As Jack Forestell, Visa's chief product and strategy officer, explained,

“We think this could be really important - transformational, on the order of magnitude of the advent of e-commerce itself.”

The technology allows users to upload payment information, set parameters, and decide when AI agents should seek approval or operate autonomously, all backed by Visa's robust fraud prevention, which blocked $40 billion in fraud last year.

Importantly, with user consent, AI agents may also tap into transaction histories for hyper-personalized recommendations. Pilots have launched, with broader adoption set for 2025 and the potential to change everyday purchasing nationwide and in regions like New Orleans, as digital wallet use grows and physical cards become less relevant.

For a deeper dive into Visa's AI shopping agent ecosystem and its impact, read more at Visa Powers AI Shopping Agents With ‘Intelligent Commerce' Payment Rails, explore industry context in Visa and Mastercard Unveil AI-Powered Shopping, and see expert analysis at Visa's AI Credit Card Initiative Aims to Transform Online Shopping.

This month, New Orleans' tech landscape witnesses major advancements in underwater robotics as Chouest Group and Nauticus Robotics expand their regional and global presence.

Chouest Group has fortified its subsea technology platform by acquiring Norway-based Kystdesign, a leading supplier of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, which will now support Chouest's subsidiaries like ROVOP and C-Innovation LLC following a strategic acquisition.

The integration adds to Chouest's fleet of over 100 ROVs and six autonomous vehicles, while Kystdesign's revenue for 2024 is projected at approximately $47 million, with a doubled workforce and a record order backlog supporting continued growth.

Meanwhile, Nauticus Robotics kicked off its 2025 offshore season by deploying two ROVs in the Gulf Coast, leveraging the combined strengths of SeaTrepid and cutting-edge Aquanaut vehicles to deliver enhanced safety, efficiency, and operational uptime across oil, gas, wind, and environmental projects.

The momentum is underscored by C-Innovation and ROVOP's strengthened in-house solutions; as Chouest's workforce nears 20,000, both its and Nauticus Robotics' efforts are cementing Louisiana as a hub for next-generation subsea and AI-driven marine innovations.

“By joining forces, we will continue delivering cutting-edge ROV systems and advancing the evolution of next-generation underwater robotics.” - Dino Chouest, Chouest Group

For a comprehensive breakdown of the offshore robotics season, see the official Nauticus Robotics 2025 offshore season announcement.

As generative AI tools gain traction in newsrooms nationwide, a clear consensus is emerging among both experts and audiences: transparency and oversight are essential to maintain trust in journalism.

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey on AI impact in journalism, 59% of Americans believe AI will reduce the number of journalism jobs over the next two decades, while 66% express extreme or high concern about the accuracy of information produced by AI. Echoing public skepticism, a joint study by Poynter and the University of Minnesota on AI-generated news rejection found that nearly half of Americans expressly do not want news generated by artificial intelligence, and more than 90% of highly engaged news consumers demand clear disclosures when AI is used to generate text or images.

The limitations of existing models were underscored by a recent BBC study on AI-generated news inaccuracies, which revealed that 51% of AI-generated news summaries contained significant errors, with nearly 20% including factual inaccuracies and 13% fabricating quotes - highlighting the need for robust human oversight.

As Paul Doyle of Immediate Media notes, “AI in its current form cannot reliably process and present accurate news without human oversight.”

The call for radical transparency and an “AI sandwich” workflow - combining AI automation with editorial checks - reflects a growing industry push to balance technological innovation with journalistic integrity.

Helport AI made waves at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans as brand ambassador Ben Griffin clinched his first PGA TOUR victory, underscoring the powerful synergy between advancing technology and local sports culture.

Previously a mortgage loan officer before returning to pro golf, Griffin's resilience and performance align with Helport AI's core mission of empowering customer-facing professionals through intelligent tools.

The company's flagship AI Assist platform provides real-time conversation guidance, dynamic compliance support, and actionable insights for industries such as mortgage lending and consumer finance.

CEO Guanghai Li shared,

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate Ben's victory at the Zurich Classic. Ben exemplifies the values we champion at Helport AI: a relentless pursuit of excellence, an unwavering commitment to growth, and the belief that the right tools and mindset can help individuals perform at their highest potential.”

Recent financial figures reinforce the company's momentum, with revenue up 13.1% year-over-year to $16.4 million and a surge in subscription seats, despite ongoing investment in R&D and global growth initiatives (see the summary table of key financials below).

Locally, Griffin's story and partnership with Helport have significantly elevated brand exposure during the Zurich Classic and showcased practical impacts of AI in New Orleans communities.

For an in-depth look at how Helport AI and Ben Griffin are bringing technology and sports together, view the full announcement at GlobeNewswire.

New Orleans is charting a bold course toward AI-driven growth, with 2025 poised to be a defining year for the region's innovation ecosystem. Major investments are accelerating progress: Louisiana Economic Development launched a new $50 million Louisiana Growth Fund and an Artificial Intelligence Research Institute focused on commercialization, workforce development, and supporting 5,000 small businesses with AI tools (Louisiana Innovation Brand and Growth Fund).

Industry leaders emphasize both opportunity and responsibility - “2025 holds a ton of potential for some really exciting announcements in the name of artificial intelligence,” said LED's Chief Innovation Officer Josh Fleig, while legal experts call for robust guardrails in education and privacy policy.

"That generation is going to be using AI the rest of their life," noted Graham Ryan, highlighting the transformative impact on classrooms and careers.

The national AI sector continues its explosive rise, as $100M+ funding rounds for startups like Anthropic, Shield AI, and Turing lead a wave of US innovation - with OpenAI securing a record $40B round and multiple billion-dollar raises in Q1 2025 alone (AI Startup Funding Rise).

Connections are being fostered at every level, with Techstars and local partners hosting accelerators and events - including New Orleans' own Startup Weekend Diversity & Inclusion - and channeling capital, mentoring, and global networking to empower founders (Techstars April 2025 Overview).

As advanced tech reshapes industries and education, New Orleans' united investment in research, entrepreneurship, and workforce skills positions it as a vibrant Southern hub for responsible, inclusive technological advancement.