This Month's Latest Tech News in Newark, NJ - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

This summer, Newark solidifies its place as a focal point for AI-driven policy, education, and innovation. The city's tech sector is thriving, propelled by major players like Audible - whose relocation and ongoing investments generate nearly $2 billion annually - and organizations such as the New Jersey Innovation Institute, which has received over $11 million to launch a new Venture Studio for startups.

Local governance is actively setting the pace: New Jersey's Attorney General released robust guidance on AI's role in employment, liability, and bias prevention, reflecting growing demands for corporate transparency and fairness amid rising algorithmic discrimination concerns.

In the education sector, Newark Public Schools has approved a $12 million rollout of 7,000+ AI surveillance cameras and is piloting AI-powered tutors - moves supported by the state's new AI resource center for districts, emphasizing safe and thoughtful integration.

As Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, cautions,

"School districts can't just say privacy matters. There has to be a tech translator, parent information sessions, and classroom guidance."

The convergence of economic investment, forward-looking legislation, and inclusive educational initiatives positions Newark as a national model for responsible, community-focused tech transformation.

To explore Newark's evolving tech landscape in detail, visit Newark's growing startup ecosystem and learn about the latest AI initiatives in New Jersey's schools.

New Jersey has enacted a landmark law making the creation and distribution of deceptive AI-generated “deepfakes” a criminal offense, with civil and criminal penalties up to five years in prison and $30,000 in fines.

Signed by Governor Phil Murphy in Newark, the bipartisan legislation responds to rapid advances in AI technology and high-profile cases like that of Francesca Mani, a Westfield High School student and TIME100 Influential Person in AI, whose explicit AI-modified images catalyzed reform efforts.

The law broadly defines deepfakes as media that realistically depict someone doing something they did not actually do and targets abuses such as harassment, political misinformation, and child endangerment.

Victims - like Mani - can now seek civil lawsuits against perpetrators as well. Lt. Governor Tahesha Way underscored the need for safeguards, saying,

“Together we are building a future where tech serves the public good, not those who seek to undermine it.”

With New Jersey joining at least 20 other states regulating deepfakes, this move positions Newark as a leader in responsible tech governance.

For a comprehensive analysis of the legislation and its impact, see the New Jersey Monitor's detailed coverage of the bill's passage, review detailed legal provisions at Akin Gump's summary of New Jersey's deepfake legislation, or read how this effort was spurred by local advocacy in BABL AI's analysis of New Jersey's new AI regulations.

AI education is rapidly advancing at North Star Academy's Washington Park High School in Newark, where students are participating in a pioneering 10-week AI course co-developed with Stanford Digital Education.

This hands-on program empowers 93 seniors (with expansion to juniors next year) to leverage AI tools for exploring career interests, app creation, and even earning a coveted Google Career Certificate in AI Essentials.

Driven by the vision that AI should serve as an assistant rather than a replacement, instructor Michael Taubman emphasizes thoughtful engagement, saying,

“People made this, people are making decisions about it, and there are pros and cons like with everything people make and we should be talking about this.”

The inclusion of Stanford's ethics course, Searching Together for the Common Good, further equips students to address AI's ethical, emotional, and societal impacts.

Program data shows that nearly half of Gen Z students use AI weekly and over 40% believe AI skills are critical for future careers, aligning with employer expectations - 92% of companies plan to invest in AI within three years according to a McKinsey report (see Chalkbeat Newark's classroom profile).

These opportunities stem from a broader Stanford initiative, which has brought dual-credit digital courses, including AI and computer science, to 1,500+ students in Newark and beyond (read about the high school-university partnerships).

North Star Academy's leadership in AI education is not only preparing Newark's next generation for the workforce, but also ensuring they confront the promises and perils of technology with agency and ethics.

Rutgers University–Newark has launched the Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS), a cutting-edge interdisciplinary hub dedicated to leveraging AI, data science, and emerging technologies to address the most pressing challenges facing urban communities.

Led by Professor Fay Cobb Payton and supported by initiatives like a high-performance computing cluster and new academic programs, IDRIS aims to foster applied, ethical scholarship and collaborative research in fields ranging from health care and education to public safety and climate resilience.

The institute focuses on training students across disciplines, partnering with community organizations, and enhancing public data literacy. At the launch event, Lt.

Gov. Tahesha Way emphasized,

“This program is in lockstep with our administration's efforts to reclaim New Jersey's rightful place as the center of innovation history…The work done here will have a lasting impact on our state, nation, and beyond.”

Key Focus Areas	Initiatives
Applied AI & Data Science	Community health, education, public safety projects
Ethical Tech Development	Cross-sector partnerships, policy guidance
Student & Public Training	Lecture series, curricula, engagement events

To learn more, visit the official IDRIS launch announcement at Rutgers University–Newark, explore coverage of the inaugural event in NJBiz's report on IDRIS's community impact in Newark, NJ, and review Rutgers's own in-depth summary on how data-driven solutions anchor the institute's strategy.

Newark, NJ is rapidly gaining recognition as a national tech hotspot, catalyzed by substantial investments from industry leaders, inclusive entrepreneurship programs, and strategic public-private partnerships.

Audible's move to downtown Newark in 2007 sparked a new era of tech growth, and its Audible Business Attraction Program offering up to $250,000 in non-dilutive grants for startups - emphasizing support for underrepresented founders.

Newark's innovation ecosystem is reinforced by the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), which has received over $11 million from the NJEDA and is preparing a Venture Studio aiming to launch 10 new tech companies in the coming years, while cutting-edge events like Newark Tech Week and mentorship initiatives ensure ongoing engagement and growth in the sector.

The city benefits from 15 designated Opportunity Zones, a strategic location just minutes from NYC, and renowned institutions such as NJIT and Rutgers University-Newark, which feed a strong local talent pipeline.

As noted by Forbes,

“Newark just might be the next Silicon Valley,”

an observation echoed by city and industry leaders committed to equitable economic empowerment and technological impact.

The following table highlights major programs fueling Newark's rise:

Initiative	Details
Audible Business Attraction Program	Up to $250,000 grants, office support, mentorship; 20+ startups onboarded
New Jersey Innovation Fellows	Grants up to $200,000; targeted for underrepresented entrepreneurs
NJII Venture Studio	$11.6 million investment; goal: create 10 companies in 4–5 years

“Our startup support efforts are leading the way in the city's revitalization by thoughtfully and equitably growing the tech ecosystem, elevating diverse founders, and supporting the local economy.” - Aisha Glover, Global Head of Urban Innovation at Audible

Learn more by reading Forbes' comprehensive analysis of Newark's tech surge and the revitalization coverage at Choose New Jersey's blog on Newark's tech growth and revitalization.

Newark Liberty International Airport is grappling with a significant technology infrastructure crisis as a string of radar and communication system outages have triggered persistent flight delays, cancellations, and mounting stress among air traffic controllers.

According to an NPR investigation featuring Newark controllers, these failures have occurred at least four times since late April 2025, underscoring dire warnings about aging equipment and acute staffing shortages.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by capping airport operations at 56 movements per hour - a 15% reduction - until June 15, after which limits will ease to 68 per hour, as reported by The New York Times article on FAA flight caps.

Airlines like United have welcomed the cap, citing improved safety and reliability, even as nationwide controller shortages have left the Philadelphia TRACON area, now responsible for Newark airspace, facing severe stress and trauma leaves.

The technical woes stem largely from outdated copper wiring, prompting an expedited FAA plan to install new fiber optic lines and backup systems. Controllers have described the situation as unsustainable, with one union leader stating:

“What we must do now is modernize the system, give the air traffic controllers the equipment they deserve, and not blame them for the issues that they're seeing.”

Outages, often linked to the Philadelphia radar facility's telecom problems, led to ground stops averaging 23 minutes and forced multiple controllers onto medical leave after traumatic experiences, as detailed by ABC News coverage of Newark air traffic disruptions.

The following table summarizes the new FAA flight caps at Newark:

Period	Arrivals/Hour	Departures/Hour	Total Movements/Hour
Until June 15, 2025	28	28	56
June 15 – Oct. 25, 2025	34	34	68

Until tech upgrades are complete, travelers can expect continued disruptions and operational challenges throughout the summer.

Rutgers University is taking a leading role in transforming heart disease detection with its innovative application of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiology research.

Through a strategic collaboration with HeartSciences, the university is developing AI-based electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithms that promise to enhance the accuracy and affordability of early heart disease detection, leveraging Rutgers' extensive clinical data at the Robert Wood Johnson Center for Innovation.

As explained by Dr. Partho P. Sengupta, principal investigator and Chief of Cardiology at Rutgers,

“AI is playing an important role in developing and advancing innovations in cardiology and has demonstrated significant potential for enhancing electrocardiography to improve heart disease detection, while reducing overall healthcare costs.”

This patent-pending technology utilizes generative AI to interpret surface electrical signals, assessing cardiac tissue motion in real time, with the goal of identifying cardiovascular disease - including atrial fibrillation and heart failure - earlier than traditional methods.

The broader impact of such innovations is substantial, as outlined in a recent peer-reviewed study on generative AI's expanding role in healthcare, including its ability to create personalized treatment plans, synthesize complex imaging data, and relieve clinicians of administrative burden.

Dr. Sengupta's vision of “augmented intelligence” underscores the commitment to supporting - not replacing - caregivers, thereby improving diagnostic workflows and patient outcomes.

For additional details on how these partnerships are accelerating real-world clinical advancements, see the official press release on the Rutgers-HeartSciences collaboration and Rutgers' breakthrough in using AI to recreate cardiac motion from surface electrical recordings in this Rutgers News report.

In a major boost for Newark's fintech innovation scene, Prudential Financial has joined the Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT) Industry Board at Stevens Institute of Technology, strengthening academic-industry partnerships and accelerating progress in cutting-edge fields like insurance technology, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.

Represented on the CRAFT board by Ian Mehok, Prudential's Vice President of Strategy for global retirement and insurance businesses, the company will collaborate with universities such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Connecticut to drive transformative research.

CRAFT, funded by the National Science Foundation, also counts finance giants like Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and IBM among its members. As Bob Bastian, Prudential's Chief Information and Technology Officer, explained,

“We continuously innovate financial technology to create the next generation of financial solutions to help people live better lives, longer... Our partnership with CRAFT demonstrates our ongoing commitment to research and innovation through connecting the financial services industry to leading colleges and universities.”

CRAFT's mission - to integrate societal values into fintech innovation while cultivating meaningful industry-academic collaboration - reflects Prudential's vision for expanding global access to investing, insurance, and retirement security.

For more on this pivotal partnership, read the official press release on the Stevens Institute of Technology announcement, explore detailed coverage from ROI-NJ's fintech innovation report, and view key highlights on Nasdaq's Prudential partnership news.

The May 2025 partnership between Jobvious and Newark-based VeriKlick signals a transformation in local talent acquisition through advanced AI-driven hiring tools.

VeriKlick, which specializes in AI-based candidate sourcing, bias-mitigating structured interviews, and robust reference checks, brings scalable, data-driven fairness to the recruitment process.

The company's technology leverages real-time AI assessments, standardized interview panels, and performance scorecards to promote equitable hiring and reduce unconscious bias, aligning with evolving legal frameworks, such as those emerging in California that mandate human oversight and regular bias audits for automated employment decisions (California's 2025 AI employment law review).

Industry research further validates these innovations: a recent field study showed AI-led conversational interviews increased candidate success rates in follow-on human interviews to 53.12%, nearly doubling those of traditional resume filters, while reducing both costs and bias - benefiting especially younger and underrepresented applicants (AI interview outcomes research).

VeriKlick's platform not only facilitates uniform and impartial interviewing, but also empowers hiring managers with actionable analytics to refine strategies for workforce diversity and inclusivity.

As the public and regulators demand greater fairness and transparency in hiring, Newark's tech sector, exemplified by this collaboration, is quickly adopting best-in-class AI tools to create equitable opportunities for all candidates.

See VeriKlick's detailed approach to unbiased and inclusive recruitment on its Diversity & Inclusion resource page.

The New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance (NJITA) has launched a series of town halls aimed at demystifying emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, connecting Newark's tech community with policymakers to foster innovation and economic growth.

Led by Executive Director Carlos Iván Merino, NJITA highlights New Jersey's robust digital asset ecosystem - boasting more than 200 blockchain and Web3 startups and $2.8 billion in venture capital investments - and ranks the state fourth nationally in Web3 VC funding.

Merino notes,

“New Jersey has a strong foundation as a technology and business hub, with a thriving digital asset ecosystem and a growing number of companies leveraging blockchain, artificial intelligence, and next-generation technologies to drive economic growth.”

Local academic leaders, including Rutgers, Princeton, and Stevens Institute, are further advancing the state's profile through specialized blockchain education and research in cybersecurity and smart contracts.

The town halls urge collaboration between industry and lawmakers to create forward-thinking policy that supports job creation and innovation, reinforcing New Jersey's position as a digital economy leader.

For more on NJITA's mission and industry stats, see ROI-NJ's detailed report on NJITA town halls.

Those interested in regional networking should look into events like the AI & Tech Networking event in Newark, while broader blockchain and AI trends are showcased at gatherings such as the CryptoAI Summit 2025 conference.

The synergy across sectors spotlights Newark as a center for responsible tech dialogue and innovation.

Newark students are voicing more concern than ever about the impact of artificial intelligence in their education, reflecting national and global trends. A recent multinational study revealed that 64% of students worry about AI's growing role in the classroom - far outpacing concerns from educators (50%) and administrators (41%) - with most citing fears of overreliance and the loss of critical thinking skills (new AI education survey data).

At North Star Academy's Washington Park High School, students participate in a Stanford-developed AI course where they explore career implications and grapple with the ethics and limitations of these technologies:

“In school, like how we use AI as a tool and we don't use it to cheat on our work… that's how it should be, like an assistant,”

shared senior Amirah Falana.

While the expansion of AI-powered tools like chatbot tutors and personalized learning platforms is modernizing Newark classrooms, students remain deeply engaged in conversations about privacy, accuracy, and the importance of human skills like empathy and ethical reasoning.

A nationwide poll by the Walton Family Foundation underscores this ambivalence, with over half of Gen Z students supportive of schools teaching AI skills, yet 67% admitting that shortcuts with AI often undermine real learning (teacher and student perspectives on AI in education).

As Newark advances innovative AI programs, student perspectives highlight the urgency for balanced, responsible integration that empowers agency while safeguarding the core values of education.

As Newark cements its reputation as a leader in responsible AI and tech growth, the community is balancing robust policy development with a clear-eyed commitment to innovation.

In 2025, New Jersey enacted one of the nation's most comprehensive anti-deepfake laws, reflecting a statewide determination to protect citizens from AI misuse while nurturing its burgeoning tech sector (New Jersey passes law criminalizing deepfakes).

At the same time, local industry groups - including the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Alliance - have urged lawmakers to avoid overly complex regulations, emphasizing the importance of targeted rules that empower startups and support ongoing investments like the $15 million NJ AI Hub and NJIT's Strategic Innovation Center (Tech group urges lawmakers to support AI startups).

Meanwhile, the debate over a proposed 10-year federal moratorium on state AI laws highlights both the risks of regulatory overreach and the constitutional challenges of limiting local governance - raising critical questions about how best to encourage innovation while safeguarding public interests (House moratorium on state AI laws is over-broad, unproductive, and likely unconstitutional).

Newark's emerging model, blending forward-looking education, significant investment, and carefully crafted policy, may serve as a blueprint for other cities navigating the complexities of AI's promise and peril.