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

Oakland is rapidly emerging as a catalyst for AI innovation and disruption, blending the promise of breakthrough startups with the realities of workforce transformation.

Notably, 2025 has seen over 141,000 tech jobs lost nationwide, with LinkedIn's layoff of 281 California employees reflecting the growing dominance of AI and automation across essential tech roles; in fact, AI now accounts for 30% of Microsoft's code production, a remarkable shift in industry priorities according to recent workforce restructuring analyses.

Still, the region's resilience is fueled by strong venture activity - Oakland-based 1Sharpe Ventures co-led Henry AI's $4.3M seed funding to modernize real estate workflows, underscoring local investors' focus on next-gen AI solutions as reported in The SaaS News.

For a national perspective, U.S. AI startups have already broken records in 2025, with firms like OpenAI and Anthropic raising multi-billion-dollar rounds to advance LLMs, healthcare tech, and infrastructure as detailed by TechCrunch.

Oakland's dual role - as both a crucible for disruptive startups and a community deeply affected by rapid change - spotlights the need for upskilling, transparent leadership, and balanced innovation across the Bay Area and beyond.

In a historic first for American nuclear energy, Pacific Gas & Electric's Diablo Canyon Power Plant in California has begun deploying on-site generative AI to transform operations and regulatory compliance.

Developed in partnership with Atomic Canyon, the Neutron Enterprise platform leverages FERMI AI models and NVIDIA hardware to enable staff to instantly search and summarize billions of pages of technical documentation previously taking up to 15,000 hours each year - an efficiency leap echoed by PG&E Vice President Maureen Zawalick:

“As the first nuclear power plant to implement Neutron Enterprise using the NVIDIA platform, we're proud to lead the way in bringing cutting-edge innovation to our operations. Atomic Canyon's AI solutions will enable faster data retrieval, boosting collaboration and ensuring continued safe, but more efficient operations.”

The tool operates fully on site for security and does not make operational decisions, a limitation CEO Trey Lauderdale asserts will remain as the nuclear industry moves cautiously to maintain safety standards.

The $7 million raised by Atomic Canyon will accelerate the rollout of Neutron Enterprise nationwide and support additional AI integrations. Lawmakers and experts broadly support this initial, tightly regulated use, but advocate further regulatory guardrails before expanding AI's scope in nuclear contexts.

For technical and industry details, see the comprehensive coverage from CalMatters' detailed analysis of Diablo Canyon's AI deployment, Atomic Canyon's official funding announcement and technology overview, and this expert analysis of Neutron Enterprise's impact on nuclear safety and compliance.

Milestone	Date
FERMI AI model development/testing	Jan–Sept 2024
Diablo Canyon installs NVIDIA H100 GPUs	Late 2024
First public AI deployment announcement	Nov 2024
Full rollout of Neutron Enterprise (expected)	Q3 2025
Atomic Canyon seed funding raised	May 2025

The Bay Area tech sector continues to grapple with sweeping layoffs and shifting hiring trends as companies refocus on artificial intelligence. Over 22,000 US tech workers have already been let go in 2025, with firms like Intel cutting 20% of their workforce and Microsoft laying off 6,000 employees globally.

This wave of downsizing disguises a crucial transformation: while traditional software development and IT support roles have plummeted by nearly 40% and 30% respectively, job postings for AI-related positions have soared by 68% since 2022, according to new market research on tech workforce trends.

Companies now prioritize experienced AI talent, with mid- and senior-level hiring up 27-34%, while new-grad hiring slumped more than 50% below pre-pandemic levels.

This strategic pivot is underscored by announcements such as Google's high-profile I/O 2025 developer conference, where leaders are expected to unveil major updates and investments in AI products like the Gemini model and Project Astra, emphasizing how generative AI is reshaping every corner of the tech industry (Google I/O 2025 preview).

Meanwhile, new initiatives like Google's AI Futures Fund are fueling the region's startup ecosystem, offering early-stage founders access to advanced AI models and funding on a rolling basis, with further plans to boost AI-focused investment throughout 2025 (Google launches new initiative to back startups building AI).

Below is a table highlighting key workforce trends in Big Tech during the AI transition:

Metric	Change (2022-2025)
Software Development Roles	-40%
AI-Related Job Postings	+68%
New-Grad Tech Hiring	-50% (vs. pre-pandemic)
Mid-Level/Senior Tech Hiring	+27–34%

Oakland-based Remedy Scientific is making waves in environmental technology by harnessing artificial intelligence to dramatically accelerate the cleanup of toxic brownfield sites.

Fresh off an 11 million dollar seed funding round led by Eclipse Ventures, Refactor, Cantos, and Box Group, the startup is emerging from stealth with a focus on automating soil remediation.

Remedy Scientific's mobile units employ advanced mass spectrometry and robotic arms for on-site testing, feeding real-time results into proprietary AI algorithms that fine-tune the pollutant-destroying process - a stark contrast to traditional methods that can take decades and rely on landfill disposal.

Their core target is “forever chemicals” (PFAS), but the platform holds potential for a wider range of contaminants, especially in wildfire-impacted regions. Here's a summary of key facts:

Feature	Detail
Funding Raised	$11 million (Seed Round)
Core Technology	Mobile sensing and treatment units with AI-driven optimization
Environmental Focus	Cleanup of brownfields; PFAS and wildfire-related toxins
Timeline Improvement	Reduces site cleanup from years to days/weeks

According to an industry report on tech startup funding, more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S. can take 12–15 years - or more than 30 years - to restore; Remedy Scientific aims to unlock their development potential with speed and cost comparable to current landfill methods.

As highlighted by VentureRadar's analysis of environmental technology funding, their recent funding will support pilot deployments throughout the Bay Area, setting a new pace for environmental remediation and turning Oakland into a hub for climate-tech innovation.

UC Berkeley undergraduate Ashmita Kumar is making waves with her startup Code Blue, an AI-powered platform designed to detect the early signs of stroke using everyday devices such as smartphones, computers, and smart TVs.

Motivated by personal family experiences, Kumar's innovation leverages device cameras and microphones to analyze speech and facial expressions every 30 seconds, scanning for symptoms like slurred speech or facial asymmetry, and can notify users or automatically alert emergency services if needed - all while maintaining strict privacy protocols by deleting analyzed data instantly.

Code Blue is currently in a pilot phase with doctors at UCSF and is pursuing FDA approval for broader public deployment. The technology was first showcased at a 2023 summit, garnering substantial interest, and is a leading entrant in the Atlantic Coast Conference InVenture Prize competition, with a $30,000 prize at stake.

According to UC Berkeley's Darren Cooke,

“Ashmita's work is a great example of Berkeley students using technology and innovation for the greater good.”

For a comprehensive look at the innovation, clinical testing, and future regulatory challenges, see this in-depth overview of AI-powered stroke detection technology and applications at Forward Pathway's detailed AI stroke detection technology analysis.

Further details about Code Blue's pilot and competition can be found on CBS News Bay Area's report on the AI stroke detection startup and the official UC Berkeley News article about Code Blue's breakthrough.

The following table summarizes key features of Code Blue:

Feature	Description
Device Compatibility	Smartphones, computers, smart TVs
Detection Interval	Every 30 seconds
Key Symptoms Monitored	Slurred speech, facial drooping, asymmetry
Response Actions	User alert and/or automatic emergency notification
Privacy	Data analyzed then immediately deleted
Pilot Testing	In collaboration with UCSF, expanding soon

Plug and Play, in partnership with PG&E and key local institutions, has launched its first AI Center of Excellence in downtown San Jose, aiming to solidify the city's status as a leading hub for artificial intelligence innovation.

The center's three-month accelerator program will provide a platform for up to 40 international startups annually, fostering collaboration between entrepreneurs, industry experts, and academia such as San Jose State University, as well as offering hands-on AI education for 7th–12th graders.

As CEO Saeed Amidi stated at the ribbon-cutting,

“What really excites me about this project in San Jose is the willingness of the mayor to participate, Patti with PG&E, and the rest of the people that are here. I think this is the most alignment I have ever felt.”

The initiative will not only drive job creation and workforce readiness, particularly as “one in five workers in San Jose works in manufacturing,” according to Mayor Matt Mahan, but will also contribute to the area's ambitious net-zero community project, which merges AI-powered data centers and sustainable housing solutions.

With additional centers planned globally and a focus on connecting local talent with global tech opportunities, the AI Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in regional economic growth and AI leadership.

Learn more about Plug and Play's AI accelerator program in San Jose in this detailed announcement from PG&E's newsroom detailing the AI Center of Excellence launch, see perspectives from education partners in the official San Jose State University blog on the AI partnership, and read about the accelerator's community and business impact in the Silicon Valley Business Journal coverage of the startup program.

Feature	Details
Annual Startups Supported	~40
Main Partners	PG&E, San Jose State University, City of San Jose, Plug and Play
Expansion Plans	Seattle (next), further global locations

Oakland schools have emerged as leaders in integrating AI and community innovation into the classroom, even in the face of significant financial and structural challenges.

As Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) prepares to exit state receivership after 22 years, focus has shifted to AI-powered pilot programs, such as the Math Liberators initiative by Oakland REACH, which recruits and trains parents and community members as paid math tutors to address deep learning gaps and bolster student confidence.

This high-dosage, small-group tutoring model not only strengthens math outcomes but also provides meaningful job opportunities and leverages local assets, with leaders noting,

“Liberators are proof that our communities are full of assets we can no longer afford to sideline if we want to fix a broken educational system.”

The success of this program is evidenced by significant increases in family engagement and academic growth among students of color, though only about 10% currently meet grade-level math standards.

Meanwhile, OUSD's exit from receivership marks a turning point, but challenges persist - declining enrollment, urgent budget deficits, and the need for further cuts or funding totaling $73 million over the next two years.

For a detailed look at the Math Liberators and OUSD's challenges, read the comprehensive Math Liberators program profile and the in-depth report on OUSD's financial transition from state receivership.

To see how Oakland's efforts fit into broader trends in education, explore the Oakland Education Week in Review: January 2025 edition.

Google's much-anticipated ‘AI Mode' for Search officially launched in the U.S. this May, instantly igniting debate within Oakland's tech-savvy community. Designed to provide conversational, AI-generated answers and handle complex, multi-part queries, AI Mode represents Google's biggest search update in a decade and leverages the advanced Gemini 2.5 model to offer features like Deep Search, personal context, and even automated shopping assistance.

Despite showcasing promise in specialized tasks like comparison shopping and trip planning, early testers in Oakland report persistent inaccuracies in everyday queries - such as overestimating amenities at local parks or misquoting carwash prices - highlighting lingering reliability issues (The New York Times review of AI Mode search in Oakland).

The rollout coincides with record engagement, as AI-generated summaries now serve over 1.5 billion monthly users and drive a shift toward longer, more nuanced search questions (Google's own AI in Search feature update), while concerns grow among publishers over declining clickthrough rates and questions about sustainable web traffic.

As summarized by WIRED, marketers notice, “click-through rates on AI Overviews are drastically lower,” prompting local creators and publishers to adapt to a landscape where users increasingly accept AI answers without visiting source sites.

“This is the future for Google Search, so we've got to adapt as publishers and searchers. Embrace change, I guess.”

For a breakdown of top features and data on usage, see the table below.

Feature	Description
Deep Search	Hundreds of sub-queries for expert-level, cited answers
Personal Context	Tailored recommendations using Gmail and past searches (opt-in)
AI Overviews Users	Over 1.5 billion monthly globally

For a deeper dive into Oakland's unique perspective on the rollout and the technology's broader impact, read WIRED's analysis of Google AI Mode's search revolution.

The Department of Energy has announced the forthcoming Doudna supercomputer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, set to become operational by 2026 and named in honor of Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Jennifer Doudna.

Developed in partnership with Dell Technologies and powered by NVIDIA's advanced Vera Rubin AI platform, Doudna will provide more than a tenfold boost in performance over Berkeley Lab's current flagship, Perlmutter - delivering dramatic gains in research across genomics, fusion energy, materials science, and drug discovery, while using only two to three times as much power.

NVIDIA and Dell highlight that over 11,000 researchers will benefit from its integration of AI, quantum, and traditional simulation workflows, enabling breakthroughs never before possible.

The supercomputer's technical specifications and efficiency gains are outlined below:

Capability	Doudna Supercomputer	Perlmutter (Current)
Performance Increase	10x	1x
Power Consumption	2-3x Perlmutter	Baseline
Performance per Watt	3-5x better	1x
Researcher Access	11,000+	-

The Doudna system marks a significant expansion of AI capabilities for the DOE, giving Dell a landmark win in the high-performance computing space.

“Doudna is a time machine for science - compressing years of discovery into days,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called Doudna “a powerhouse for rapid innovation that will transform our efforts to develop abundant, affordable energy supplies.” The supercomputer not only honors Doudna's CRISPR gene-editing breakthroughs but also cements Oakland's neighboring Berkeley Lab as a premier hub for AI-driven scientific advances.

Oakland lawmakers are playing a pivotal role in shaping California's rapidly evolving approach to artificial intelligence regulation amid a surge of new bills and growing national debate over who should set AI standards.

A bipartisan coalition of over 30 state legislators, including East Bay leaders Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Buffy Wicks, recently opposed a proposed federal 10-year moratorium on state AI oversight, arguing,

“A decade-long, blanket prohibition on all state regulation of this expansive and emergent technology is reckless, unnecessary, and likely unconstitutional.”

Their letter calls for state-level flexibility to address fast-moving threats like deepfakes and harmful AI-generated content targeting children.

In Sacramento, a wave of AI-related bills - including Assembly Bill 1064 to regulate children's AI interactions and Assembly Bill 316 assigning developer liability for AI-caused harm - advanced despite a sharp $12 billion budget shortfall, with Oakland's Assemblymember Buffy Wicks noting that

“many good bills are going to fall by the wayside today.”

Most technology regulation bills, however, cleared the crucial Appropriations hurdle.

For a detailed look at the current legislative status, see the table below:

Bill	Sponsor	Current Status
AB 1064: LEAD for Kids Act	Rebecca Bauer-Kahan	Approved by Judiciary & Appropriations; amendments pending
AB 316: AI Liability	Maggie Krell	Approved; currently with Privacy Committee
SB 468: Cybersecurity Upgrade	Josh Becker	Approved; Senate Appropriations next

As momentum builds, major AI safety, transparency, and children's protection bills with Bay Area backing are racing to beat a June 6 deadline.

Policymakers warn that preempting local action will undermine both consumer safeguards and California's leadership as a “laboratory” for ethical technology. For more on the breadth of AI proposals - including efforts to fight discrimination and protect digital rights - read this in-depth CalMatters analysis of California's AI bills.

A recent wave of global research has highlighted rising concern over students' heavy dependence on AI tools in the classroom, sparking calls for clearer guidance and robust policies in Oakland and beyond.

According to Turnitin's Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academia survey of 3,500 respondents across six countries, 64% of students are worried about AI use in education - surpassing concerns expressed by educators (50%) and administrators (41%).

Overreliance on AI, with 67% of students admitting they may be shortcutting their own learning, risks undermining critical thinking and communication skills needed for the future.

As Turnitin's Chief Product Officer Annie Chechitelli commented:

“The risk of intentional misuse will always exist with generative AI. Transparency throughout the student writing process enables educators to leverage the opportunities that AI technologies present, while upholding the integrity of original student work... equipping educators with solutions to integrate AI in ways that preserve critical thinking skills, and prepare students for the demands of an AI-driven future.”

The Jisc "Student Perceptions of AI 2025" report backs this, documenting calls for consistent policies, equity in access, and practical, course-specific AI education, as well as student fears that unchecked AI use could erode employability and essential skills.

Key findings are summarized below:

Metric	Students	Educators	Administrators
Worry about AI use in education	64%	50%	41%
Feel shortcutting learning with AI	67%	N/A	N/A
Believe AI is being misused	95%	95%	95%
Use AI for assignments (occasionally or more)	70%	N/A	N/A

For a local perspective on these global findings and to explore how new guidance tools like Turnitin Clarity aim to support responsible use, see the detailed analysis at Jisc's Student Perceptions of AI 2025 report.

Oakland stands at a crossroads as the city navigates the promise and uncertainty of the AI era, with opportunities for educational innovation, business growth, and inclusive community safety.

Federal moves to impose a 10-year ban on state-level AI regulations have sparked strong debate: while some legislators argue that regulatory certainty will help U.S. competitiveness, others contend that

“the real threat to U.S. Leadership in AI isn't regulation, it's inaction”

and warn that a sweeping moratorium could remove vital protections for millions (Californians facing loss of AI protections).

At the same time, California's regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, with new workplace AI laws taking effect July 1, 2025, requiring employers to demonstrate fairness in hiring and AI-assisted decision-making while keeping detailed records for four years (new AI laws on the horizon).

Oakland's communities are responding proactively, as seen in initiatives like the MACRO program - which diverted 34% of nonviolent calls away from police in 2024 - demonstrating that thoughtful, local innovation can drive positive outcomes even amid policy uncertainty.

As local voices and leadership grow more crucial, Oakland's future success depends on staying informed, building coalitions, and investing in AI literacy to ensure technology empowers all residents.

For those looking to gain a foothold in this evolving field, Nucamp's range of tech bootcamps - spanning AI entrepreneurship to cybersecurity - provide accessible options for upskilling and advancing in Oakland's dynamic tech ecosystem (explore Nucamp scholarships and programs).