This Month's Latest Tech News in Oklahoma City, OK - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Oklahoma City is emerging as a national leader in artificial intelligence and technology growth as we enter mid-2025. Amid robust AI data center expansion - including industry cases like Vertiv's 24% revenue surge and ongoing challenges from national infrastructure slowdowns - the state is solidifying its status as a regional tech powerhouse.

Governor Kevin Stitt's AI Task Force recently outlined a forward-looking roadmap, advocating responsible, efficient government AI adoption and emphasizing ethical standards, privacy, and workforce upskilling.

“Oklahoma is poised to lead the nation in implementation of artificial intelligence technology… AI has the potential to help us steward taxpayer dollars more responsibly by cutting redundant positions and replacing some positions with AI technology.”
- Gov. Kevin Stitt

Oklahoma's strengths - central geography, available energy, and workforce investments - position it advantageously for next-generation innovation.

At least 45 states, including Oklahoma, have introduced over 550 AI-related bills in 2025, encompassing education, workforce training, privacy, and responsible use as documented by the NCSL's 2025 AI legislation tracker.

State and national efforts, such as new federal executive orders prioritizing AI skills in education and college accreditation reforms, further support regional tech workforce readiness.

For more insights on the data center scene, including market shifts and strategic investment trends, see the latest April 2025 Data Center Rundown.

Oklahoma City is rapidly emerging as a leading destination for data center development and artificial intelligence infrastructure, with recent announcements highlighting the state's economic appeal and technical readiness.

Notably, Google's new Stillwater data center campus represents an up to $3 billion investment, expected to generate significant direct payments for local schools and public services instead of property tax, reinforcing the region's economic growth and technology industry ties.

According to AI-driven industry leaders at the Powering AI Global Leadership Summit hosted in Oklahoma City, energy supply and regulatory certainty have become pivotal as global data center demand is predicted to soar to 68 gigawatts (GW) by 2027, a figure nearly double the global data center power use from 2022.

However, these expansions are not without controversy; as lawmakers nationwide - including in states like Virginia and Georgia - are grappling with concerns that massive AI data centers could raise utility costs for residents.

As one industry observer put it,

“We're going to have tremendous stress from AI. We have a crisis coming our way in electric rates. These outrageous increases are going to be put on the citizens. Why should they bear the rate increases?”

This tension is prompting legislative debates over how to balance the benefits of job creation and tax revenue with consumer energy protections, prompting new bills and utility rate class proposals.

The momentum in Oklahoma is further buoyed by existing infrastructure - there are already 35 data centers in-state - and new ventures such as Jericho Energy's modular AI data centers leveraging local natural gas and high-speed fiber for scalable, reliable computing power.

For more on Google's Stillwater campus and the broader market impact, visit this in-depth report on Oklahoma's data center expansion, and explore the policy dimensions facing utility customers in this comprehensive analysis of AI data centers and energy costs.

Oklahoma City took center stage in the national conversation on technology and energy by hosting the Powering AI: Global Leadership Summit at the Hamm Institute for American Energy, where over 350 leaders from technology, energy, academia, and government convened to address the crucial challenge of powering AI's rapid rise.

The summit united senior executives from companies like Google, Amazon, and Chevron, as well as U.S. cabinet members, to map strategies that align AI's explosive data center demands with America's diverse energy resources.

According to the Journal Record coverage of the 2025 AI Energy Summit in Oklahoma, RAND research cited at the event underscored that global AI data centers could require 10 GW extra power in 2025 - more than the grid capacity of Utah - soaring to 68 GW by 2027.

Industry leaders debated the benefits of natural gas as a near-term energy solution and highlighted nuclear and geothermal as part of a long-term, diversified strategy, summarized below:

Energy Source	Role
Natural Gas	Primary near-term solution for rising AI energy demand
Nuclear	Key for long-term diversification and stability
Geothermal	Long-term sustainable alternative

“AI is advancing faster than our infrastructure. If America wants to lead in AI, it must also lead in energy. This summit is about alignment, getting the right people in the right room to make sure innovation doesn't outpace our ability to sustain it.”

said Dr. Ann Bluntzer Pullin, the summit's organizer.

For a detailed account and industry stakeholder quotes, see the Oklahoma State University event summary on the AI energy summit and the official MarketWatch press release about national AI energy leadership.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum has launched its innovative “Are We Safer Today?” exhibit, combining custom AI-powered systems, Unreal Engine, and Metahuman technology to create an interactive experience unlike any other in the nation.

Visitors engage with four virtual AI experts in cybersecurity, infrastructure, large events, and explosives, each ready to answer questions about how U.S. security has evolved since the 1995 bombing.

Developed with Cortina Productions and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the exhibit's immersive design integrates Microsoft Azure Speech Services to transcribe and classify each question, offering personalized, expert-driven responses.

As highlighted by Cortina's Bryan Heisey,

“This is an exciting step toward the future of museum storytelling - where AI doesn't just generate text responses, but gives visitors a new way to explore media content and connect more deeply with their specific questions.”

The exhibit goes beyond technology, sparking meaningful conversations on the balance between liberty and safety and encouraging empathy and reflection on the past 30 years of progress.

Museum officials emphasize this AI experience is likely unique in the country, intended to reach visitors of all ages and foster thoughtful dialogue about memorialization and security.

The project stands as a testament to Oklahoma City's leadership in adopting educational tech for sensitive, real-world issues - read more about the exhibit's features at Cortina Productions' official announcement, discover the educational vision driving the project at KTUL's technology feature, and get visitor perspectives and background at Fox23 News' coverage of the exhibit.

Enid High School has emerged as a trailblazer in Oklahoma with its large-scale pilot of Khanmigo, an innovative artificial intelligence software that merges Khan Academy resources and ChatGPT to transform math education.

Backed by partnerships with Oklahoma State University and the Brock Family Community Foundation, over 400 students are now using AI-driven tools as part of their daily classroom experience, enabling individualized pacing and real-time feedback while freeing teachers to focus on targeted instruction.

The pilot's strategic rollout, supported by ongoing Project ECHO training for teachers, ensures effective integration and fosters critical thinking - not just quick answers - among students.

Early indicators suggest significant gains in both proficiency and engagement, with teachers noting a reduction in failing grades and the AI's ability to fill gaps exacerbated by pandemic learning disruptions.

As Principal Craig Liddell put it:

“I think we should absolutely embrace AI, so if we fight it, I don't think we win. So, as educators, how do we embrace it and use it for the right powers and truly have an impact? This Khanmigo product, I think this has been amazing for our students.”

The district board reports that students have collectively mastered over 33,000 distinct math skills this year and plans are underway to expand the program to middle schools.

The AI's direct classroom impact is summarized in this table:

Feature	Details
Software Used	Khanmigo (Khan Academy + ChatGPT)
Students in Pilot	400+
Math Skills Proficiency	33,000+ skills achieved

Explore more details on the AI-powered pilot program at Enid High School, read insights from the Khan Academy case study on classroom transformation, and review district progress in this recent school board report on AI tutoring outcomes.

Oklahoma has made a major stride toward digital workforce readiness by partnering with Google to offer the Google AI Essentials course at no cost to all residents.

Designed for beginners and professionals alike, this self-paced, under-10-hour program empowers Oklahomans to effectively utilize generative AI in daily work, covering concepts from prompt engineering to responsible AI use.

Available both online and through public libraries statewide, the initiative eliminates common access barriers and underscores libraries' expanding role as vital technology learning hubs.

The program stands out by being product-agnostic and requiring no prior experience, with a shareable Google certificate awarded upon completion - a credential already benefiting Oklahomans, with 85% of Google Career Certificate alumni securing employment since 2022 according to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

As Governor J. Kevin Stitt stated,

“Our state is positioned to be a leader in implementing AI technology, and this partnership with Google furthers that momentum by educating thousands in foundational skills for tomorrow's economy.”

The course's flexible modules also resonate with industry needs, saving workers an average of 1.75 hours per day and aligning with a sharp rise in AI-related job postings.

For further details or enrollment, visit the Journal Record's report on Oklahoma's AI training partnership.

The program's effectiveness is summarized below:

Feature	Details
Cost	Free for Oklahoma residents
Duration	Self-paced, under 10 hours
Certificate	Issued by Google
Employment Outcome	85% job placement after certificate (since 2022)

Learn more or enroll through the Google AI Essentials course page.

Oklahoma's higher education and CareerTech systems are rapidly adapting to fuel the state's burgeoning tech sector, aligning workforce training with advanced industry needs.

Initiatives like the partnership between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have established a new additive manufacturing center in Norman - equipped with metal 3D printers and robust research capabilities - to advance defense and aerospace innovation while providing students hands-on experience with transformative technology (OU and ORNL advance metal additive manufacturing in Norman).

As detailed by CareerTech Executive Director Brent Haken, Oklahoma CareerTech's statewide network delivered a $960 million economic impact in 2023, serving over 520,000 students with rising enrollment and a 94% positive placement rate (CareerTech adapts for high-tech jobs and AI skills).

The state is also forging public and private sector alliances, with the Hamm Institute for American Energy's partnership with Divergent Technologies accelerating the development of AI-enabled, energy-powered advanced manufacturing - laying the foundation for a digital, flexible, and globally competitive industrial ecosystem (Oklahoma positioned as a hub for AI-driven manufacturing).

According to OU's Zahed Siddique,

“Collaborating on cutting-edge manufacturing technology will enrich the student educational experience, expand research impact and enhance economic development opportunities in Oklahoma.”

These efforts collectively ensure that Oklahoma's education and training pipelines remain agile, industry-driven, and poised to meet the future demands of tech and manufacturing.

CareerTech FY2023 Impact	Value
Economic Impact	$960M
Enrollment (2024)	520,733
Job Placement Rate	94%

The RAND Corporation's latest research predicts an unprecedented surge in electricity demand from AI data centers, with global requirements expected to reach 10 GW of additional power capacity in 2025 - surpassing the total power capacity of Utah.

By 2027, demand could escalate to 68 GW, nearly double the global data center use recorded in 2022, and forecasts project a staggering 327 GW needed by 2030. This exponential growth, detailed in AI's Power Requirements Under Exponential Growth, is already shaping industry strategy and public policy, as highlighted by the Powering AI Global Leadership Summit held in Oklahoma City.

The conference gathered leaders from the tech and energy sectors to address grid bottlenecks, regulatory delays, and permitting obstacles that hinder rapid capacity expansion (Global summit in Oklahoma confronts AI's energy demands).

Key data illustrates the pace and scale of the challenge:

Year	Projected Global AI Data Center Power Demand (GW)	Context
2022	88	Current capacity
2025	10 (additional)	Exceeds Utah's total capacity
2027	68	Near double 2022 use
2030	327	Nearly quadruple 2027

As data center projects face 4–7 year wait times for grid connections and utilities turn to natural gas to fill shortfalls, policy experts warn that delays or inadequacies in U.S. infrastructure could force companies to relocate operations abroad, risking both economic and national security.

As one RAND economist emphasized,

“The grid can fail, definitely, and I don't think people understand the consequences if that does happen. It's not just the lights going out. Our whole life depends on whether or not energy is available 100 percent of the time.”

For further insights on how U.S. energy supply bottlenecks threaten AI competitiveness, see The Electricity Supply Bottleneck on U.S. AI Dominance.

As Oklahoma City accelerates its emergence as a tech powerhouse, lawmakers and stakeholders are intensely debating the legislation and regulation governing AI, data centers, and energy projects.

The introduction of Oklahoma's Data Centers Act of 2025 aims to attract high-tech investment by providing clear operational guidelines, but it also invites scrutiny over energy consumption and environmental impact.

Nationwide, concerns mount that soaring demand from AI-powered data centers could drive up residents' utility bills, with some states considering measures to assign data centers to their own utility “rate class” or require renewable energy sourcing - echoing the experience of Virginia, where unrestrained growth could increase total energy usage by 183% by 2040.

As a recent RAND study on AI and the future of the US electric grid notes,

"The grid can fail, definitely, and I don't think people understand the consequences if that does happen. It's not just the lights going out. Our whole life depends on whether or not energy is available 100 percent of the time."

To inform policymaking, experts presented to Congress data showing projected U.S. data center power needs could jump from 4.4% in 2023 to up to 12% of national electricity use by 2028, far outpacing historic growth (see table below).

Legal experts argue for enforceable carbon standards and transparency for AI operations, as detailed in this comprehensive analysis of the carbon cost and legal risks of AI in data centers.

The evolving legislative landscape signals Oklahoma's commitment to balancing innovation and economic development with environmental responsibility and consumer protection.

Metric	2023	2028 Projection
US Data Center Electricity Use (% of total)	4.4%	6.7%–12%
Projected Increase in State Energy Usage (Virginia, unrestrained data center growth by 2040)	-	183%

Oklahoma is emerging as a sought-after destination for tech giants expanding their data infrastructure footprint, with landmark investments reshaping the local and national landscape.

Google recently secured land in Stillwater for a major data center campus, collaborating closely with community stakeholders and underlining the region's appeal for its workforce strength and commitment to growth - Stillwater's mayor noted,

“Google choosing Stillwater is a testament to the strength of our economy, our workforce, and our commitment to community investment.”

At the same time, the Tulsa area may soon welcome a massive new entrant: Project Anthem, a proposed 340-acre data center campus likely backed by industry leaders such as Meta, represents an $800 million development set to benefit from significant local tax incentives.

Amazon, for its part, continues to emphasize Oklahoma and neighboring states in its $100 billion global data center expansion and remains firm that AI data center demand is

“not slowing down,”

despite temporary project pauses elsewhere.

These moves are part of a broader wave of investment - Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta together are channeling well over $300 billion into AI and cloud infrastructure development across the U.S. in 2025.

The accelerating arrival of these mega-projects brings both economic optimism and policy debate over their impact on local power grids and consumer electric rates.

For a snapshot of current industry commitments, see the table below:

Company	Planned U.S. Data Center Investment (2025)	Oklahoma Project
Amazon	$100 billion	Ongoing expansion (possible new projects, regional focus)
Google	Undisclosed	Stillwater data center campus
Meta	$65 billion (U.S. total)	Potentially Project Anthem, Tulsa
Other (Oracle, SoftBank, Microsoft)	$80B+ (Microsoft), $100B+ (consortium)	Regional interest growing

Explore further on Amazon and Nvidia's AI data center outlook, the details of Google's Stillwater campus and national trends, and the ongoing data center boom in Tulsa that is attracting industry-defining projects to Oklahoma.

Foreign investment in Oklahoma is accelerating as the state sets its sights on global tech leadership, fueled by a strategic mix of incentives, abundant energy, and proactive outreach.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the state now fields five to seven inquiries each week from firms - many international - interested in establishing data centers or exploring advanced manufacturing and digital cloning technologies.

Jay Shidler, representing the Department, noted,

“We want to bring the world to Oklahoma, and take Oklahoma to the world.”

The Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) is a key driver, issuing $15 million in incentives yearly to support capital investments and job creation for qualifying firms, from manufacturers to technology companies.

Structured data from OIEP's 2024 cycle highlights its broad impact:

Metric	2024 Value
Applications Received	205
Awards Granted	180
Total Award Funds	$14.06 million
Capital Expenditures Facilitated	$52.7 million
Planned New Employees	849

Major industry events, such as the recent AI energy summit in Oklahoma City, have solidified the state as a nexus for international tech and energy dialogue, while foreign capital is drawn to its surplus renewable power and 'behind-the-meter' energy options for large tech facilities.

These trends, coupled with robust legislative and educational support, distinguish Oklahoma as an emerging contender for global tech and data center investment.

Read insights directly from state officials on tech and foreign investment, explore the Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program's business incentives, and learn about Oklahoma's recent global AI energy summit for more detail on the state's strategy.

Oklahoma City is steadily cementing its status as an emerging tech powerhouse, even amid nationwide shifts in employment and investment. Recently ranked the 19th most up-and-coming tech market in North America by CBRE, Oklahoma City boasts a growing workforce of over 22,000 tech professionals, a 17% tech wage increase in five years, and more than 1,000 tech graduates annually - signaling robust talent production and ecosystem support according to CBRE's Scoring Tech Talent report.

While statewide job openings declined in early 2025, the metro's unemployment rate has held below the national average at 3.3%, and the local tech sector continues to attract investment - such as QWERKY AI's recent $2 million seed round, which notably included Oklahoma City investors and renewed focus on human-centered enterprise AI solutions as reported by The SaaS News.

Meanwhile, key growth industries like healthcare, construction, and hospitality are offsetting softness in traditional business services, with health and social assistance alone adding 7,700 jobs statewide in the last year as The Oklahoman details.

With a youthful, skilled population and targeted training initiatives, Oklahoma City is well-positioned to lead the next wave of tech-driven economic growth. For those seeking to build skills and seize new opportunities amid this transformation, Nucamp's coding bootcamps - with pathways from web development to cybersecurity and generous scholarship options - are designed to directly support the region's rising tech talent pipeline.