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

Utah's innovation economy surged this month with both major funding milestones and new legislative steps driving responsible tech adoption. Lehi-based SchoolAI closed a record-breaking $25 million round to personalize education with AI, now reaching over 1 million classrooms and more than 400 districts nationally - a journey that began “in a room above the garage,” according to founder Caleb Hicks, and continues with a mission to empower teachers, not replace them as detailed by KSL.

Meanwhile, University of Utah spinout Trace AQ secured $1.25 million to commercialize its high-resolution, AI-powered air quality platform, helping industries manage wildfire smoke risks - its CEO Victor Gill noted,

“Our models outperform traditional forecasting systems, especially for rapid-onset smoke events”

highlighted by TechBuzz News.

These advances unfold as state policymakers debate SB0226, legislation to set new guardrails around generative AI in consumer-facing services, signaling Utah's intent to blend innovation with ethical oversight according to the Utah Legislature.

The month's momentum - spanning billion-dollar valuations, deep-tech startups, and public sector partnerships - cements Utah's role as a regional hub for tech talent and responsible growth.

Orem-based AskElephant has secured a $6 million seed round led by Jump Capital, with participation from High Alpha, Tandem, and SaaS Ventures, to ramp up its AI-powered orchestration platform for customer-facing and revenue teams.

The company's platform, founded in 2023, acts as a proactive “second brain,” centralizing information, automating routine tasks such as CRM notetaking, and providing actionable insights on deal intervention and training opportunities, all to help teams prioritize genuine client interaction.

AskElephant's momentum is reflected in its 100% quarter-over-quarter growth, with clients like Redo, Disruptive Advertising, and ELB Learning reporting enhanced productivity and smoother workflows.

As CEO Woody Klemetson emphasized,

“There's no shortage of AI tools, but very few are for how revenue teams actually work. We're setting the standard in AI-powered revenue workflows and productivity tools for modern revenue teams. This investment lets us put AI to work so humans can focus on what they do best – connecting with customers and closing deals, not wrestling with data and disconnected systems.”

The funding will fuel development of custom AI agents, expand sales and engineering teams (with open roles at AskElephant Careers - AI Orchestration Platform Jobs), and drive new strategic partnerships.

Market analysts predict the AI-driven revenue workflow sector could boom from $58 billion in 2025 to over $240 billion by 2030 (BusinessWire Report on AskElephant's Seed Funding Success).

For more on this funding round and its impact on Utah's innovation scene, see Utah.vc Coverage: AskElephant Raises $6M to Redefine Revenue Team Workflows.

Canary Speech, a Provo-based pioneer in AI-powered voice diagnostics, is at the forefront of advancing both the promise and ethical standards of artificial intelligence in mental healthcare.

As global investment in AI surges - with OpenAI's record $40 billion funding round demonstrating the sector's significance - Canary Speech distinguishes itself by championing responsible innovation.

The company's technology achieves 96% accuracy detecting early neurological and mental health indicators from voice, often surpassing traditional diagnostic methods and enabling unobtrusive screening for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and Huntington's disease through advanced voice AI.

This accuracy, however, comes with an imperative: upholding robust ethics, cybersecurity, and industry certifications. Canary implements a tri-level audit protocol and ensures patient data privacy via strict de-identification and secure provider firewalls as detailed in their AI in mental healthcare whitepaper.

The following table outlines key certifications:

Certification	Focus	Notes
SOC 2	Privacy, security, admin safeguards	Type 1: Implemented; Type 2: Operational
ISO 27001	Risk-based info security	Governance & improvement
HITRUST	Healthcare data protection	Integrates HIPAA/NIST
ISO 42001	Responsible AI practices	Ethical AI

Industry leaders like Canary Speech stress the need for transparent partnerships and deliberate governance to bridge the "AI governance gap" - where innovation can outpace regulation.

As CEO Henry O'Connell reflects,

"I believe that AI and tools like this are going to make us better. It's going to elevate us to that next level of accuracy and treatment. I believe we're going to look back and say to ourselves, maybe this was the most exciting 10 years we've ever seen."

Learn more about how Canary Speech's approach is transforming ethical AI for mental health by visiting their insightful feature on AI ethics and security.

A recent YouScience 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report uncovers significant postsecondary readiness gaps among Utah students, with only 35% of the Class of 2024 intending to enroll in a four-year college, a sharp decline from 55% in 2019.

The data shows that nearly 72% of these graduates feel only moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared for life after high school - an experience echoed by 77% who wish they had understood their strengths and career options sooner.

The readiness challenges include insufficient work-based learning (reported by 50% of graduates) and the need for broader access to effective career counseling.

Gender disparities persist, with males more likely to have no plan after high school and females likelier to pursue college. As summarized in the report, traditional interest-only assessments often reinforce stereotypes and fail to match students with best-fit career paths.

Instead, YouScience advocates for earlier, aptitude-driven exploration and more real-world opportunities. Their Brightpath platform - already serving over 13,400 institutions - claims measurable progress, shown in the table below:

Metric	Observed Improvement
Graduation Rates	11% increase
Postsecondary Enrollment	5% increase
Pathway Diversity	6% increase
Student Self-Confidence	7% increase

“Students don't need more generic advice, they need meaningful career exposure, real data about their strengths, and practical experiences that connect learning to life.”
- Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience

The full report further details this disconnect and calls for collaboration among education, business, and policy leaders to act now.

For an in-depth analysis, visit the TechBuzz coverage on YouScience's Readiness Gap or download the official results from the YouScience 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report.

Orem-based Turner Imaging Systems is stepping into the national spotlight after joining the NVIDIA Connect program, a partnership designed to accelerate the development of next-generation AI-powered portable X-ray solutions.

Through this alliance, Turner will leverage NVIDIA's advanced AI and 3D imaging algorithms to enhance its SMART-C devices - bringing sophisticated, real-time image processing directly to the point of care and enabling clinicians to make faster, more confident diagnoses.

As highlighted in Turner Imaging Systems' official announcement, this integration means clinicians will benefit from onboard AI-driven image analysis and 3D reconstruction capabilities, with healthcare systems enjoying streamlined workflows and improved diagnostic consistency.

The move comes as the medical imaging industry rapidly adopts AI for patient-centric, accessible, and efficient diagnostics - especially in portable systems that can extend care to rural and underserved areas; insights from Radiology Business emphasize the increasing impact of AI-equipped devices and mobile imaging innovations across the sector.

Turner's journey is also a testament to sustained innovation in Utah's medtech community, with its founder Clark Turner emphasizing the power of perseverance, federal funding, and industry experience in fostering successful startups; as one collaborating CEO put it,

"Clark Turner's approachable nature and his team's expertise made the journey seamless. His leadership delivered a product I trust and a collaboration I deeply value."

Dive deeper into Turner's mission and the future of AI diagnostics from its founder's perspective in Lessons in Innovation: Clark Turner's Impact on Medical Imaging.

In response to sweeping semiconductor industry layoffs both nationally and locally, Utah's tech community is taking decisive action with the Utah Semiconductor Career Fair on June 6, 2025.

Organized by MakeUtah, the free event will connect over 200 skilled professionals - recently displaced from roles in semiconductor manufacturing, process engineering, equipment maintenance, and AI/ML support - with Utah-based employers at the doTERRA Conference Center in Pleasant Grove.

This timely initiative comes amid industry-wide job cuts: over 52,000 tech workers have been laid off nationwide in early 2025, with companies like Texas Instruments (TI) implementing layoffs at their Lehi, Utah facility despite securing up to $1.61 billion in federal CHIPS Act funding for expansion.

According to TechBuzz News on the Utah Semiconductor Career Fair connecting employers with top technical talent, participating employers at the fair will have the opportunity for on-site interviews and company presentations, supporting both immediate hiring needs and Utah's ongoing commitment to semiconductor sector growth.

The Salt Lake Tribune report on Texas Instruments layoffs and economic impact in Utah reports on the economic impact and expansion plans tied to TI's $11 billion investment and the promise of 800 new high-tech jobs, even as current staff reductions weigh on the local workforce.

Nationally, as summarized by Design News summary of 2025 tech layoffs and industry trends, the layoff wave is driven by operational efficiency demands and stagnant sales, but Utah's proactive response ensures that top technical talent remains within the region as opportunities shift and the industry rebounds.

Company	2025 Layoffs	Key Facts
Texas Instruments (Lehi, UT)	Undisclosed (below WARN threshold)	$1.61B CHIPS Act funding; 800 new jobs planned
ON Semiconductor	2,400 worldwide	Cost-saving restructuring; $105M-$115M annual savings projected
Microsoft	6,000	“Organizational changes for future success”

“Utah continues to be an important part of our manufacturing footprint and company strategy, as we build the geopolitically dependable capacity our customers will need for decades to come.”

Frantelligence, an Orem-based company, is leading the charge in AI-driven franchise management, offering solutions that streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance data accessibility for franchisors and franchisees alike.

By integrating smart automation into core processes such as lead generation, predictive performance modeling, onboarding, and compliance management, Frantelligence exemplifies the sector's rapid digital evolution.

Industry-wide, AI tools are delivering a measurable edge - franchises utilizing advanced technology have experienced a 10–15% boost in operational efficiency and decision-making speed, according to franchise technology trend reports.

AI also delivers tangible benefits in marketing: platforms like Vendasta report that centralized, AI-powered automation can double online reviews, increase leads by 2.5 times, and drive a 3x revenue growth for multi-location businesses by enabling faster, more personalized customer engagement (franchise marketing automation insights).

Adding to the competitive toolkit, AI franchise proposal generators automate complex business documentation, ensuring legal compliance and data-driven customization that accelerates franchise expansion (see detailed comparisons at AI franchise proposal generator reviews).

As Frantelligence and peer innovators expand Utah's footprint, their customer-funded approach and technology-forward mindset signal the next phase of scalable, intelligent franchise growth.

Utah has emerged as a focal point for AI missteps in government, with dozens of U.S. citizens - including longtime immigration attorneys - erroneously told to self-deport after receiving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emails meant for undocumented immigrants.

These incidents have raised alarm about the rapid deployment of AI-powered mass notification systems without adequate human oversight. According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times on DHS immigration termination notices and deportation errors, faulty data handling and automated processes led to DHS mistakenly sending termination notices to citizens and legal residents nationwide, with the agency acknowledging that notices may have been sent to people whose email addresses were listed in immigration records - regardless of status.

As AI and automation accelerate government workflows, experts caution that technology alone cannot replace the need for human judgment, especially in life-changing contexts like immigration.

Utah State University's Sharad Jones explains,

“We need to identify places where AI - kind of automation technologies - allow us to speed up the necessary pieces of our workflow, but don't replace the decision-maker… the person that is held accountable for that final piece of it. That's not an easy thing.”

The scope of affected individuals is significant; over 500,000 immigrants were subject to rapid changes in parole status, yet U.S. citizens such as Carlos Trujillo and legal professionals across several states also received threats of deportation due to system errors (Oklahoma Voice's investigation into DHS self-deportation directives).

Legal experts argue that reliance on imperfect models and flawed data can perpetuate errors, warning, “Technology has its place. It does. But we can't let it run rampant… we actually have to intervene at some point and look and see if it's making correct decisions” (ABC4 Utah coverage on AI and immigration oversight).

This episode underscores the necessity for robust oversight and transparency in AI-powered government initiatives to prevent future harm.

Angel Studios' animated feature The King of Kings has made a commanding debut, earning an impressive $19.37 million across 3,200 theaters - setting the record for the largest domestic opening ever for a faith-based animated film.

Strong pre-sales of $14.6 million, bolstered by the innovative “Kids Go Free” and “pay-it-forward” ticketing programs, powered widespread community engagement and family attendance.

The film quickly became Angel Studios' second-highest earner behind Sound of Freedom, surpassing industry expectations to achieve an A+ CinemaScore and a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

With a production budget of $15 million funded by over one million supporters worldwide, The King of Kings blends an imaginative Charles Dickens-inspired narrative with a cast including Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, and Uma Thurman.

“This film is a testament to the power of storytelling that amplifies light and brings families together,” said Brandon Purdie, Angel Studios' Head of Theatrical Distribution.

“We're thrilled to see The King of Kings connect so deeply with audiences… Our Angel Guild and global community of supporters have once again shown that there's a massive audience eager for stories that inspire and uplift.”

As of late May, the film has grossed nearly $67 million worldwide and continues its momentum with a premium digital release on Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

For a deep dive into its financial milestones, visit The Numbers' detailed box office breakdown, explore how grassroots support fueled its success at Deadline's in-depth report on presale strategies, and read more about the record-setting weekend via Rapzilla's coverage of audience response.

Metric	Performance
Opening Weekend	$19.37M (record for faith-based animated film)
Total Worldwide Gross	$66.98M
Production Budget	$15M
Audience Score (Rotten Tomatoes)	98%
CinemaScore	A+

Agilix Labs has announced a significant partnership with NorthStar Academy to roll out BusyBee, an advanced AI teaching assistant built on Amazon Bedrock, aimed at transforming K-12 education through personalized and adaptive learning experiences.

This collaboration aligns with Utah's broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms statewide, a movement strengthened by state-level policies, dedicated funding, and training for educators.

As AI-driven solutions like BusyBee become more widespread, Utah's educators experience “an order of magnitude” growth in AI proficiency, demonstrating the model's positive impact on both teaching skills and student engagement.

“Because that exponential technology is doubling in capacity so quickly and getting more and more ubiquitous over a short period of time, it's getting more and more part of our society, and we're having sometimes less and less time to navigate the minutiae,”

said Matt Winters, Utah's AI Education Specialist, emphasizing the need for robust support and agile frameworks.

Agilix's Future Learning Institute exemplifies this approach, using AI to accelerate curriculum updates, deliver instant feedback, and close urban-rural divides in access and outcomes.

For a detailed breakdown of how AI-enhanced solutions compare to traditional models, see the table below:

Aspect	Traditional Model	FLI/AI-Enhanced Model
Curriculum update speed	Painfully slow	Lightning-fast
Instruction approach	Rigid, one-size-fits-all	Hyper-adaptive, AI-personalized
Learning engagement	Passive, lecture-based	Motivation-boosting, engaging
Teacher support	Overloaded, no personal support	Instructors spend more 1:1 time
Feedback timing	Weeks for results	Instant feedback
Urban-rural equity	Widening divide	Locally-tailored content and pathways

Read the full announcement at Agilix Labs announces AI-Enhanced Learning Implementation with NorthStar Academy, explore Utah's statewide AI education initiatives at Utah's Plan for Statewide AI Education, and discover how Agilix's global Future Learning Institute is modernizing education with AI at Agilix Future Learning Institute.

Utah is advancing digital privacy and data governance through a landmark initiative highlighted at the Utah Data Governance Summit, held May 29, 2025, at Utah Valley University.

The summit convened state, county, and municipal leaders, privacy advocates, and technology experts to address the technical and ethical complexities of public data management in today's digital government.

Governor Spencer Cox emphasized the shift in data ownership, stating,

“We own that (data). Google does not own that. Facebook does not own that. We own that, and we're the first state, first place in the world, to pass a law that sets that out clearly, and we will be fighting for it.”

The event explored core themes like scaling privacy programs, breaking down agency silos, and implementing the Government Data Privacy Act, which mandates uniform privacy standards and oversight for all state entities.

Breakout sessions covered digital identity legislation, compliance best practices, and strategies for transparency and trust. As Chris Bramwell, Utah's Chief Privacy Officer, remarked, the summit is “bringing all stakeholders to the table and confronting the challenges that come with modernizing government in a digital age”.

This collaborative approach supports the Utah Office of Data Privacy's mission to protect citizens, enhance transparency, and empower individuals with control over their information, setting a precedent for responsible, citizen-centered data governance in the United States.

For a detailed event recap and policy insights, visit the Herald Extra's summit coverage.

Further information and session videos are available via the Herbert Institute event portal.

Orem's tech landscape stands as a testament to Utah's energetic embrace of both AI-driven innovation and responsible regulation. Utah now ranks #1 nationally in AI readiness, boasting 8.8% AI adoption and a perfect legislative score, with 5.2% of all state job postings classified as digital, signaling a robust and future-focused workforce according to the 2025 AI Readiness Index.

Yet, with entry-level jobs rapidly evolving under the pressure of automation and 40% of CEOs reportedly weighing workforce reductions due to AI, experts warn that adaptation and upskilling will be crucial:

“We need to face the reality that mass job elimination is coming.” - Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

As highlighted by KSLTV, Utah has responded to these challenges with some of the nation's most comprehensive AI laws, including new mandates for transparency, consumer protection, and ethical use in sensitive sectors like mental health - a framework that balances opportunity and accountability and offers significant protections around deepfakes and identity (see Perkins Coie's legal update).

As Orem looks ahead, the community's collaborative approach, coupled with ambitious upskilling initiatives, positions it to turn rapid change into shared progress - ensuring that technological advancement uplifts, rather than displaces, its workers and entrepreneurs.