This Month's Latest Tech News in Palm Coast, FL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Palm Coast's tech scene in 2025 embodies both ambition and restraint as the city makes its space industry debut at SpaceCom and positions itself for high-tech investment, all amid a volatile global technology climate.

Local growth is accelerating - Palm Coast exhibited at SpaceCom 2025, the leading aerospace event, joining over 250 companies as it pushes into advanced manufacturing and aerospace sectors, with leadership expressing confidence that Palm Coast is “truly a city on the rise.” However, nationwide trends urge caution: major tech layoffs continue to ripple across 2025, with more than 23,400 layoffs reported in April alone according to TechCrunch's 2025 tech layoffs comprehensive roundup, affecting staple firms like Meta, Intel, and Google.

At the same time, AI remains a magnet for venture capital - Q1 2025 saw AI startups claim 57.9% of global VC funding, leading to a record $73 billion invested largely in machine learning and cybersecurity innovation (ComplexDiscovery's analysis of AI venture capital trends).

As Palm Coast welcomes innovation, balancing optimism with awareness of industry headwinds remains key for sustainable local tech growth.

This month, a new Coastal Cloud report highlights a growing disconnect in Palm Coast: while 67% of local Salesforce-powered organizations plan to maintain or increase AI spending, only 21% are realizing measurable outcomes from their investments, far behind global benchmarks.

Companies cite lack of a clear roadmap - 64% nationwide - and mounting concerns over governance and risk as main barriers. Eric Berridge, CEO of Coastal, cautions that

“Salesforce is innovating at record speed, and its AI products like Agentforce are game-changing. But from our front-row seat in this AI era, we know businesses must focus on getting the foundation right if they want to achieve real AI impact. That means modern infrastructure that feeds data into systems, redesigned processes, and a clear link between every initiative and measurable outcomes.”

In contrast, a global survey by Snowflake on early AI adopters' ROI found that 92% of early AI adopters are already seeing their investments pay off.

The gap illustrates the need for Palm Coast companies to shift from experimentation to execution, prioritizing strong data platforms and cross-cloud integration.

The findings mirror broader national trends; as observed in Informatica's 2025 enterprise AI survey on pilot projects and business value, most firms continue investing in AI despite struggling to move beyond pilot projects and demonstrate business value.

For local leaders eager to close the results gap, Coastal Cloud's AI infrastructure modernization recommendations center on modernizing infrastructure and establishing ROI-focused action plans from the outset.

As summarized below, the data underscores both optimism and caution:

Metric	Palm Coast (Coastal Cloud 2025)	Global (Snowflake 2025)
Expect to Maintain/Increase AI Spending	67%	98%
Report Proven AI Outcomes/ROI	21%	92%
Lack Clear Roadmap	64%	Varied

“Companies with a clear data and AI roadmap are 2.7x more likely to see positive ROI - yet shockingly, 64% don't have one. That's the work we help our customers tackle every day.” - Eric Berridge, CEO, Coastal Cloud

Mount Sinai Medical Center is advancing virtual nursing through the implementation of the Artisight smart hospital platform in 160 inpatient rooms across its Miami Beach campus, enhancing both patient safety and nursing efficiency.

By leveraging advanced computer vision, real-time audio and video, and a 24/7 remote monitoring command center, Artisight empowers staff to anticipate and prevent incidents such as falls and assists with critical nursing tasks like discharge planning and documentation.

This initiative is designed not only to improve the patient experience but also to reduce nurse burnout and increase hospital efficiency. As Dr. Alon Weizer, Chief Medical Officer, notes,

“The fusing of Artisight into our nurses' day-to-day schedule not only helps make the hospital run more efficiently, but also allows for patients to have a smoother experience and for our nurses to experience less burnout. It's a great piece of innovation that betters the workflow, reduces the administrative burden, and ultimately improves our patient care.”

Outcomes anticipated include improved recruitment and retention, greater staff productivity, and higher patient satisfaction.

For a comprehensive look at Mount Sinai's use of AI to enhance virtual nursing and overall patient care, see the detailed analysis from South Florida Hospital News on AI-Driven Artisight Technology, learn about broader AI-powered advancements from the UVA Health AI Symposium report, and explore related innovations at Mount Sinai's AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery Center.

Here's a snapshot of Artisight's virtual nursing features and benefits:

Feature	Benefit
24/7 remote AI patient monitoring	Timely issue detection and response
Automated documentation & assessments	Reduces administrative workload for nurses
Computer vision for fall prevention	Proactive safety interventions
Nursing command center	Enhanced oversight and workflow efficiency

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is redefining the future of transplant medicine through cutting-edge technology and record-setting performance, making it the top transplant center in the nation in 2024 with a staggering 889 procedures - an unprecedented achievement in U.S. healthcare.

This milestone is underpinned by TGH's commitment to innovative organ preservation solutions, most notably its world-first pancreas transplant using the advanced Paragonix PancreasPak System for organ preservation during transport, which maintains optimal organ temperatures during lengthy transports and provides real-time tracking, dramatically expanding the scope of viable donations.

The hospital's technology-first strategy also incorporates organ perfusion devices such as the OrganOx Metra for liver transplants, resulting in a 33% year-over-year growth for that program and improved patient outcomes.

These innovations enable not only higher transplant volumes but also access to previously non-viable organs, shortening wait times for patients across Florida's east and west coasts.

As the hospital celebrated the reopening of its patient transplant houses - restored after Hurricane Helene's flooding through a $25,000 grant and long-term corporate partnerships - it underscored the holistic support offered to patients traveling for care.

“Newly transplanted patients have required follow-up visits two to three times a week during the first two months after organ transplant surgery. The transplant houses located on our hospital campus provide an invaluable service to these patients and their families during their road to recovery,”

explained Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, Vice President and Chief of the TGH Transplant Institute.

TGH's relentless drive for technological and operational excellence in transplant care has been widely recognized, including accolades in Modern Healthcare's 2024 Innovators Class.

Explore more about TGH's pioneering work and impact in organ donation and transplantation at their official Tampa General Hospital transplant technology coverage or see how their efficiency is broadening access for Floridians in this detailed feature on expanding organ donation at Tampa General Hospital.

Florida schools are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence, piloting custom AI language tools across Tampa Bay charter schools and K-12 classrooms.

Supported by a $1.1 million state initiative, schools like Pepin Academies and Dayspring Academy now deploy AI systems that translate instruction into more than 170 languages and personalize support for English language learners and students with disabilities, with early reports noting significant gains in confidence and independence among students.

At the heart of Tampa's effort is Scholar Education's BaxterBot - an AI classroom assistant developed by USF alumni - which gathers student data to offer targeted lesson adaptations, immediate feedback, and multilingual communication, already in place in ten Pepin Academies classrooms with numbers set to double next year.

The state pilot reflects a wider national movement, as legislative sessions across Florida and other states fast-track reforms expanding school choice, hybrid learning models, and technology-focused grants.

As AI tools reshape teaching and learning, state and national experts emphasize the need for robust guardrails to protect data privacy and academic integrity while maximizing productivity.

As Marlee Strawn, co-founder of Scholar Education, notes:

“If a teacher has 25 kids who learn in 25 different ways or have 25 different questions about the same lesson, this approach allows each child to receive the specific assistance they require.”

For a closer look at classroom implementation and AI impacts, see in-depth reporting on Florida schools' AI initiatives amidst the national AI push, explore how USF alumni are driving AI classroom innovation through projects like BaxterBot, and learn about the state-funded pilot program in Tampa at Tampa schools' $1.1M custom AI initiative for personalized learning.

For a quick overview of major features being piloted, see the table below:

Feature/Function	BaxterBot / Tampa Pilot
Language Translation	170+ languages supported
Personalized Learning	Yes, via student data and lesson tailoring
Teacher Assistance	Automates planning, grading, and admin tasks
Special Ed Support	Used in classrooms with disabilities, provides accommodations
Data Privacy Safeguards	Built-in monitoring, restricted access

Ingressotek has made headlines this April by securing the exclusive U.S. rental rights to the Evolv eXpedite™, a cutting-edge AI-powered bag screening system designed to modernize and accelerate event security across high-volume venues nationwide.

As the only company with such authorization, Ingressotek will provide fully managed, turnkey screening at stadiums, convention centers, and live event spaces, leveraging artificial intelligence to detect threats in real time while supporting rapid, frictionless guest entry.

According to Ingressotek's official announcement, this move promises efficiency with throughput of up to 3,600 guests per hour - ten times faster than traditional metal detectors - while integrating seamlessly with venue infrastructure.

Dan Donovan, Founder of Ingressotek, emphasized,

“This isn't just about having the latest tech - it's about making it work seamlessly in the real world. With Evolv eXpedite™ and our experienced teams, we're proud to help offer our clients a safe, fast, and efficient screening experience. It's security designed to never slow you down.”

While AI security solutions like those from Evolv Technology have garnered sector-wide accolades - including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation - recent incidents overseas highlight the vital roles of calibration and human oversight.

A notable security breach at Melbourne Cricket Ground in April 2025 exposed how technology's effectiveness may diminish if operators are undertrained or fatigued, and revealed concerns about false positive rates ranging from 5%–60% depending on settings, as reported in a detailed ABC News investigation.

As AI streamlining becomes central to U.S. public venue security - with major sports teams and institutions adopting AI-powered systems for faster, less intrusive screening - the industry is urged to balance innovation and operational diligence, as discussed in Fox Business's analysis of Evolv Technology deployments.

The partnership signals a new era where Palm Coast events can lead in safety and guest experience while remaining alert to the evolving responsibilities of AI security.

Espionage concerns are surging in Florida's technology sector, as experts warn the state is a “target-rich environment” for foreign intelligence activity. Chinese espionage is reportedly aggressive and persistent, especially around high-profile locations such as Mar-a-Lago, the Space Coast's aerospace industry, and military contractors in Palm Beach County.

As summarized in a detailed investigation by The Palm Beach Post on Chinese espionage in Florida's tech and defense sectors, high-value tech and defense companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney have become frequent targets.

Florida has seen real-world arrests linked to Chinese intelligence activities, including the conviction of Ping Li, a Tampa-area tech worker sentenced to four years in prison for acting as an agent of the Chinese government, as reported in a U.S. Justice Department press release on espionage sentencing.

Meanwhile, a recent high-stakes case saw a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst sentenced to 84 months for passing sensitive military information to a China-linked contact, underscoring how both civilian and defense sectors are at risk according to federal authorities' report.

Law enforcement and security experts caution that prosecution remains difficult, letting many operatives operate at low risk. As former CIA officer Michele Rigby Assad emphasizes,

“We have a very target-rich environment. So you have to shift your mindset from 'It can't happen here' to 'It is happening here right under noses.' And it's incredibly aggressive.”

This wave of incidents highlights the imperative for heightened vigilance, cybersecurity improvements, and community reporting to protect Florida's technology landscape from escalating espionage threats.

Notable Location	Description
Mar-a-Lago	Trump's private club, frequent espionage target
Patrick Space Force Base	Military installation, aerospace tech hub
Space Coast (Cape Canaveral)	Rocket launches, tech innovation
Western Palm Beach County	Home to Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Pratt & Whitney

This month in Palm Coast, AI takes center stage in efforts to address America's ongoing overdose crisis in new and profound ways. Notably, a groundbreaking anti-drug campaign now leverages artificial intelligence to let fentanyl overdose victims virtually “share their stories” - a visceral approach aimed at reaching those at risk, especially teens and young adults, as the proportion of overdose deaths due to counterfeit pills has spiked from 2% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2021 (AI campaign gives voice to overdose victims).

Meanwhile, evidence continues to grow that AI doesn't just raise awareness but also saves lives by powering hospital-based screening tools for opioid use disorder.

A recent NIH-funded clinical trial showed that an AI tool, analyzing electronic health records and alerting physicians to refer at-risk patients to addiction specialists, achieved 47% lower 30-day readmission odds and saved over $108,000 in healthcare costs compared to provider-only screening (AI screening lowers hospital readmissions).

As University of Maryland researchers win recognition for using machine learning to quickly detect opioid overdoses and deploy interventions before toxicology reports are finalized, the momentum grows for more timely, targeted responses (AI-driven detection in opioid response).

Metric	Without AI	With AI Screener
Addiction Consult Rate	1.35%	1.51%
30-day Readmissions	14%	8%
Healthcare Savings	N/A	$108,800 (8 months)

“AI can optimize hospital workflow, strengthen addiction treatment implementation, and reduce healthcare costs.”
- Nora D. Volkow, M.D., National Institute on Drug Abuse

Universities across Florida are at the forefront of combating the wave of AI-fueled scams, blending breakthrough research, interdisciplinary education, and community outreach.

At Barry University, the launch of a new AI Center underscores an educational response to rising threats: after a Miami Beach resident was targeted by a convincing AI-generated impersonation, Vice-Provost Bogdan Daraban warned,

“Unfortunately nefarious uses of this technology will continue to proliferate. It is a powerful technology. It all starts with awareness and education.”

Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic University researchers have developed an award-winning, data-driven method that outperforms traditional fraud detection - enabling rapid identification of financial anomalies even in highly imbalanced datasets, a critical advantage as US fraud losses recently surpassed $10 billion annually (Barry University AI Center addresses catfishing and AI scam awareness; Florida Atlantic University's fraud detection research sets new benchmarks).

On the technical side, the University of Florida's Dr. Patrick Traynor spotlights the risks of deepfakes, noting that “all of us are at risk” as scammers ramp up advanced robocalls; his team's work emphasizes user training and institutional safeguards to fortify the public against digital manipulation (How University of Florida research confronts deepfakes and digital scams).

These collaborative efforts show how Florida's universities are equipping students, professionals, and the wider community to counteract evolving cyber threats with practical solutions and renewed vigilance.

The “Barbie Box” trend has taken Palm Coast's creative scene by storm this month, enabled by OpenAI's advanced GPT-4o image generator. Locals, brands, and marketers are leveraging AI to transform personal photos into striking digital avatars resembling Barbie-like action figures, complete with names, personality-reflecting accessories, and vibrant toy-style packaging.

Growing out of LinkedIn, the Barbie Box Challenge is now thriving across Instagram and TikTok, with everyone from professionals to influencers participating - and even brands such as Mac Cosmetics, NYX Cosmetics, and Starbucks India joining the fun.

The process involves uploading a full-body photo to ChatGPT, then crafting a detailed prompt describing desired accessories, outfit, and packaging; GPT-4o's popularity has surged so much that OpenAI imposed temporary caps on free-tier image generation as over 150 million users joined in the first month alone (AI Barbie Box trend powered by GPT-4o).

Despite the playful nature of these digital collectibles, the trend raises valid questions about energy use, privacy, and copyright. As the BBC reports,

“ChatGPT consumes more electricity annually than 117 countries,”

prompting some to question whether these memes justify their environmental footprint (BBC: Concerns around Barbie-like AI dolls).

Meanwhile, creating your own avatar remains a breeze with simple steps: upload a well-lit image, enter a descriptive prompt, and iterate for accuracy - just beware of ChatGPT's restrictions on certain trademarked wording (How to Make AI Barbie Dolls and ChatGPT Action Figures).

As this AI-powered nostalgia blends with marketing and personal branding, Palm Coast's creative community finds itself both inspired and cautiously optimistic.

AI is rapidly transforming virtual healthcare across Florida, enhancing patient care, operational efficiency, and access. Notable developments include the DataFirst and TeleRay partnership to deliver AI-driven radiology imaging and virtual care platforms.

Their cloud-native solution integrates seamlessly with Epic and other EMRs, supporting hospitals with high-definition video imaging, workflow automation, and universal access to patient data - improving clinical decision-making while reducing clinician workloads.

In parallel, PracticeSuite, based in Tampa, has introduced AI into its cloud healthcare platform, providing medical practices with advanced tools for billing, documentation, and workflow automation.

As founder and CEO V.K. Vinod Nair explains,

"AI is not about inventing a technology to replace frontline workers... we embrace AI innovation responsibly for the right reasons, at the right place to deliver higher value in our platform for our customers."

The state's behavioral health sector is also benefitting from new AI-powered EHR tools from Qualifacts, with features like automatic note generation and intelligent task automation leading to an 80% reduction in clinical note-taking time and enabling 50% of providers to see more patients.

For a clearer picture, here's a summary of some leading AI healthcare solutions debuting in Florida and beyond:

Company/Product	Description
DataFirst + TeleRay	AI-enhanced radiology and virtual care, integrated with EMRs, streamlining clinical workflows
PracticeSuite AI	AI for medical billing, workflow, documentation, countering payer AI engines
Qualifacts iQ	AI tools reducing documentation time and improving provider efficiency for behavioral health

For more details on these advancements and market perspectives - including new AI-powered telehealth launches - explore the April 2025 Health IT Product News Report and Qualifacts' official announcement.

Palm Coast stands at a pivotal intersection where the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence brings both promise and responsibility. School boards across Florida, such as those in Sarasota and Martin counties, are enacting new AI acceptance and academic honesty policies that underscore AI as a tool to supplement but never replace original student effort.

According to a recent EdSurge analysis on AI guidance in schools, over half the states now issue voluntary AI guidance, focusing on human oversight, privacy, and bias risks, but many still neglect civil rights challenges and the dangers of AI-enabled surveillance in schools.

Sarasota County's rules require students to acknowledge authorized AI use and warn all stakeholders that misuse may lead to disciplinary consequences (see Sarasota's AI Acceptable Use policy).

As local leaders weigh innovation against ethical and legal obligations, one guiding truth emerges, as noted by an AI ethics expert:

“The rise of AI surveillance in public education is one of the most urgent civil and human rights challenges confronting public schools today.”

Policy Area	Common Provisions
Academic Integrity	AI use as supplement only with disclosure; unauthorized use penalized
Oversight	Teacher authorization required; ongoing policy review mandated
Privacy & Bias	Explicit bans on AI learning or storing sensitive data; requirement to check for bias
Civil Rights	Surveillance risks noted by experts; rarely addressed directly in state policies

As the region's schools, businesses, and workforce look to AI for enhanced opportunities, continued vigilance and transparent community engagement will be essential in ensuring the technology serves every resident fairly and ethically.