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

Portland's tech sector is witnessing rapid momentum as Future Ready Oregon's $200 million investment continues to expand training, partnerships, and opportunities for a diverse workforce, with a sharp focus on AI and semiconductor innovation according to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

While global semiconductor leader TSMC posts record profits thanks to AI, its Portland-area factory faces challenges due to reliance on legacy manufacturing technology, declining demand, and elevated costs, yet it remains vital for supplying chips to automotive, defense, and industrial markets as detailed in OregonLive's analysis.

Local organizations such as the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) galvanize the region's AI and data talent, with a robust 2025 calendar packed with summits and networking events empowering entrepreneurs, engineers, and students alike featuring the Oregon Semiconductor and AI Innovation Summit.

For those eager to gain in-demand tech skills, Nucamp Bootcamp offers accessible coding and AI entrepreneurship programs, with scholarships and fair financing options supporting the next generation of Portland's tech workforce.

Oregon is making a significant investment in its tech future by partnering with Nvidia, dedicating $10 million in state funds to launch an AI workforce training initiative across the state's higher education institutions.

This program, shaped by a new Memorandum of Understanding, will introduce the “AI Ambassador Program,” placing specialized faculty and technical experts on college campuses to bolster AI education, foster entrepreneurship, and prepare students for emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence.

The funding, redirected from the 2023 Oregon CHIPS Act, aims to directly address workforce needs within the state's booming semiconductor industry and is further bolstered by deep local connections - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang is an Oregon State University graduate and, together with his wife, recently donated $50 million to the university's supercomputing capabilities.

Governor Tina Kotek emphasized the forward-thinking nature of the partnership, stating,

“Oregon will not only prepare our workers, businesses, and public service professionals for a prosperous future, we will lead the way.”

For details on the governor's announcement and the official memorandum, visit the Oregon Newsroom's announcement on AI workforce investment.

Additional program specifics and its legislative background are outlined in The Oregonian's coverage of Oregon's AI training funding, and early impact details can be found in the summary from Portland Inno's report on Oregon Nvidia AI initiative.

Oregon's move solidifies its position as a hub for AI-driven industry and education.

Intel's Hillsboro campus is generating intense industry buzz amid reports that it is pioneering next-generation chip manufacturing by leading the world with High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet (High NA EUV) lithography.

The Ronler Acres (Gordon Moore Park) facility, following an investment of over $36 billion, was the first globally to install and assemble the 165-ton High NA EUV system - built by ASML for a cost exceeding $350 million - ushering in a new era of semiconductor scaling and performance with unprecedented manufacturing precision.

The Oregon complex is at the core of U.S. chip innovation, securing more than $1.8 billion in CHIPS Act grants for research and advanced manufacturing and supporting thousands of high-skilled, high-wage jobs, while local leaders note Intel's investments fuel regional economic development and workforce programs.

Crucially, Intel's adoption of High NA EUV - paired with its 18A node and Backside Power Delivery - aims to leapfrog competitors such as TSMC and Samsung by streamlining transistor fabrication to single-pass patterning for critical layers, a technological feat that accelerates chip production and efficiency and may make Oregon the proving ground for world-leading AI hardware.

Node/Feature	Intel 18A (Alleged/Public)	TSMC N2 (Public/Reported)
Lithography Type	High NA EUV (First Commercial Use)	Low NA EUV (Established)
Critical Layer Patterning	Single Pass	Multi-Patterning
Backside Power Delivery	Yes (from launch)	No (N2P variant later)

As global chip industry competition intensifies, Intel's advancements at Ronler Acres could shift the supply chain back to American soil and validate a turnaround strategy that not only challenges industry giants, but bolsters U.S. technological sovereignty; as Intel founder Bob Noyce famously said,

“Don't be encumbered by history; just go out and do something wonderful.”

Learn more about Intel's investment and High NA breakthrough at Intel's official High NA EUV press kit.

Oregon State University has made a significant leap in sustainable AI technology with its newly developed chip that reduces the energy consumption of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Gemini by 50%, offering scalable solutions to the power-hungry demands of data centers.

This innovation addresses a critical challenge in AI infrastructure, where increasing data rates have driven up energy needs for transmitting and correcting data.

Presented at the IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference and supported by DARPA and the Semiconductor Research Corporation, the chip replaces traditional, energy-intensive equalizers with AI-driven on-chip classifiers that efficiently detect and correct errors, achieving an impressive error rate below 1 in 100 billion pieces of data.

As Ramin Javadi, the project's lead doctoral student, explains:

“We have designed and fabricated a new chip that consumes half the energy compared to traditional designs.”

With estimates from the International Energy Agency predicting data center electricity consumption could reach 16% of total U.S. usage by 2030, the stakes for innovation are high.

Oregon State University's breakthrough sets a standard for energy-efficient AI hardware and offers a path toward more sustainable and affordable AI deployments.

For more on this chip and its environmental impact, see OSU's official announcement of the 50% energy cut for large language models, a technical dive at how the new AI chip is tackling LLM power demands, and details on the broader sustainability effort at KVAL's coverage of OSU's energy-saving breakthrough.

NOAA has rolled out its groundbreaking Next Generation Fire System (NGFS), combining geostationary satellite data and artificial intelligence to revolutionize wildfire detection and response nationwide, including in Oregon.

NGFS analyzes data from the GOES satellites to automatically pinpoint and alert responders to new fires as small as a quarter acre within a minute, even through smoke and cloud cover.

This technology provides fire location and intensity data to an online dashboard accessed by weather forecasters, fire dispatchers, and land managers, enabling swift and coordinated action.

As reported by NOAA's official news release, the system proved itself during a recent Oklahoma wildfire outbreak, where expedited detection and response likely saved property worth over $850 million with a development cost under $3 million - a benefit-to-cost ratio of 250:1.

The NGFS is now live in 90% of National Weather Service offices, including Oregon, and continues to undergo optimization in Colorado's Fire Weather Testbed. According to Unofficial Networks' detailed coverage, the rapid alerts and decision context provided by NGFS are redefining wildland firefighting.

As Meteorological Technology International observed,

“The artificial intelligence and data fusion capabilities within the NGFS enable efficient and effective decision making.”

This transformative deployment demonstrates the power of public investment and inter-agency collaboration in protecting communities from wildfire threats.

Visa has unveiled its Intelligent Commerce platform, partnering with leading AI developers such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic to launch payment-enabled AI agents that can browse, recommend, and securely complete purchases on users' behalf.

These AI agents leverage tokenized digital credentials - dubbed “AI-ready cards” - so consumers' sensitive card data remains protected while enabling automated shopping across over 150 million merchant locations worldwide.

As described by Visa's Jack Forestell,

“Each consumer sets the limits, and Visa helps manage the rest,”

highlighting the balance of security, personalization, and user control at the heart of the new system.

The platform includes features like customizable spending limits, real-time transaction approvals, and adaptive fraud prevention, ushering in what Visa calls “agentic commerce.” According to recent industry surveys, 65% of shoppers are interested in AI agents securing high-demand items, with 99% of executives planning AI agent deployments this year.

For a detailed overview of Visa's Intelligent Commerce and its industry collaborations, see this PYMNTS in-depth feature on Visa's AI payment suite.

Security and trust remain central, with real-time monitoring and user-initiated controls to ensure safe transactions. For more on adoption trends and how sentiment around trust and autonomy is shaping the rise of agentic commerce, review Digital Commerce 360's analysis of Visa's move with Mastercard.

Additionally, get a broader look at how Visa's AI-driven commerce is set to transform digital retail in Process Excellence Network's report - where CEO Ryan McInerney asserts that AI will shift digital commerce “to make it more personal, more relevant and more delightful.”

This month, Portland played host to the prestigious IEEE-USA Innovation, Workforce, and Research Conference (IWRC) AI Summit, which convened leaders from industry, government, and academia to advance the region's innovation ecosystem.

Held on May 15 at the University of Southern Maine, the summit focused on accelerating partnerships that foster technology transfer, support small businesses, and strengthen AI research and workforce development in the Northeast.

Attendees benefited from sessions on emerging federal and state technology initiatives, grant opportunities, start-up funding, and intellectual property best practices.

As Dr. Ashanthi Maxworth, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, explained,

“This event will bring together resources and representatives from industry, academia and the government, to one place, so that we can show businesses and startups the resources that are available to them here in Maine.”

Notable panelists included Maine's policy makers and industry leaders such as David Daigler and Brian Whitney, with the agenda covering workforce development, applying AI to real-world challenges, and state/federal AI policy trends.

Registration tiers ranged from $95 for students and life members to $250 for non-members, encouraging broad participation. For further insights and the full agenda, visit the official IWRC AI Summit site, catch event highlights via local news coverage of the IWRC AI Summit in Portland, and learn about upcoming IEEE conferences in the region at the IEEE-USA Events & Conferences page.

Portland's tech and media landscape has been shaken this month by growing controversy over AI-powered news aggregators scraping and republishing Oregon journalism without consent.

The problem gathered national attention when the 140-year-old Ashland Daily Tidings, closed in 2023, resurfaced online with plagiarized, AI-generated stories and fake bylines stolen from real journalists - a practice uncovered by Oregon Public Broadcasting's in-depth investigation.

Publishers and organizations such as the News Media Alliance have responded fiercely, issuing cease-and-desist letters to aggregators like Good Daily News, which operates more than 350 AI-driven “local” news sites in 47 states, including several in Oregon, and urging both legal action and stronger digital protections (see the digital policy analysis here).

Concerns over local news integrity were echoed by former Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling, who stated,

“They just put it in a blender and then pour it out on their page. It's maddening.”

The table below summarizes the scale of the local journalism crisis in Oregon:

Aspect	Data / Details
Fake staff (Ashland Daily Tidings)	8 contributors claimed
Loss of journalism jobs (2022-2023, US)	~7,000 nationwide
Oregon counties with no local news outlets	6
Local news closures (20 yrs)	25% of Oregon outlets

The widespread misuse of AI in regional media underscores the urgent need for new safeguards and policy measures to protect Oregonians' access to trusted, locally-produced journalism.

Detailed coverage of these developments and legislative responses is available in reporting from RV Times' report on AI and local news scraping.

The University of Portland (UP) is making significant strides in ethical technology education with the launch of its cross-curricular Ethical AI Initiative in the 2025-26 academic year, integrating six distinct courses that critically explore AI's societal and ethical impacts.

This initiative includes classes like "Future of Work" in organizational communication, "Ordinary Differential Equations" in mathematics, and offerings in business analytics, education, and the broader influence of AI on society, encouraging students to examine, apply, and question artificial intelligence across disciplines.

As Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh, who leads the “Future of Work” course, explains,

“When students understand how human-AI collaboration shapes the way we organize, they are empowered not just to use these technologies - but to integrate them ethically.”

Supporting this campus-wide effort, UP has also adopted clear generative AI usage guidance that prioritizes responsible adoption, privacy, and academic integrity, supplementing learning with Microsoft Copilot tools under enhanced data security.

The program's leadership, including an Ethical AI Steering Council guided by Professor Jon Down, ensures AI is incorporated in curricula across all majors, preparing students “to ask how and for what purposes these tools should be applied.” Additional context and program details can be found in UP's formal initiative announcement, and insights on UP's efforts to lead the AI conversation are covered by local news analyses highlighting the university's role as an educational pioneer in AI ethics, highlighting the university's role as both an educational pioneer and ethical standard-bearer in AI's rapid evolution.

Portland cemented its position as a national leader in medical imaging innovation by hosting the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) 2025 Annual Meeting, drawing experts nationwide to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence and enterprise imaging in healthcare.

AI took center stage at the SIIM25 InformaticsTECH Expo, where over 100 vendors - marking a multi-year high - showcased next-generation solutions such as digital pathology platforms, cloud-native integrations, and advanced diagnostic viewers like those from Mach7 Technologies.

Notably, the conference featured interactive panels, including "AI vs. Human: The Ultimate Showdown," as well as hands-on sessions in the AI Playground where attendees built and tested real models alongside industry luminaries.

Key topics included large language models, generative AI for data interpretation, and regulatory considerations in deploying clinical AI - an issue highlighted by shifting FDA policies and ongoing debates on adoption rates.

Industry leaders emphasized the event's critical role, with one SIIM attendee stating,

“SIIM has been invaluable in advancing our understanding and implementation of imaging informatics, providing crucial insights and networking opportunities that have enhanced our operational efficiency and patient care delivery.”

For a detailed overview of this year's sessions and innovations, explore the official SIIM25 Annual Meeting website, review comprehensive SIIM 2025 video highlights and expert analysis, or delve deeper into vendor spotlights - such as Mach7 Technologies' advanced informatics showcase - at AITechPark's SIIM25 coverage.

The landmark DOJ v. Google antitrust trial has entered its remedy phase, with remedies that could reshape both the search engine and AI landscapes as the court considers how Google's dominance influences emerging technology.

Central to the case are Google's exclusive default search contracts with device makers, control over the Chrome browser - which accounts for as much as 35% of Google's search volume - and its vast accumulation of user data, described by the Justice Department as “the oxygen” of online search engines.

As generative AI rapidly transforms how users find information, the DOJ argues that Google's advanced AI (like Gemini) and monopoly on search data give it an unfair edge that stifles new entrants - prompting proposed remedies from forcing the divestiture of Chrome and bans on exclusive device deals to requiring Google to license its search data to competitors.

The case has spotlighted concerns about privacy, with legal experts and Google executives warning of security risks if search data is shared too broadly. Highlighting the pivotal nature of the proceedings, Judge Amit Mehta observed,

“At every stage in the search process, user data is a critical input that directly improves quality.”

Remedy Proposed	Proponent	Details
Divest Chrome Browser	DOJ	Break link between browser and search, open market to competitors
Prohibit Exclusive Deals (Search/AI)	DOJ (Google partially agrees)	End contracts making Google default on devices and AI assistants
License Search Data to Competitors	DOJ	Share user queries, clicks, and results to level AI competition

Judge Mehta is expected to rule in August 2025; Google plans to appeal any adverse determination.

For an overview of the trial's progression, see Google and the DOJ wrap up a historic tech monopoly case.

For the debate over AI's role in search and the legal push to restrain Google's Gemini, read Justice Department Says Remedies in Google Antitrust Case Should Consider AI Tools.

For expert analysis of how these hearings could reshape the future of online competition, data privacy, and AI, visit The Judge's Data Dilemma in the Google Search Case.

Portland's tech ecosystem is rapidly earning national recognition, driven by resilient job growth, a thriving startup culture, and targeted investments in workforce development.

The 2025 Silicon Forest Tech Trends Report by ProFocus Technology reveals that 67% of local tech leaders expect revenue growth, with Portland's tech salaries exceeding the national average by 11% and nearly 70% of companies adopting hybrid work models - a shift that underscores work-life balance and competitive talent retention.

Inclusive initiatives like the POIC Semiconductor Technician Training Program supported by the CHIPS Act grant, supported by a $162 million CHIPS Act grant, are opening pathways for underrepresented communities to access high-paying, future-ready tech roles.

The region's momentum is further bolstered by high-profile events such as Portland Startup Week's 45 lively gatherings and the Oregon Technology Awards, which celebrate innovation, diversity, and excellence across the sector (coverage of the Oregon Technology Awards 2025 winners).

As AI, cloud, DevOps, and cybersecurity remain core hiring areas, leaders emphasize that continuous upskilling, flexible hiring, and a people-first approach are key to weathering national economic headwinds.

Portland's strategic public-private partnerships, investments in life sciences, and community-focused tech education are laying the groundwork for sustained growth and inclusivity, positioning the city at the forefront of tech innovation in 2025 and beyond.