This Month's Latest Tech News in Providence, RI - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Providence is rapidly emerging as New England's AI and tech epicenter, highlighted by Utilidata's landmark $60.3 million Series C funding to scale its distributed AI platform, Karman, across energy infrastructure in collaboration with technology leaders such as NVIDIA and Quanta Services.

The city's vibrant startup ecosystem now boasts 68 standout companies - ranging from Splitwise in fintech to Upward Health in healthtech - with over $269 million raised collectively, firmly placing Providence among the nation's top 100 startup cities.

This progress is matched by strong regional leadership: the Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Task Force, assembled by Governor Dan McKee, is currently seeking public input to guide statewide AI policy.

As Governor McKee states,

“We're positioning Rhode Island as a national leader in AI, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Our goal is to harness the benefits of AI for our local economy while mitigating potential risks through thoughtful policy and planning.”

For a closer look at Utilidata's fundraising and vision for transforming the electric grid with edge AI, see the Utilidata's $60 million Series C funding official announcement.

Dive further into the diversity of Providence's top-funded startups with this detailed Providence startup ranking and market analysis, and read about the ongoing drive for public engagement in AI policy on the Rhode Island Current's AI policy public engagement coverage.

Providence-based Utilidata has secured $60.3 million in Series C funding - led by Renown Capital Partners with contributions from NVIDIA, Quanta Services, and Keyframe Capital - to accelerate the deployment of its AI-driven platform, Karman, designed to modernize global power grids.

Built on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano module, Karman enables edge AI capabilities directly within grid-connected devices such as smart meters and substations, offering real-time decision-making, improved reliability, and enhanced energy efficiency without major physical infrastructure upgrades.

Strategic collaborations with industry partners - including Quanta Services for large-scale infrastructure deployment, Advantech for IoT hardware integration, and Hubbell for smart meter embedding - position Karman for wide-reaching impact as data center power demand rises and grids face new complexity from renewables and electrification.

As Josh Brumberger, Utilidata CEO, notes,

“Electricity has gone from being abundant and predictable to scarce and increasingly unpredictable. That paradigm shift requires fundamentally new technology and deeper industry collaboration.”

By layering AI at the edge, Utilidata aims to help utilities unlock grid capacity and reduce emissions at scale.

For a detailed look at the funding and technology, see the official press announcement on GlobeNewswire, insights from AIM Research's breakdown of Utilidata's AI ambitions, and analysis on the Latitude Media report on the move into the data center market.

Rhode Island is taking a collaborative approach to shaping its AI future by actively inviting public input through a statewide survey, open until May 9, 2025, and led by the recently established Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

Chaired by former Congressman Jim Langevin and vice-chaired by Chris Parisi of Trailblaze Marketing, the Task Force includes leaders from government, tech, health care, education, and business to ensure broad representation.

The survey, designed to gather perspectives on AI awareness, workplace experiences, industry impacts, and potential regulations, serves as a foundation for recommendations on responsible and effective AI integration across the state.

As Governor Dan McKee explained,

“We're positioning Rhode Island as a national leader in AI, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Our goal is to harness the benefits of AI for our local economy while mitigating potential risks through thoughtful policy and planning. It's important to hear from Rhode Islanders as we continue to shape the future of AI in RI.”

Task Force Chair Jim Langevin reinforced the initiative's participatory ethos:

“As we create our roadmap, we're asking the public to offer their insights on if and how they'd like to see artificial intelligence implemented across the state, as well as to share any concerns about the future of this technology.”

Learn more about the survey and how you can contribute at the official Rhode Island AI Task Force Public Input Survey, discover the full details behind the statewide initiative in the Governor's press release on AI Task Force public engagement, and explore local coverage of the effort to involve Rhode Islanders in AI policy through Rhode Island Current's feature on the AI survey.

Vatn Systems, a Rhode Island defense tech startup founded in 2023, is gaining national prominence through its strategic partnership with Palantir Technologies to digitize and scale the manufacturing of low-cost, modular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for military use.

Leveraging Palantir's advanced AI platform, Vatn can track production in real-time, model timelines, and proactively address supply chain issues, resulting in more agile delivery and adaptable systems for the U.S. military and its allies (AI-driven undersea defense manufacturing partnership details).

Already, twelve Vatn AUVs are operational in government fleets, with more in production to meet rapidly growing demand while avoiding bottlenecks seen in traditional defense contracts (announcement of Vatn and Palantir partnership).

As part of a broader trend fueled by initiatives like the AUKUS security pact, Vatn exemplifies the shift towards smaller, software-integrated firms achieving fast development cycles and deep data-driven supply chain integration.

The company, recognized as a “Challenger” among top autonomous vehicle firms including Boeing, Saab, and Northrop Grumman, has attracted significant venture backing, raising $13 million (oversubscribed to $16.5 million) from investors such as DYNE Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures, and In-Q-Tel (Vatn Systems company overview and market analysis).

This transformative collaboration is helping establish Rhode Island - and Providence in particular - as a new epicenter for next-generation military technology manufacturing.

Uber CEO and Brown University alumnus Dara Khosrowshahi returned to campus this April to headline the School of Professional Studies' 10th anniversary, offering students guidance for leading in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

In a conversation with Brown President Christina H. Paxson, Khosrowshahi credited his achievements - including overseeing Uber's 30 million daily rides powered by complex AI algorithms - to the openness and adaptability encouraged by Brown's Open Curriculum, which he described as “gold” for marrying technical acumen with liberal arts communication skills.

Emphasizing that “you're not going to be put out of work by AI, you're going to be put out of work by the person who knows how to use AI better,” he urged students to stay curious, communicate effectively, and apply critical thinking across disciplines.

According to Khosrowshahi, Uber's continued AI innovation relies not just on technology but also on ethical leadership and diverse perspectives drawn from varied life experiences, including his own journey as an immigrant.

Expanding on this, an event analysis details how Uber's AI integration includes platforms like GenAI Gateway, which handles 16 million queries monthly, and that Uber supports 170 million users and 8 million drivers globally.

The event underscored that a blend of technology fluency and liberal arts insight is crucial for shaping the future workplace - a lesson Khosrowshahi sees as critical for the next generation of leaders.

For further details and a direct account of the event, see the Brown University news coverage, an analysis from the Brown Daily Herald, and an in-depth leadership profile exploring Khosrowshahi's approach to technology and education.

AI adoption is reshaping Rhode Island's classrooms, fueling innovation while igniting debate among educators and policymakers. Teachers increasingly rely on generative AI to streamline tasks such as grading and supporting students, yet many remain wary of student use due to concerns about ethics and academic integrity.

One educator noted the paradox:

“A.I. is already being used by the majority of teachers and students”

- highlighting how AI's benefits in reducing workloads are weighed against worries about cheating and fairness (AI use among teachers and students in Rhode Island schools).

Higher education has begun to respond, with Rhode Island College launching the state's first undergraduate AI degree program that emphasizes not just technical skills but ethical dilemmas and real-world applications, preparing future professionals for a workforce where AI is ubiquitous (Rhode Island College's ethical AI undergraduate degree program).

Meanwhile, policy moves - such as the Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Task Force's statewide survey - are inviting direct public feedback on how AI should shape education, labor, and the economy, with state leaders aiming for a balanced approach that both seizes opportunities and manages risks (Rhode Island AI Task Force inviting public input on AI policy).

As stakeholders continue to explore classroom policies, training, and curriculum around responsible AI, the discussion centers on harnessing its power thoughtfully, ensuring that both teachers and students are well-equipped for the AI-driven future.

Brown University is at the forefront of combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a multifaceted approach that blends innovative research, rigorous education, and artificial intelligence.

Through its Antibiotic Drug Discovery course at Brown University, undergraduates gain hands-on lab experience, from culturing local waterborne bacteria to designing experiments that aim to identify new therapeutic compounds.

Beyond the classroom, Brown researchers are advancing AI-based techniques for rapid diagnostics, AMR surveillance, and accelerated drug discovery - key strategies summarized in a recent npj Antimicrobials and Resistance scientific review.

Groundbreaking methods, like Brown's novel use of AI to predict dynamic protein structures, are overcoming prior limitations of static models and dramatically cutting research timelines from years to hours.

These advances are supported by the COBRE Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutic Discovery at Brown Health, which anchors Brown's role in national AMR efforts and oversees clinical trials for new therapeutics.

The growing threat of drug-resistant infections worldwide underscores the urgency of this work: according to the CDC, over 2.8 million US cases and 35,000 deaths occur annually, while global mortality exceeds 1.27 million each year.

Brown's integration of student research, AI, and clinical partnerships positions Providence as a model for research-driven progress against one of medicine's most urgent challenges.

Rhode Island is preparing for a surge in artificial intelligence by aligning with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) ambitious plan to transition federal lands - including several national laboratories and former industrial sites - into data center hubs equipped for the AI boom.

Under a recent executive order, 16 federally owned sites have been identified nationwide, chosen for their ready access to large-scale power infrastructure and potential for fast-tracked clean energy development, such as nuclear and renewable sources, with construction targeted to start by late 2025 and operations beginning in 2027.

These sites will offer unique collaborative opportunities with top-tier research labs, enabling rapid advancements in energy systems and next-generation data center hardware.

According to the DOE and Energy Secretary Chris Wright,

“The global race for AI dominance is the next Manhattan project. The Department of Energy is taking important steps to leverage our domestic resources to power the AI revolution, while continuing to deliver affordable, reliable and secure energy to the American people.”

The program specifically seeks developer, industry, and community input to shape site selection, technology integration, and public-private partnerships, with sites like the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and repurposed uranium plants among those listed in the official DOE Request for Information.

As AI data centers are projected to double or triple their electricity usage by 2028, potentially reaching 12% of national consumption, innovative site conversion strategies - including transforming abandoned coal plants - are gaining traction to both meet power demands and accelerate sustainable AI growth (Associated Press: Coal Plant Reuse for AI Energy Demand).

The table below highlights key federal sites under consideration:

“With today's action, the Department of Energy is taking important steps to leverage our domestic resources to power the AI revolution, while continuing to deliver affordable, reliable and secure energy to the American people.” - Secretary Chris Wright

Utilidata, a Providence-based pioneer in distributed edge AI for energy infrastructure, is accelerating the global rollout of its groundbreaking Karman platform through a new partnership with Advantech, a leader in IoT and edge computing solutions.

Karman, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, enables utilities to embed advanced AI directly into grid-connected devices like substations and smart meters.

This allows real-time, local decision-making, unlocking unused grid capacity, enhancing reliability, and cutting carbon emissions - all without major infrastructure overhauls.

Utilidata's recent $60.3 million Series C funding is fueling rapid scaling as demand surges from data centers and renewable energy integration.

Hubbell Incorporated is embedding Karman into next-generation smart meters, while Deloitte and Quanta Services are strategic deployment partners. Quoting Renown Capital's CIO James McIntyre:

“By bringing artificial intelligence to the edge of the grid, Utilidata's Karman platform will help deliver unprecedented efficiency, resilience, and security to energy infrastructure across the world.”

Advantech's ecosystem is now distributing Karman worldwide, leveraging its industrial hardware portfolio and expertise in edge AI integration, as highlighted at Hannover Messe 2025.

The collaboration draws upon both firms' strengths in edge AI, transforming how utilities address rising grid complexity. For in-depth context on Karman's unique features and market impact, visit AIM Research's analysis of Utilidata and its funding round and learn how Advantech is advancing edge computing for smarter energy systems in its 2025 Hannover Messe showcase.

Rhode Island College (RIC) has achieved national prominence in cybersecurity by earning the coveted National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation, recognizing its Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with a minor in Cybersecurity as meeting the nation's highest educational standards.

This distinction not only affirms RIC's robust curriculum - deeply aligned with federal and CISA standards and featuring the state's first IBM Cyber Range for hands-on simulations - but also opens doors for increased federal research grants and scholarship opportunities, including the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation funding.

Highlighting the impact, RIC President Jack Warner declared,

“This recognition tells the world that Rhode Island College is the gold standard for cybersecurity education. Our graduates will enter the workforce prepared to tackle the complex digital challenges of the next century.”

The college's Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, launched in 2023 and guided by industry and public sector leaders, aims to address a regional skills gap and serve as a hub for workforce development.

The new, NSA-backed program also leverages strategic partnerships with employers, offering scholarship-for-service pathways and a clear advantage for its graduates in a swiftly growing job market.

For more about the program's NSA designation and future-forward training initiatives, visit the Rhode Island Current's in-depth report, review the official RIC news release, and explore how RIC is setting a national model for cybersecurity education.

Rhode Island's ambitious drive to become a national leader in artificial intelligence is built on an unprecedented collaboration across government, technology, education, health care, and business sectors.

The state's AI Task Force - established by Governor Dan McKee in February 2024 and chaired by former Congressman Jim Langevin - reflects this multi-sector approach, actively seeking public input through a statewide survey open until May 9, 2025.

As Vice Chair Chris Parisi noted,

“It's critical we hear directly from Rhode Islanders about their hopes, concerns and ideas. I encourage everyone to take the survey and share their perspective as we shape our final recommendations.”

The survey explores familiarity, use, opportunities, and regulation of AI across various industries and invites citizens to help shape the state's AI policy.

Efforts are also bolstered by new initiatives such as the Institute of Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College, recently recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

This collaborative strategy aims to foster innovation while addressing risks, as summarized by Governor McKee:

“We're positioning Rhode Island as a national leader in AI, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Our goal is to harness the benefits of AI for our local economy while mitigating potential risks through thoughtful policy and planning.”

For further insight on Rhode Island's inclusive AI efforts and to add your perspective, see the official announcement from the Governor's Office, recent coverage on Rhode Island Current, and the local business perspective in Providence Business News.

Providence's approach to technology growth stands out as a model of smart, community-centered progress. The city's leadership, seen in initiatives like the AI Task Force - established by Governor McKee and chaired by national cybersecurity expert Jim Langevin - embodies a statewide commitment to inclusive, transparent AI policy.

As Langevin explains,

“The AI Task Force is hard at work to identify the most effective ways Rhode Island can harness the power of this emerging technology while minimizing the risks it brings. As we create our roadmap, we're asking the public to offer their insights... and to share any concerns about the future of this technology.”

Community voices shape policy through ongoing surveys, while organizations like Grow Smart RI amplify this momentum by honoring sustainable development that benefits all, such as the 2025 Smart Growth Awards recognizing affordable housing and revitalized public spaces.

This holistic vision is guided by collaboration across government, tech, health, and the business community and buttressed by advances in local cybersecurity education, with Rhode Island College newly recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence by the NSA in the Governor McKee, Rhode Island AI Task Force Invite Public Input Press Release.

For residents keen to enter thriving fields like cybersecurity, Providence offers opportunity through workforce initiatives and regional bootcamp programs with accessible financing, scholarships, and pathways in high-demand sectors via the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Bootcamp program.

Collectively, Providence's strategy - grounded in public participation, responsible innovation, and smart growth - positions the city as a catalyst for sustainable tech advancement.