This Month's Latest Tech News in San Bernardino, CA - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

San Bernardino's AI landscape is at a pivotal intersection of rapid technological growth and significant infrastructure challenges. The recent White House AI Action Plan to lead America in the global data center race aims to fast-track environmental permits for AI data centers, propelling a nationwide AI infrastructure boom while raising concerns about environmental oversight and energy consumption.

Meanwhile, escalating energy demands, highlighted by a FracTracker report on national data centers electricity use, reveal data centers' rising electricity use - expected to potentially quadruple by 2030 - posing challenges for California's power grid and sustainability goals.

To reconcile growth with clean energy aspirations, experts suggest integrating nuclear energy, which offers reliability and carbon-neutral output, as detailed in a 2025 Procopio analysis of nuclear energy to power AI.

This complex environment creates opportunities for local talent development, emphasizing practical AI skills through Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp, providing learners with applied AI capabilities for evolving business roles.

Navigating regulatory reforms, energy transitions, and training demands will be crucial for San Bernardino's stakeholders to harness AI's promise responsibly and sustainably in the coming decade.

California's booming AI industry, powered by rapidly expanding data centers, faces significant growth challenges due to escalating energy demands and environmental concerns.

With data centers consuming about 5,580 GWh annually - roughly 2.6% of California's electricity - and AI-driven power usage expected to more than double worldwide by 2030, regulators are pushing for measures to protect consumers from rising electricity costs linked to data center infrastructure investments.

Legislative efforts like SB 57 and AB 222 aim to establish special electricity rate structures for data centers, require public disclosure of energy consumption, and incentivize sustainable practices, yet face opposition over potential risks to California's competitiveness in tech.

Meanwhile, diesel backup generators for these centers, approved through a loophole in the Small Power Plant Exemption program, contribute significantly to pollution and health issues, prompting environmental groups and lawmakers to call for cleaner alternatives.

Beyond costs and emissions, the state grapples with integrating sufficient renewable energy sources and exploring nuclear power's role to meet surging demand while maintaining its 2045 carbon neutrality goal.

As Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan stressed,

“We need to make sure those costs are not being borne by the ratepayers in order to enrich these private companies.”

The balancing act involves safeguarding residential and small business customers from electricity rate hikes while fostering innovation in AI and clean energy solutions.

Learn more about California's data center energy policies, explore recent legislative debates on data centers in Sacramento, and understand the potential role of nuclear energy to support AI's soaring demand amidst California's energy transition goals.

RadNet, Inc., a leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services, has expanded access to its AI-powered Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection (EBCD) program through a new partnership with Regal Medical Group, Lakeside Community Healthcare, and ADOC Medical Group - affiliates of the Heritage Provider Network managing nearly 600,000 members across Southern California, including San Bernardino County.

This initiative integrates advanced AI technology with traditional mammography services to detect breast cancer at earlier stages by highlighting subtle lesions that may be missed by radiologists, significantly improving patient outcomes without added radiation or extra visit time.

Patients under these medical groups can now benefit from EBCD as part of their health plans, supported by contracting with major Southern California insurers, and RadNet has committed to proactive patient outreach to boost compliance with annual screening guidelines.

The program leverages RadNet's DeepHealth AI platform, enhanced by recent acquisitions such as iCAD and See-Mode, to deliver comprehensive diagnostic and workflow solutions across breast, lung, prostate, and brain imaging.

As Dr. Howard Berger, RadNet's CEO, emphasized, “Early detection is critical to improve patient outcomes by reducing treatment severity,” while Will Jukes of Regal Medical Group highlighted the program's potential to eliminate multiple radiology visits and raise screening compliance.

The widespread adoption of EBCD across counties like Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego signals growing commercial payor support and a regional commitment to innovative, AI-enhanced healthcare in breast cancer screening.

For more information, visit RadNet's official news release on the EBCD program, explore DeepHealth's AI advancements at the DeepHealth and See-Mode acquisition announcement, or learn about iCAD's AI solutions for breast health at iCAD's website.

Beginning September 1, 2025, California courts must comply with newly approved guidelines governing the use of generative AI by judges and court staff, marking the state as the largest to institute formal AI guardrails in its judicial system.

Developed by an AI task force initiated by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, these rules require courts permitting AI use to establish policies addressing confidentiality, privacy, bias prevention, and security, ensuring transparency and accountability without compromising fairness or due process.

Key mandates include prohibiting the input of confidential information into public AI platforms, mandatory verification of AI-generated content accuracy, and disclosure if AI entirely produced publicly disseminated material.

While the policies provide a model for uniform application, courts retain flexibility to adapt local regulations, striking a balance between oversight and evolving technology.

The California Judicial Council emphasizes that AI use must avoid discriminatory impacts and maintain public trust across its 65 courts and approximately 1,800 judges handling some five million cases annually.

As other states like Illinois, Delaware, and Arizona implement similar measures, California's approach reflects a pioneering effort to regulate AI in courtrooms responsibly.

Appellate Judge Brad R. Hill, chairing the task force, noted,

“Generative AI can be a helpful tool in court operations, but it must be used thoughtfully and ethically.”

For more details on the regulations and their implications, see the full coverage by BABL AI's comprehensive report on California's AI court regulations, the CPI's detailed analysis of California courts leading AI regulation, and Canadian Lawyer Magazine's overview of the AI policy implementation in California courts.

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) has integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu into its campus technology offerings, providing advanced generative AI tools to over 20,000 students, faculty, and staff as part of the largest deployment within the CSU system, covering 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty systemwide through July 2026.

Accessible via the MyCoyote portal with single sign-on, ChatGPT Edu supports diverse academic needs including document summarization, text composition, coding assistance, and data analytics across more than 50 languages.

Importantly, CSUSB ensures privacy by keeping all user data internal and not sharing it with OpenAI or third parties for AI training, reinforced by enterprise-grade security measures such as SOC 2 compliance and encryption.

The campus community expresses mixed feelings about this AI integration: while some recognize it as a valuable resource for brainstorming and language support, others urge caution regarding accuracy and the need for structured guidance on responsible use, highlighting faculty-led initiatives to equip students with AI literacy and ethical frameworks.

CSUSB offers extensive resources including webinars, short courses on AI and prompt engineering, and support services to promote effective adoption of ChatGPT in teaching and learning.

For more on the CSU system's historic AI partnership with OpenAI, visit the CSUSB ChatGPT Edu faculty center page, read coverage on the systemwide ChatGPT Edu deployment at EdScoop, and explore community perspectives in the Coyote Chronicle report on CSUSB's AI experience.

California's recent launch of an AI chatbot by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) aimed to enhance public access to wildfire prevention resources and real-time emergency updates, offering support in over 70 languages.

However, the tool has faced criticism for failing to provide accurate and consistent information on critical issues like wildfire containment, evacuation orders, and emergency supply lists.

For instance, it provided outdated containment data for the Ranch Fire in San Bernardino County and gave inconsistent responses depending on question phrasing.

Experts, including Stanford law professor Daniel Ho, underscore the importance of thorough evaluation before deployment, emphasizing that

“evaluation is not an afterthought” but a vital part of launching such AI systems.

Cal Fire acknowledges these shortcomings and is actively working to improve the chatbot's accuracy and reliability by reviewing user queries and updating responses.

Despite media highlighting these early flaws, advocates stress this as a learning opportunity rather than a failure, urging rigorous testing and public engagement prior to rollout to ensure the tool effectively serves Californians during wildfire emergencies.

For more details, see the CalMatters report on Cal Fire's AI chatbot challenges, the Planetizen coverage of the chatbot's basic question failures, and expert commentary at Opus Research on improving AI chatbot design.

After over 35 years of service and more than 1.6 million uses since their installation in the 1980s and 90s, San Bernardino County has begun removing its iconic yellow freeway call boxes, reflecting the dramatic shift brought by widespread mobile phone adoption.

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) states that call box usage now accounts for less than 1% of all roadside communications, rendering the solar-powered devices obsolete.

Rick Denison, SBCTA President, emphasized,

“Mobile phones and other technology have fundamentally changed how people access help on the road. Maintaining this outdated system no longer makes sense, particularly when we can invest those resources into more effective and modern safety measures.”

With over 700 call boxes spaced about a mile or two apart along major highways, these devices once served as essential links connecting motorists to emergency services including the California Highway Patrol.

As the program funded through a $1 vehicle registration fee phases out, officials encourage drivers to adopt modern safety precautions such as vehicle inspections, route planning, and carrying emergency supplies.

For a comprehensive overview on the transition and its safety implications, visit the Victor Valley News Group report and the detailed account by the Victorville Daily Press.

More technical details and historical background on the call box program can be explored at the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority's official page.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is spearheading efforts to enhance state government efficiency through innovative artificial intelligence initiatives, exemplified by the launch of the California Breakthrough Project.

This initiative convenes top tech leaders from companies like Ripple, Snap Inc., and Coinbase to identify systemic inefficiencies and collaborate on modernizing public services.

Newsom's 2023 executive order mandated every state agency to adopt AI-powered efficiency measures, resulting in three pivotal agreements utilizing generative AI (GenAI) to reduce highway congestion, improve traffic safety, and enhance customer service, as detailed in a state press release.

His administration also rolled out the innovative "Engaged California" digital democracy platform to involve state employees in decision-making and launched an Innovation Fellows Program to drive internal problem-solving.

While these advances illustrate California's leadership in integrating AI into government, challenges remain in transparency and risk assessment, highlighted by a CalMatters report questioning the accuracy of agency disclosures on high-risk AI systems.

Governor Newsom emphasizes responsible deployment with protections against AI harms, aligning with ongoing legislative and policy work to maintain ethical standards while embracing technology to improve services for all Californians.

California Coast Credit Union (Cal Coast) and San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) have announced plans to merge, pending regulatory approval and member votes, aiming to create the fourth-largest credit union in California with nearly $13.5 billion in combined assets and 65 branch locations across Southern California, including San Bernardino County.

The merger, expected to finalize in early 2026 with full systems integration by 2027, will retain the Cal Coast name and see Todd Lane, Cal Coast's current President and CEO, lead the combined organization following SDCCU CEO Teresa Campbell's retirement.

Both institutions emphasize that no jobs will be lost and the merger will enhance member benefits through increased branch and ATM access, innovative financial products, and a strengthened community focus.

Serving over 635,000 members, the partnership aims to leverage their shared strengths to deliver greater value, digital solutions, and financial literacy programs without disrupting current accounts and services during the transition.

For detailed merger information and updates, members are encouraged to visit the official California Coast Credit Union merger page, the San Diego County Credit Union merger site, or review trusted reporting in the Los Angeles Times coverage of the merger.

On April 28, 2025, Equiva and Belong.Life announced a strategic partnership to integrate Belong.Life's oncology-focused conversational AI tools into Equiva's digital health platforms, enhancing patient engagement both in hospitals and at home.

Central to this collaboration are two AI health mentors: Dave, specialized in cancer care, and Fred, designed for sustainable weight loss and overall wellness.

These AI companions provide patients with real-time assistance - such as preparing for doctor visits, translating medical documents, navigating hospital discharge instructions, and receiving tailored emotional and behavioral coaching - all accessible via tablets or smartphones without requiring new app downloads.

As

Eliran Malki, CEO of Belong.Life, stated, “By integrating Dave and Fred into Equiva's widely deployed platform, we are putting powerful, intelligent and compassionate support in the hands of patients exactly when and where they need it.”

This partnership aims to humanize digital healthcare, reduce information gaps, and improve clinical outcomes by embedding AI seamlessly into patients' daily care experiences.

The integration also builds on Equiva's prior initiatives addressing oncology care disparities and patient education through collaborations with organizations like the Cancer Support Community.

For more detailed information on this innovative healthcare solution, visit Equiva and Belong.Life's official release.

Alisa Perales, an extraordinary 11-year-old from San Bernardino, California, has made history as the youngest graduate of Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, earning two associate degrees in multiple sciences and mathematics with a 3.8 GPA. Homeschooled intensively by her father, Rafael Perales - a civil lawyer who left his practice to focus on her education - Alisa began college at age 8 after surpassing typical educational milestones, including mastering algebra by age 5.

Beyond academics, she's actively engaged socially, balancing her studies with neighborhood soccer and online interactions. Her remarkable journey included filing a legal challenge to lower the voting age, demonstrating early civic engagement.

Now, Alisa is preparing to continue her studies in computer science at a University of California campus, with aspirations to contribute to artificial intelligence innovation at SpaceX and dreams of space exploration alongside her father.

Reflecting on her achievements, Alisa said,

“Do not ever have any doubts over what you want to do in life. Just go out there and give it a shot.”

Her story epitomizes the power of dedicated homeschooling and early STEM education, inspiring young learners everywhere.

Learn more about Alisa's inspiring journey from the Los Angeles Times detailed report on Alisa Perales, insightful coverage by NBC Los Angeles on the 11-year-old college graduate, and her pioneering educational path and AI ambitions on the Crafton Hills College official news page.

San Bernardino's tech landscape is poised for a hopeful future despite statewide energy challenges associated with the rising demand from AI data centers, which could consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028.

The county's proactive adoption of AI and data-driven solutions, exemplified by its 6th place ranking in the Digital Counties 2025 awards, underscores a commitment to enhancing public services, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency through technologies like Microsoft Dynamics 365, GitHub Copilot, and GIS-driven initiatives.

Meanwhile, its burgeoning tech economy, with an 18% projected job growth and a local tech GDP of $3.9 billion in 2025, continues to create abundant opportunities in high-paying roles such as AI engineers and cloud architects, supported by major employers including Google and Amazon.

Educational institutions like Cal State San Bernardino are playing a pivotal role by integrating AI-powered tools and cultivating workforce talent in cybersecurity and AI, demonstrated through programs at the Center for Cyber and AI and dynamic community events like the PROPEL AI Symposium.

For individuals seeking to enter this thriving market, Nucamp offers accessible and affordable bootcamps tailored to bridge skill gaps in AI, cybersecurity, web and mobile development, and entrepreneurship, with flexible financing options and scholarships available.

As San Bernardino navigates the tension between innovation and infrastructure demands, its alignment of technology, education, and community investment illustrates a resilient path forward, making it a significant player within California's evolving AI economy.

For more on San Bernardino's AI-powered service transformation, visit the Digital Counties 2025 report; to explore career prospects and salary insights, see the top tech jobs ranking in San Bernardino; and to gain skills for this vibrant market, check out Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp.