This Month's Latest Tech News in Sandy Springs, GA - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

Sandy Springs and Atlanta are rapidly becoming epicenters of AI and technology innovation, highlighted by the July 16, 2025, grand opening of Georgia's Horizons Innovation Lab in downtown Atlanta.

Led by Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA), this state-of-the-art facility serves as a test kitchen for ethical AI experimentation, providing a collaborative environment for state agencies, local governments, and industry partners to pilot emerging AI technologies in a controlled, low-risk setting.

The lab, occupying the seventh floor of GTA headquarters, is equipped with sandbox environments powered by AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, supporting hands-on development and training.

Georgia CIO Shawnzia Thomas emphasizes the importance of reducing fear around AI through transparency and engagement, stating,

“You've got to bring on the awareness of what not to put in AI.”

Initiatives in the lab focus on enhancing public services such as AI-driven fraud detection, customer service automation, and cybersecurity.

The project aligns with Georgia's robust AI Enablement Strategy, emphasizing responsible AI governance, workforce upskilling, and data-driven innovation, coordinated by leaders like Chief Digital and AI Officer Nikhil Deshpande.

For professionals eager to build skills in AI and leverage emerging opportunities, Nucamp offers specialized bootcamps including AI Essentials for Work bootcamp, Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur program, and Cybersecurity Fundamentals course, arming learners with real-world expertise to thrive in Atlanta's growing tech landscape.

The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) officially launched the Horizons Innovation Lab in downtown Atlanta on July 16, 2025, establishing a cutting-edge facility dedicated to ethical artificial intelligence experimentation that aims to transform public services.

Spearheaded by GTA Executive Director Shawnzia Thomas and celebrated by Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, the lab provides a collaborative, low-risk environment where state agencies, municipalities, universities, and industry partners can test AI solutions using sandbox platforms powered by Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud.

The facility embodies Georgia's commitment to ethical AI innovation, guided by an AI Ethical Playbook and the Georgia AI Advisory Council, with a strong focus on transparency, human-centered design, and addressing societal impacts.

As Thomas remarked, “Everyone's afraid of it. And to release that fear of it, you have to put your hands on it.”

The Horizons Lab has already fostered projects such as AI-driven defenses against cyberattacks and AI-based customer service platforms, reflecting a strategic vision to augment human work rather than replace it.

This initiative builds on over 18 months of preparatory collaboration among more than 200 leaders, positioning Georgia as a leader in responsible AI development.

For a detailed overview, visit the Georgia Innovation Lab official announcement, explore the in-depth coverage by Government Technology's coverage of Georgia's AI Lab innovation, or read the local perspective from KISS 104 FM report on Georgia Technology Authority's AI Lab.

Mercedes-Benz is significantly expanding its presence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, by relocating up to 500 corporate, technical, and high-tech jobs to its existing "1MB" facility and establishing a new multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) hub nearby.

This move, slated for completion by August 2026, will consolidate key corporate functions including sales, financial services, and customer lifecycle activities, currently dispersed across the U.S., notably relocating many roles from Farmington Hills, Michigan.

With approximately 800 employees already at Sandy Springs since 2018, the expansion cements Atlanta as Mercedes-Benz's North American headquarters, aiming to enhance agility, speed to market, and customer service.

The company's strategic choice of Atlanta leverages the area's rich engineering talent pool, including graduates from Georgia Tech, and fosters collaboration with the local tech startup ecosystem.

Governor Brian Kemp praised the decision as a testament to Georgia's leadership in mobility and technical innovation, while Mercedes-Benz North America CEO Jason Hoff emphasized that the consolidation

strengthens our position for continued growth

and will improve operational responsiveness.

Local leaders highlighted the importance of this investment for the region's business climate and innovation economy. Mercedes-Benz's growing footprint in Georgia aligns with broader industry trends, joining other major automakers investing in the state.

For further information, visit the official Mercedes-Benz press release, the detailed Business Wire announcement, and recent coverage by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

UPS is actively engaging with robotics startup Figure AI to explore deploying advanced humanoid robots within its logistics network, aiming to address labor shortages and improve operational efficiency.

Figure AI's flagship robot, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and powered by the Helix AI system, has demonstrated near-human dexterity and speed in package sorting tasks, handling diverse packaging types including deformable poly bags and padded envelopes with a processing time of just 4.05 seconds per item - a 20% improvement over earlier models.

Enhanced vision memory and force feedback modules have elevated barcode scanning success rates to approximately 95%, underscoring the robot's precision and adaptability.

Meanwhile, UPS is undergoing its largest network restructuring by cutting 20,000 jobs and closing 73 facilities in 2025 to shift focus toward profitability amid decreasing Amazon volumes, while increasingly automating operations (64% package handling through automated sortation).

Although UPS has not publicly confirmed the specific integration details, the partnership with Figure AI highlights a significant step toward next-generation warehouse automation and could fundamentally reshape logistics workflows.

Additional insights into this collaboration and Figure AI's innovative robotics technology are available in the detailed Transport Topics article on UPS and Figure AI robotics and FreightCaviar coverage of UPS's automation strategy.

Volvo Cars is set to enhance its vehicles' in-car experience in 2025 by integrating Google's advanced AI chatbot, Google Gemini AI chatbot in Volvo vehicles, into infotainment systems running Android Automotive OS. Building on a long-standing partnership with Google, Volvo will be among the first automakers to replace the current Google Assistant with Gemini, which offers natural, conversational interactions that enable drivers to send and translate messages, access car manuals through voice queries, and receive detailed information about destinations - all designed to reduce cognitive load and keep attention on the road.

Furthermore, Volvo serves as a key development partner and reference hardware platform for Google's automotive OS innovations, receiving early access to cutting-edge updates that accelerate connected car technology for the industry.

As executives from Volvo and Google emphasize their partnership, this collaboration aims to deliver human-centric technology that shapes the future of connected and safer driving experiences.

The rollout will begin with models equipped with Google built-in, such as the EX30, EX40, and EX90 electric crossovers, offering drivers smarter, more intuitive assistance without distractions.

For more details about Volvo's innovative approach with Gemini and Android Automotive OS, visit Volvo Cars Media official press release.

Stellantis has announced a $388 million investment to develop a cutting-edge Metro Detroit Megahub in Van Buren Township, Michigan, set to open in 2027. This new facility will centralize and modernize Mopar's U.S. service parts distribution, supporting approximately 488 union jobs and enhancing efficiency through AutoStore's automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) - a robotics technology that streamlines order picking by navigating a high-density grid of storage bins to improve speed, accuracy, and space utilization.

The megahub will consolidate operations from existing distribution centers in Center Line, Marysville, and Milwaukee, which will continue under sale-leaseback agreements until the transition is complete.

Darren Bradshaw, Senior Vice President and Head of Mopar North America, emphasized the company's commitment to innovation and customer service:

“Our customers count on us to deliver the right part, at the right time, every time. This investment reflects our commitment to building a faster, smarter, and more reliable distribution network.”

This initiative builds on Stellantis' ongoing $120 million investment in parts and services operations under recent UAW agreements, reinforcing the company's strategy to create sustainable, high-tech workplaces while optimizing logistics for improved delivery times nationwide.

For further details, see the official Stellantis investment announcement, the in-depth Distribution Strategy article on Stellantis U.S. parts distribution modernization, and an overview of the AutoStore ASRS warehouse automation technology powering this transformative logistics hub.

Red Hat is set to fully release its Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System in Q3 2025, a groundbreaking open source Linux-based platform certified for functional safety at ISO 26262 ASIL-B level.

Designed to accelerate the automotive industry's shift to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), this platform supports a cloud-native development cycle enabling automakers to build software in the cloud, test via virtual simulations, and deploy on physical hardware seamlessly without code rewrites.

Key features include rapid boot times, real-time performance, and robust freedom from interference to isolate critical safety functions from non-safety applications like infotainment.

The OS supports diverse automotive use cases such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), digital cockpits, telematics, and integration of AI models. Red Hat has formed an extensive partnership ecosystem including Arm, Intel, NXP, Qualcomm, Renesas, and Texas Instruments, to pre-qualify hardware platforms and provide tailored SDKs for streamlined innovation.

Nissan is among the notable collaborators, leveraging the system for its next-generation SDV platform. As Francis Chow, Red Hat's VP for In-Vehicle OS, states,

“The platform enables automakers to accelerate innovation, enhance safety and strengthen system security while embracing an open source approach.”

This initiative reflects Red Hat's commitment to open collaboration in automotive software, offering comprehensive safety guidance, long-term lifecycle support, and OTA update capabilities.

For further details, visit Red Hat's announcement on the In-Vehicle OS release, explore the Automotive Testing Technology International report on Red Hat In-Vehicle OS, and watch the official Red Hat introduction video on YouTube.

Uber Freight has launched the industry's first large-scale AI-powered logistics network, integrating over 30 intelligent AI agents into its transportation management system (TMS) to automate critical tasks such as procurement, shipment execution, tracking, payments, and analytics throughout the freight lifecycle.

Powered by a proprietary logistics-specific large language model (LLM), trained on data from nearly $20 billion in managed freight - including shipments representing 30% of Fortune 500 companies - this network transforms the TMS from a passive record system into a real-time logistics command center that delivers continuous, proactive recommendations to reduce costs, improve service, and navigate disruptions more efficiently.

Over the past year, more than $1.6 billion in freight has moved through Uber Freight's AI infrastructure, with early adopters like Colgate-Palmolive reporting enhanced decision-making, planning confidence, and responsiveness to supply chain challenges.

As Tatiana Martinez, VP of North America Customer Service & Logistics at Colgate-Palmolive, noted in partnership with Uber Freight,

“Insights AI has helped us plan with greater confidence and respond more effectively to disruptions, all in service of our ongoing commitment to customer centricity and operational efficiency.”

By the end of 2025, Uber Freight plans to further integrate its Insights AI and AI agent ecosystem into the TMS, fully realizing a logistics platform that anticipates needs and automates repetitive tasks, empowering logistics teams to focus on strategic priorities like network optimization and exception management.

For a deeper look at how this revolutionary system is reshaping supply chains, see Uber Freight's detailed blog on their intelligent supply chains, the official press release about Uber Freight's AI logistics network launch, and comprehensive coverage by Digital Commerce 360 on Uber Freight's AI logistics innovation.

Japanese automotive parts manufacturer Toyoda Gosei has pioneered a groundbreaking horizontal recycling technology that allows high-quality plastic recovered from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) to be reused in new automotive components.

This innovation, part of their 2030 Business Plan targeting decarbonization, features recycled polypropylene containing 50% ELV-derived plastic with performance equivalent to virgin materials, overcoming traditional challenges of impurities that often degrade recycled plastics.

The technology has been deployed since 2024 in interior parts requiring impact resistance, such as glove boxes and front grille components, notably in the Toyota Camry models destined for the European market.

Collaborating with Japanese recycler Isono Co., Toyoda Gosei's proprietary material modification ensures that these recycled plastics meet stringent automotive quality standards and support a circular economy by enabling horizontal reuse in identical parts.

The environmental benefits are significant, with production of these recycled parts reducing CO2 emissions by up to 40%, as validated by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology using the IDEA calculation methodology.

Looking forward, Toyoda Gosei aims to expand this recycling approach to include plastics from automobile shredder residue (ASR) and other consumer goods, aligning with tightening EU regulations on ELV plastic usage mandated from 2031.

This pioneering effort marks a major milestone in sustainable automotive manufacturing, representing the world's first commercial use of 50% ELV plastic in high-impact interior automotive parts and reinforcing Toyota's commitment to environmentally responsible innovation.

See detailed coverage on autorecyclingworld.com for more information.

Leopard Imaging continues to pioneer advanced AI-powered imaging solutions with its latest camera systems built around Qualcomm's cutting-edge platforms, targeting automotive and robotics applications.

At the 2025 Embedded Vision Summit, Leopard Imaging showcased two flagship products: the LI-IMX676-FLEX-105H, a 12MP camera leveraging the Qualcomm RB3 Gen 2 platform with the QCS6490 processor, delivering high-resolution imaging alongside precise depth perception and real-time 3D vision capabilities; and the LI-OX03F10-VS775S camera designed for automotive use, powered by Qualcomm's Ride 4 platform, which supports functional safety and real-time decision-making critical for autonomous driving systems.

These platforms feature Qualcomm's 5th generation AI Engine reaching up to 12 TOPS, support for multiple simultaneous camera inputs, 8K video capture, and compatibility with popular AI frameworks such as TensorFlow Lite and ROS, facilitating seamless AI model deployment.

Leopard Imaging's commitment extends to enhancing high-bandwidth automotive connectivity through collaborations with Microchip Technology, promoting next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with power-optimized AI acceleration and secure data transmission over serial deserializers.

The company also recently expanded manufacturing capabilities to Malaysia, complementing U.S. operations to meet rising global demand. Established in 2008 and certified to rigorous automotive and aerospace standards (IATF16949 and AS9100D), Leopard Imaging remains a strategic partner to Qualcomm and NVIDIA, delivering tailor-made, high-definition embedded camera solutions to elevate the future of intelligent vehicles and robotic systems.

For detailed product info and event demonstrations, visit Leopard Imaging's official announcement on advanced computer vision cameras, learn about their CES 2025 innovations with Qualcomm Snapdragon Ride™ at the CES 2025 showcase, or explore platform partners on their Qualcomm platform partners page.

Georgia Tech and Atlanta have firmly established themselves as regional powerhouses in artificial intelligence and technology innovation through significant projects and initiatives.

The National Science Foundation recently awarded Georgia Tech $20 million to develop Nexus, a cutting-edge AI supercomputer designed to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in medicine, clean energy, and manufacturing; this system will provide over 400 quadrillion operations per second and vast data storage, democratizing AI access to U.S. researchers (Georgia Tech to Build $20M National AI Supercomputer).

Additionally, the launch of Tech AI serves as a dynamic platform connecting researchers, industry partners, and government to translate AI research into practical solutions that optimize supply chains, healthcare, and national security, while also addressing workforce development to close the AI talent gap (Georgia Tech Launches Tech AI).

Groundbreaking research in brain-inspired AI algorithms further highlights Georgia Tech's leadership, boosting efficiency by over 20% with novel approaches that mimic human brain topology, making AI more interpretable and energy-efficient - advancements showcased at premier international conferences (Brain-Inspired AI Breakthrough Spotlighted).

Together, these developments reinforce Georgia Tech and Atlanta's roles as vital hubs fostering innovation, collaboration, and real-world AI impact in 2025 and beyond.

Sandy Springs and the greater Atlanta area are poised to become a powerhouse of AI-driven innovation, supported by strategic investments and a robust ecosystem fostering growth across technology sectors.

Atlanta's rapid emergence as a tech hub is propelled by major corporate expansions - such as Mercedes-Benz establishing a new R&D hub with 500 new jobs - and a surge in venture funding driving startups from AI to fintech and healthtech.

The city's strengths include a growing data center market, significant public-private partnerships, and active efforts to integrate AI in public services, exemplified by the newly formed AI Commission targeting smarter, more efficient city operations.

Collaborative initiatives with institutions like Georgia Tech fuel an AI-savvy workforce and entrepreneurship, as highlighted by the Klaus Startup Challenge awarding $750,000 to AI startups.

Meanwhile, local SMBs are leveraging AI marketing strategies to compete effectively. Challenges such as infrastructure strain and power demands are met with regulatory efforts and innovative solutions to sustain growth.

The tech workforce's evolving needs spur programs like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp, preparing professionals to harness AI tools across industries without requiring technical backgrounds.

As Mayor Andre Dickens and civic leaders emphasize sustainable and inclusive growth, Atlanta's vision aligns with national trends that call for balanced AI adoption policies and education to maintain competitiveness.

This momentum not only elevates Atlanta and Sandy Springs as centers of technology but also positions the region as a model for responsible AI development, cultivating diverse talent and fostering startups ready for global impact.

For those eager to join this transformation, access to specialized bootcamps and continuing education will be key to capitalizing on the region's burgeoning opportunities.

Learn more about Atlanta's AI marketing trajectory, explore Atlanta Tech Week and its community impact, and see how Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp prepares professionals for this future.