This Month's Latest Tech News in Santa Rosa, CA - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Santa Rosa continues to emerge as a compelling Silicon Valley alternative, propelled by high-impact tech expansions and robust investment. This month, iQor CXBPO™ announced the opening of a new 25,000-square-foot customer experience facility in Santa Rosa, citing the area's “strong infrastructure and skilled workforce” as ideal for tech-driven growth (iQor's Santa Rosa expansion).

Meanwhile, key industry players showcase Santa Rosa as a launchpad for next-gen AI and cloud solutions, paralleling innovations presented by Keysight Technologies in optical data center and AI testing at OFC 2025 (Keysight's AI data center breakthroughs).

In addition, major partnerships like IBM and SAP's cloud ERP initiative are modernizing enterprise infrastructure and delivering “guaranteed 99.99% uptime” with cost parity and security as top priorities (IBM and SAP's ERP innovation).

As global investment and cutting-edge deployments increasingly view Santa Rosa as fertile ground, the city is solidifying its reputation as a thriving tech ecosystem outside of the traditional Silicon Valley corridors.

This month, Santa Rosa-based Keysight Technologies, in partnership with NTT Innovative Devices and Lumentum Holdings Inc., announced a groundbreaking achievement in optical data transmission: a 448 Gbps throughput using 224 GBaud PAM4 modulation.

Demonstrated at OFC 2025, this breakthrough paves the way for scalable, 3.2 Tbps optical interfaces designed for the surging bandwidth demands of AI and ML in next-generation data centers.

The trio's live showcase used Keysight's high-performance M8199B Arbitrary Waveform Generators, NTT's frequency-domain interleaver, and Lumentum's indium phosphide externally-modulated laser to transmit unprecedented data rates efficiently, reducing both latency and energy costs for hyperscale environments.

Dr. Matthew Sysak, CTO at Lumentum, emphasized,

“Achieving 448 Gbps transmission is a significant milestone for AI-driven cloud infrastructure. Our high-performance externally modulated lasers will enable faster, more efficient, and scalable data center networks.”

This innovation not only accelerates backbone data movement but also advances power efficiency essential for the environmental sustainability of hyperscale data centers.

Innovations in optical circuit switching and photonic devices, as highlighted in Light Reading's coverage of Lumentum's technology suite, further reinforce Santa Rosa's prominence in the AI hardware ecosystem.

For more details on the technical demonstration and its impact on future computing, see the official Keysight, NTT & Lumentum announcement, as well as AsiaBiz Today's analysis on what this 448 Gbps benchmark means for AI scaling worldwide.

Component	Description
Keysight M8199B AWG	256 GSa/s, >80 GHz analog bandwidth
Keysight N1032A DCA-X	Up to 120 GHz optical bandwidth sampling scope
NTT Frequency-Domain Interleaver	Commercialized as Keysight M8159A
Lumentum InP EML	High-speed, power-efficient laser source

California is fast-tracking wildfire recovery by deploying an AI-powered permitting system developed by Archistar, a move directly inspired by the lessons learned in Santa Rosa's rapid post-Tubbs Fire rebuilding.

The Archistar platform uses machine learning, computer vision, and automated rulesets to instantly analyze building plans for compliance with local codes, enabling property owners to pre-check submissions and shaving permit review times from months to mere hours.

Provided free to local governments - including Los Angeles City and County - through a coalition of state partners, philanthropies, and tech giants like Autodesk and Amazon, the initiative aims to rebuild over 16,000 homes lost in the January 2025 fires at unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Governor Newsom emphasized,

“The current pace of issuing permits locally is not meeting the magnitude of the challenge we face. To help boost local progress, California is partnering with the tech sector and community leaders to give local governments more tools to rebuild faster and more effectively.”

Already in use across more than 25 municipalities worldwide, this AI-driven solution is now accessible statewide, allowing other fire-impacted regions to streamline recovery.

Among its key benefits: improved accuracy, greater transparency, and significantly reduced costs - Autodesk estimates architectural and permitting expenses could drop by up to 95%, with timelines slashed from a year to weeks.

For details on how the technology works, statewide partnerships, and the historic speed of this effort, see coverage on the official announcement from Governor Newsom, the Autodesk wildfire recovery press release, and an in-depth report at Forbes on California's AI permitting rollout.

The Golden State's approach combines public-private collaboration, lessons from Santa Rosa, and cutting-edge AI, setting a new benchmark for disaster recovery.

Keysight Technologies, headquartered in Santa Rosa, has introduced the Keysight AI (KAI) Data Center Builder, a groundbreaking software suite designed to accelerate and optimize large language model (LLM) infrastructure at scale.

Leveraging real-world workload emulation, the KAI Data Center Builder allows AI data center operators and cloud service providers to validate networks, hosts, and accelerators, experiment with parallelism parameters, and tune GPU interconnects and network architectures - all before committing to costly deployments.

The suite provides an extensive library of LLM workloads, including GPT and Llama, and supports partitioning schemas such as Data Parallel, FSDP, and 3D parallelism.

According to Keysight's Ram Periakaruppan,

“As AI infrastructure grows in scale and complexity, the need for full-stack validation and optimization becomes crucial. To avoid costly delays and rework, it's essential to shift validation to earlier phases of the design and manufacturing cycle.”

This system-wide approach enables the identification of performance bottlenecks that are missed in component-only testing, accelerating design cycles and maximizing return on AI infrastructure investment.

Keysight's broader KAI architecture encompasses suites for compute, interconnect, power, and network validation, designed to support the rapid innovation and scaling demands driven by generative AI. For a deeper dive into how the KAI Data Center Builder is transforming performance optimization, read the official Keysight product announcement, gain insights on industry impact via Embedded.com's feature on KAI's performance benefits, and explore practical deployment perspectives in Network World's coverage of KAI tools for data center efficiency.

Sutter Health is transforming patient care in Santa Rosa and across Northern California by deploying ambient AI-powered scribe technology from Abridge, designed to reduce physician burnout and enhance the overall patient and provider experience.

A study published in JAMA Network Open found a significant reduction in clinician documentation time per appointment - from 6.2 to 5.3 minutes - and higher job satisfaction, with burnout rates dropping from 42.1% to 35.1%.

The generative AI platform listens to clinical conversations and generates draft notes in real time, seamlessly integrating with Epic EHR, supporting over 50 specialties and 14 languages.

As described by Sutter's Chief Digital Officer, Laura Wilt, “The technology is designed to fit easily into our teams' day-to-day workflows... eliminating the burden of clinical documentation.”

“Patients love it. They thank me at the end of each visit for spending so much time with them, when really it's the same amount of time. Also, Abridge will often capture something that I mentally screened out, but was actually the patient's main concern. When patients see it in the summary, they really appreciate that I included it and feel more heard.”

In Sutter's large-scale pilot, 78% of clinicians reported improved job satisfaction, 59% observed better note quality, and nearly half experienced a reduced cognitive load, according to Contrary Research.

With strategic investment and deep Epic integration, Sutter is also leveraging AI to generate patient-friendly visit summaries - addressing the fact that up to 80% of information is forgotten after a medical visit - making the initiative one of the most ambitious patient-engagement projects in California healthcare.

Learn more about Sutter's partnership with Abridge and its broader impact on documentation and patient outcomes in this Sacramento Business Journal analysis on Sutter Health's AI initiative.

Keysight Technologies and Intel Foundry have launched a pioneering collaboration to advance Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge-T (EMIB-T) silicon bridge technology, addressing the growing complexity and performance demands of AI and data center chip architectures.

This innovative packaging solution integrates open standards like Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express™ (UCIe™) 2.0 and the Open Compute Project's Bunch of Wires (BoW), enabling high-speed, low-latency, and efficient power delivery between chiplets and 3DICs.

Keysight's Chiplet PHY Designer plays a key role, offering advanced simulation and pre-silicon validation for AI-focused chiplet design, thereby reducing costly late-stage design iterations and accelerating time to market.

Industry leaders highlight the strategic impact:

“Our collaboration with Keysight EDA on EMIB-T silicon bridge technology is a pivotal step in advancing high-performance packaging solutions. By integrating standards like UCIe™ 2.0, we enhance chiplet design flexibility for AI and data center applications, accelerating innovation and ensuring our customers meet next-generation demands with precision.”

– Suk Lee, VP & GM, Intel Foundry Ecosystem Technology Office.

This breakthrough was recently showcased at the Intel Foundry Direct Connect event in San Jose, underscoring a broader trend toward robust, standards-driven chiplet ecosystems.

For a detailed view of how these technologies and standards combine, see the comprehensive article on Keysight and Intel Foundry's EMIB-T collaboration, a breakdown of EMIB-T's technical foundations on EDN's EMIB-T technology overview, and recent event coverage in the Intel Foundry Direct Connect 2025 Press Kit.

Santa Rosa's commitment to empowering disabled veterans is getting a technological boost as innovative AI tools begin to reshape the benefits application process.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is piloting over 227 AI use cases - including fraud detection, generative chat interfaces used by 40,000 employees, and advanced healthcare tools - which significantly improve the quality and accessibility of services to veterans nationwide.

A standout example is “Vet's Claim,” an AI-powered platform developed by Stanford students, which streamlines the disability benefits process: it uses a conversational chatbot and body-map interface to help veterans express their conditions in their own words, translating them into VA-compliant claims and drastically reducing rejection rates that currently plague up to 75% of initial applications.

As Army veteran Matt Champion emphasized,

“I have personally navigated the VA benefits program and I learned first-hand how challenging, emotionally demanding, and time consuming the process is. We wanted to help the 18 million veterans who are eligible for first-time benefits have an outcome and experience that is easier, faster, and better than mine.”

The VA's internal focus on responsible innovation, transparency, and participatory AI governance reflects lessons learned from past attempts at “frictionless” modernization, emphasizing that technology must augment - rather than replace - the expertise and lived experience of veterans and staff.

For a comprehensive look at the growing catalog of AI initiatives, see the VA's authoritative Department of Veterans Affairs AI Use Case Inventory.

Stanford's “Vet's Claim” story offers an inspiring example of community-driven tech - discover more about its development and ambitions in this feature on AI tools for veterans' disability benefits by Insight Into Academia.

To explore the broader context and strategy behind the VA's expanding tech footprint, visit the agency's Department of Veterans Affairs Vision for Artificial Intelligence.

Santa Rosa's Freeman Collision Center is at the forefront of auto repair innovation, leveraging AI-driven solutions to transform both customer experience and shop efficiency.

Advanced platforms like Tractable's visual AI enable real-time remote assessments, providing cost estimates within minutes using nothing more than customer-submitted photos - a vast improvement over traditional manual processes, which can average more than 23 days per auto insurance repair cycle time in the industry.

This technology minimizes delays, automates initial diagnostics, and even empowers non-expert staff to generate accurate quotes, freeing experienced technicians for more complex cases and dramatically speeding up the workflow.

Importantly, these AI tools are showing tangible business benefits: as reported by shops using Tractable, supplement approvals can drop from five days to just 30 seconds, and lead conversion rates have improved significantly, with up to half of instant AI estimates turning into repair jobs.

The table below highlights some key industry metrics underpinning this transformation:

Metric/Benefit	Result/Value	Source
Manual claim processing time	15–30 mins to under 1 min	Emerj
Accuracy of loss identification	97% at up to 95% accuracy	Tractable
Claim supplement approval time	Reduced from 5 days to 30 seconds	ROME + Tractable AI

While skepticism about upfront investment and the need for occasional human oversight remains, industry leaders see this AI integration as an inevitable and necessary shift towards faster, more sustainable, and more transparent repair operations.

As Florida Autobody Association President Drew Bryant advises,

“AI scans may become required in the future by OEMs and insurers for documentation,”

signaling a future where digital workflows and touchless claims become the standard in collision repair.

For a deep dive into the technology, read about the promise of AI-powered pre-scan products in body shops at AutoBody News' coverage of AI-powered pre-scan products, and explore industry-wide impacts in depth with Binariks' analysis of AI car damage detection.

Santa Rosa's recycling industry is poised for a tech-driven transformation, as advancements from AI robotics leaders like Glacier make intelligent waste sorting more accessible and effective.

Glacier, a San Francisco-based startup, recently secured $16 million in Series A funding to expand its space-efficient, AI-powered robots to material recovery facilities (MRFs) nationwide - including California.

Glacier's systems leverage advanced computer vision and smart robotic arms to identify and sort over 30 types of materials, such as PET plastics, toothpaste tubes, and bioplastics, at a rate of up to 45 items per minute, while costing about half as much and requiring a fraction of the space compared to conventional solutions.

These affordable, quick-to-install robots deliver real-time data insights, helping operators minimize contamination and optimize recovery rates. As Rebecca Hu-Thrams, Glacier's CEO and co-founder, noted,

“Success for Glacier means helping our customers run more efficient, more profitable businesses. We spend time in the field, walking the lines with MRF customers and understanding their challenges.”

The company's rapid deployments - already active in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles - are enhancing recycling yield and safety without disrupting current operations.

Moreover, brands such as Amazon and Colgate-Palmolive leverage Glacier's AI platform to gain actionable insights on packaging recyclability, empowering a more circular economy.

For a deeper look at Glacier's mission and recent deployments, visit Recycling Product News' funding overview and explore the technology's impact on the industry through this analysis of data-driven recycling innovation.

Keysight Technologies has cemented its leadership in the electronics test and measurement market, reporting robust fiscal second quarter 2025 results fueled by booming global demand for AI and data center infrastructure.

The company posted $1.31 billion in revenue - exceeding analyst expectations of $1.28 billion - and achieved earnings per share (EPS) of $1.70, surpassing consensus estimates and reflecting a 7% year-over-year growth in sales according to MLQ AI's Q2 analysis.

Communications Solutions segment revenue jumped nearly 9% to $913 million, while Electronic Industrial Solutions rose over 4% to $393 million, translating into an 8% overall increase in total orders amid strong AI data center and wireline test demand per Nasdaq coverage.

CEO Satish Dhanasekaran highlighted,

“Keysight delivered strong second quarter results with revenue and earnings per share above the high end of guidance.”

Backing its performance, cash from operations more than doubled in the first half of fiscal 2025 to $862 million versus $438 million a year prior.

The company foresees sustained momentum, projecting Q3 revenues between $1.3 and $1.32 billion. The table below summarizes key Q2 figures:

Financial Metric	Q2 2025	YoY Growth
Revenue	$1.31 billion	+7%
Earnings Per Share (EPS)	$1.70	-
Total Orders	$1.32 billion	+8%
Communications Solutions Revenue	$913 million	+9%
Electronic Industrial Solutions Revenue	$393 million	+5%
Cash from Operations (H1)	$862 million	+97%

Find the full investor details in Keysight's official Q2 results press release.

Santa Rosa-born entrepreneur Alexandr Wang continues to position Scale AI as a leading force in the U.S. artificial intelligence ecosystem, building on Northern California roots.

Recent contracts with the Department of Defense - including a landmark Department of Defense agreement worth nearly $250 million - are enabling Scale AI to deliver advanced AI solutions like Defense Llama, a large language model tailored for U.S. national security, and the Donovan platform, which accelerates mission-critical data access for military planners.

Scale AI's public sector division has also deepened partnerships with key defense-tech players and federal agencies, expanding capabilities from geospatial data services to real-time cyber defense through collaborations with agencies such as DISA, CISA, and the DoD's CDAO, as detailed in the company's 2025 public sector progress report.

However, the company's rapid growth is not without challenges - over 1,000 contract data annotation workers were laid off in August 2024, reflecting volatility across much of the technology sector according to industry-wide layoff data.

As Scale AI helps shape American AI infrastructure and workforce development, its story illustrates both the promise and pressures of leading-edge innovation emerging from Northern California.

Santa Rosa's tech scene continues to accelerate, offering valuable lessons and a glimpse into what's next for up-and-coming innovation hubs. Keysight Technologies, headquartered locally, not only reported robust 2025 earnings but is making global impacts by co-driving Europe's sustainable 6G and AI initiatives through collaborative projects like UNITY-6G and 6G-VERSUS. As Vice President Giampaolo Tardioli put it,

“Our advanced solution expertise will empower stakeholders to ignite significant and sustainable innovation. We are committed to fostering transformation, driving research and development, and promoting knowledge exchange across various sectors and disciplines.”

The broader tech landscape is also evolving, with Santa Rosa's businesses and educators drawing inspiration from the AI for Good Summit 2025 program, where AI skills, sustainability, and ethical governance dominate discussions.

According to industry insiders, 2025 will also be defined by practical, measurable AI adoption, a push for energy-efficient solutions, and an increased focus on security and compliance as outlined in ITPro Today's 2025 AI trends and predictions.

Meanwhile, sustainability is front-of-mind: PwC reports that AI is not only driving productivity but actively supporting climate and energy goals, with executives advised to integrate AI deeply into decarbonization strategies (PwC's Sustainability News Brief).

As Santa Rosa leverages these trends, the region is primed for continued momentum, modeling how mid-sized cities can nurture future-ready tech ecosystems, balance global leadership with local opportunity, and address the industry's most urgent calls for responsible, impactful innovation.