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

The recent release of the White House's "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" marks a significant federal commitment to accelerating AI innovation and infrastructure, directly influencing the burgeoning tech landscape in Savannah, GA. This plan prioritizes rapid data center construction, streamlined permitting processes, and expansion of energy infrastructure to support AI's growth, reflecting national ambitions for technological dominance and economic competitiveness.

Locally, Savannah's tech sector is thriving with a 28% job growth and an average salary exceeding $90K, fueled by investments from major firms like Gulfstream Aerospace and the introduction of new programs in automation and robotics at Savannah Technical College.

The federal push to modernize data center infrastructure aligns with Savannah's expanding tech ecosystem, which actively cultivates AI, cybersecurity, and robotics talent through initiatives from colleges and professional workshops.

However, the plan's emphasis on fossil-fuel-backed energy sources for powering these centers raises environmental and cost concerns amid growing AI demands. As Savannah continues to grow as a tech hub, learners and entrepreneurs have resources like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp to acquire practical AI skills, along with entrepreneurship programs such as Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur to launch scalable businesses.

These local advances, driven by federal policy shifts, position Savannah at the nexus of national AI initiatives and innovative workforce development.

On July 23, 2025, the Trump administration unveiled its sweeping AI Action Plan emphasizing deregulation to accelerate U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence, with a direct impact on energy and data center infrastructure, including the Savannah River Site in Georgia.

The plan fast-tracks the construction of massive AI data centers and supporting energy facilities - favoring fossil fuels such as gas, coal, nuclear, and geothermal - by exempting qualifying projects from key environmental regulations like NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act.

It designates AI data centers as national security assets, granting them federal override of state and local laws, and places emphasis on dispatchable, reliable energy sources while sidelining renewables, as wind and solar projects on federal lands now require Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's direct approval, effectively curtailing renewable energy expansion.

The administration's approach includes over $200 billion in Defense Department funding to boost fossil fuel energy infrastructure for AI centers, reinforcing the alliance between Big Tech and Big Oil.

Renewable advocates warn this will aggravate climate and grid challenges amid soaring AI power demands. Notably, the plan names federal lands at Savannah River and other national labs as prime AI infrastructure sites.

The regulatory rollback also undermines consumer and environmental protections, with the Federal Trade Commission directed to avoid actions that might "unduly burden AI innovation." Critics argue the plan sacrifices public interest for corporate gain, eroding safeguards as the U.S. competes globally - contrasted sharply by China's multilateral, sustainability-focused AI strategy.

For detailed insights, explore the comprehensive analysis by Latitude Media, TechPolicy Press's critical overview, and Utility Dive's report on energy implications.

Georgia Tech has secured a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to construct Nexus, a next-generation AI-focused supercomputer set to become operational by spring 2026.

Designed to accelerate scientific breakthroughs across disciplines - including medicine, clean energy, climate modeling, neuroscience, and manufacturing - Nexus will perform over 400 quadrillion operations per second and feature 330 terabytes of memory alongside 10 petabytes of flash storage, equivalent to 10 billion reams of paper stacked to the moon and back.

This cutting-edge system, housed at Georgia Tech's CODA data center in Midtown Atlanta, integrates AI, high-performance computing, data analytics, and visualization in a unified platform that dramatically simplifies access for researchers nationwide through an NSF application process.

Georgia Tech will manage the supercomputer, reserving 10% of its capacity for campus research, and collaborate with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign by connecting Nexus to their supercomputer via a high-speed network, creating a powerful national research infrastructure.

As Ángel Cabrera, Georgia Tech's president, states,

“Georgia Tech is proud to be one of the nation's leading sources of the AI talent and technologies powering a revolution in our economy.”

Nexus aims to democratize advanced AI capabilities with user-friendly interfaces and support for persistent scientific services, helping scientists tackle complex problems faster and ushering in new waves of AI-driven innovation.

Detailed project specifications and collaboration insights can be found on the Georgia Tech official announcement, while the FOX 5 Atlanta coverage provides community-focused perspectives.

For a comprehensive analysis of Nexus's national significance and technical prowess, refer to the Forbes feature article.

Georgia's burgeoning data center industry, a key driver of AI infrastructure growth, is confronting significant supply chain and geopolitical challenges amid soaring demand.

The state's strategic advantages - such as Atlanta's recent lead in net data center leasing and the robust logistics backbone provided by the Port of Savannah - are juxtaposed with obstacles including U.S. tariffs up to 145% on critical tech imports, export bans on advanced semiconductors like Nvidia's H100 chips, and retaliatory trade restrictions from China.

These factors have inflated hardware costs by 7-12% and added up to $30 million in capital expenses for typical large-scale projects, complicating construction timelines and operational scalability.

In response, manufacturers and investors are shifting supply chains away from China toward Mexico, Vietnam, and India, while Georgia aims to capitalize on its proximity to these regions to become a redistribution hub.

However, ongoing legal investigations under Section 232 concerning semiconductors, steel, and critical minerals could lead to further tariffs or quotas, increasing uncertainty.

Georgia's policymakers and stakeholders emphasize flexibility and strategic modernization of power and cooling systems to maintain the state's competitive edge in AI data center leasing.

Meanwhile, energy suppliers like Georgia Power face scrutiny over plans to rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet new demand, spurring calls for greater investments in renewables.

The Georgia Chamber's recent reports and advocacy efforts highlight both the risks and opportunities inherent in this rapidly evolving landscape. For deeper insights, see the detailed analyses by Georgia State University's detailed report on data center challenges, the Morgan Lewis legal perspective on tariffs affecting data centers, and the Georgia Chamber's April 2025 tariff briefing and potential Georgia impacts.

At Boomi World 2025 in Dallas, Boomi unveiled major advancements in AI-driven enterprise automation, spotlighting the general availability of Boomi Agentstudio, a no-code AI agent lifecycle management platform enabling design, governance, and orchestration of AI agents at scale.

The event emphasized agentic AI's role in transforming integration, automation, API management, and data orchestration across hybrid and multicloud environments.

New AI agents, including Integration Advisor and API Documentation Agents, automate complex workflows and enhance developer productivity, all included within the Boomi Enterprise Platform.

Key innovations also feature native support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), strengthening secure, compliant AI governance, and expanded AWS collaboration to accelerate SAP cloud migration and AI integration.

Boomi's unified platform also integrates advanced data capabilities through the acquisition of Rivery, now Boomi Data Integration, offering automated ELT pipelines and robust observability for faster AI-driven data products.

Industry analysts recognize Boomi's platform as a leader, positioning it as the “connective tissue” for enterprises seeking to overcome digital fragmentation and scale AI-powered automation confidently.

As CEO Steve Lucas highlighted,

“The future belongs to organizations that can intelligently connect everything and automate anything - and Boomi is THE platform that makes it happen.”

For further insights on Boomi World 2025 and the latest AI automation breakthroughs, visit Boomi's official product innovations page and detailed enterprise research summary.

SAS and Epic Games have teamed up to revolutionize manufacturing through AI-powered digital twins at Georgia-Pacific's Savannah River Mill, leveraging the photorealistic capabilities of Unreal Engine combined with SAS's advanced AI analytics.

This innovative initiative enables Georgia-Pacific to create immersive, real-time 3D simulations of their factory operations, including the movement of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), allowing the company to test and optimize processes in a virtual environment without disrupting production.

Using Epic's RealityScan mobile app, photorealistic renderings of the Savannah plant were captured and imported into Unreal Engine, while SAS Viya software transforms sensor data into actionable insights.

This integration delivers a realistic “what-if” scenario testing tool for operational efficiency and safety improvements, with potential returns including up to an 8% improvement in AGV mission times and enhanced worker safety through simulated training on hazardous behaviors.

As Roshan Shah, VP of AI & Products at Georgia-Pacific, noted,

“Imagine watching AGVs navigate a bustling factory floor, reacting to proximity alerts, obstacles and rare adverse events in real time.”

The collaboration exemplifies how gaming technology can serve enterprise needs by democratizing advanced analytics and boosting productivity.

SAS plans to extend these digital twin capabilities beyond manufacturing, targeting use cases in healthcare and urban planning. For further details, explore the full announcement at SAS digital twins on Unreal Engine transform manufacturing, the SAS blog on manufacturing innovation with Epic Games, and the in-depth coverage by Channel Insider on SAS and Epic Games partnership.

Savannah Technical College has expanded its educational offerings with significant advancements in its Career Plus program and Early Childhood Education dual enrollment initiatives, positioning itself as a key provider of alternative career pathways for adult learners and high school students in the Savannah area.

The Career Plus program, now fully accredited for six years by Cognia - a nationally recognized nonprofit accreditor - enables Georgia residents aged 18 and older who have some high school credits to earn an accredited high school diploma combined with career-specific certifications and college credits without high-stakes testing.

This flexible program covers diverse fields such as Aircraft and Avionics, Business Administration, Engineering, Construction, Healthcare, and Transportation, with enrollment growing from 23 to 35 students this year and a target of 50 by year-end.

Meanwhile, the Early Childhood Education dual enrollment program allows 15 Savannah-Chatham County Public School students, primarily from Woodville-Tompkins High School, to earn Basics Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) credentials through integrated high school and college coursework focusing on professional educator preparation for children aged 0-4.

Students complete pathway classes and pass credentialing tests, qualifying them for roles like childcare providers and assistant pre-kindergarten teachers, with opportunities to accelerate college studies and participate in Work Based Learning while in high school.

Savannah Tech plans to scale this program across additional high schools and districts. These initiatives are supported by recent Georgia workforce bills and funding, including a $6 million State Apprenticeship Expansion grant and private contributions such as AT&T's $25,000 donation enhancing digital access.

For more details and enrollment, prospective students can contact Career Plus Coordinator Jencarlos Feliciano-Ponce via email at jponce@savannahtech.edu or visit the Savannah Technical College official website.

The full accreditation by Cognia substantiates Savannah Tech's commitment to flexible, career-aligned education in Savannah's growing job market, as detailed in this Savannah Morning News article on Savannah Tech's accreditation and early childhood education updates.

Atlanta-based Acuity Behavioral Health recently secured $1.5 million in seed funding led by Valor Ventures to advance its pioneering Behavioral Health Operations Intelligence (BHOI) platform, designed to transform inpatient psychiatric care through AI-driven real-time standardization, measurement, and optimization.

Developed in collaboration with leading health systems including Yale New Haven Health and Tanner Health, Acuity's flagship solution - the Behavioral Health Acuity Index (BHAI) - delivers the first standardized AI model to objectively measure patient acuity, integrating seamlessly with Electronic Health Records (EHR) like Epic.

This innovation addresses the critical challenges of staffing shortages, inconsistent patient classification, and clinical inefficiencies that have traditionally plagued behavioral health facilities.

The company's AI-powered Acuity Insights platform further enables nurse managers to optimize staffing, reduce burnout, and improve patient outcomes by forecasting care needs proactively.

CEO Jim Szyperski emphasizes that Acuity is creating a new industry category by bringing quantifiable decision support to psychiatric hospitals, shifting care from subjective assessment to data-driven intelligence.

With the mental health sector seeing surging demand yet lagging in technological modernization, Acuity aims to accelerate platform enhancements and expand partnerships in 2025, setting a new benchmark for behavioral health clinical support tools.

Learn more about Acuity's AI innovation and seed round at Acuity Behavioral Health Launch Announcement, details on their cutting-edge Behavioral Health Acuity Index at Acuity Behavioral Health News, and investment insights from Valor Ventures at Acuity Seed Funding Round.

Airbnb has once again deployed its AI-driven anti-party technology across the U.S., including Georgia, to curb unauthorized and disruptive gatherings during peak holiday weekends like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

This proprietary system analyzes booking patterns such as the listing type, length of stay, reservation timing, and guest travel distance to flag and block high-risk reservations, with over 51,000 potential party-related bookings prevented nationwide in 2024 alone.

Guests whose reservations are flagged can still book other accommodations or sign an ‘anti-party attestation', a pledge not to host gatherings, helping maintain positive neighborhood experiences.

Airbnb's commitment to responsible travel is underscored by a reported 50%+ decrease in party incidents across the U.S. since the ban's introduction in 2020. Alongside this, the company provides a 24/7 Neighborhood Support Line and partners with security firms to enhance safety protocols for hosts, reinforcing peace of mind for Georgia communities.

For more on Airbnb's broader safety and service innovations, including the 2025 Summer Release featuring new app capabilities, users can visit Airbnb's official page on enhanced travel experiences.

Algoma, a New York City-based PropTech startup founded by Harvard graduates, has successfully raised $2.3 million in a seed round led by Zacua Ventures, with participation from notable investors including SOSV, Iron Prairie Ventures, DOMiNO Ventures, and Compose VC. This AI-native real estate development platform streamlines the pre-construction process by delivering rapid site feasibility analysis that combines market intelligence, zoning research, capacity calculations, construction cost data, and pro forma modeling to help small and mid-sized developers make faster, cost-effective go/no-go decisions.

Targeting urban infill, mixed-use, affordable, and workforce housing projects, Algoma's platform notably reduces reliance on fragmented manual workflows, enabling developers to generate investor-ready presentations within days rather than weeks.

The startup also integrates sustainable building innovation through mass timber construction to reduce embodied carbon, with support from grants such as NYC's Mass Timber Studio and Georgia's Mass Timber Accelerator.

According to Vivin Hegde, General Partner at Zacua Ventures,

“We invested in Algoma because they're solving a foundational problem in the built environment, bringing speed, structure, and confidence to site selection and feasibility.”

CEO Josef Bromovsky emphasized the platform's role in bringing clarity and intelligence to complex site analysis, while COO Seyfihan Usarer highlighted how Algoma empowers developers to evaluate more deals and reduce project risks, accelerating housing supply.

The company plans to use the new funding to expand its engineering team, enrich its product offerings, and advance its web platform with enhanced AI-driven features, positioning Algoma as a critical player in modernizing real estate development.

Learn more about Algoma's innovative approach at Algoma's official announcement, investor perspectives at DOMiNO Ventures' investment news, and insights into their sustainability mission via CRETI Ventures funding article.

The BIG Tide Summit 2025, held at the Savannah Convention Center, continues to drive significant progress in AI and technology workforce development across coastal Georgia.

With over 3,000 high school students participating from 10 counties, the event provides hands-on training, networking opportunities, scholarships, and direct connections to colleges and Fortune 500 employers.

A highlight this year is the launch of the GO BIG Career Fund offering scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 to graduating seniors pursuing trade industries or higher education.

The summit's focus on practical skill-building is reinforced by on-the-spot certifications in fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Science, offered in partnership with Georgia Tech, Augusta University, and Georgia Southern University.

Robert Gould, founder of BIG Tide Summit, emphasizes the initiative's role in preparing for an anticipated 15,000 new STEAM jobs in the Southeast, stating,

“BIG TIDE is here to catapult the career development and trajectories of thousands of students across the region.”

Major sponsors including Gulfstream, Comcast, Coca-Cola, and HJ Russell & Company underscore the program's strategic importance in building a qualified workforce to support Georgia's expanding infrastructure and technology sectors, as noted by Globe Magazine's coverage of Georgia's BIG Tide Summit 2025.

The event's agenda features breakout sessions like the Build Big STEM Lab powered by leading universities and a Global Leadership Development stage, connecting students with industry experts and thought leaders, with more details available on FEMI Magazine.

As a vital catalyst for regional talent development, the BIG Tide Summit exemplifies how Georgia AIM's mobile AI manufacturing studio and broader workforce initiatives are shaping the future of tech careers in Savannah and beyond.

Savannah stands at a pivotal crossroad where burgeoning federal AI policies intersect with robust local tech innovation, underscoring the city's critical role in Georgia's rapidly expanding data center economy.

With nearly 160 power-intensive data centers across the state and 11 more slated for development, Georgia is reinforcing its position as a national hub for AI infrastructure.

However, this growth brings significant challenges, including increased energy and water demands that strain local grids and ecosystems, as detailed in the data center construction boom report in Georgia.

Savannah's proactive engagement with federal entities, as shown in the recent GMA Federal Policy Council meeting summary, highlights the ongoing collaboration needed to navigate regulatory landscapes and secure critical funding amidst tightening budgets and program cancellations, such as FEMA's rescinded $30 million flood grant impacting vital infrastructure upgrades.

Locally, the city balances economic opportunity - evident in its record-setting port throughput - with environmental stewardship as it adapts to the pressures of new digital infrastructure, detailed in Georgia Tech's analysis on powering the future without breaking the grid.

This holistic approach calls for innovative technologies, stricter policies for sustainable development, and workforce training, linking to educational initiatives like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp for practical AI skill-building.

Savannah's future hinges on this synergy of strategic investment, responsible growth, and community-focused innovation, ensuring it harnesses AI's potential while protecting the environment and bolstering economic resilience.