This Month's Latest Tech News in Spokane, WA - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Spokane's tech landscape is taking a leap forward as AI-driven innovation and opportunity continue to accelerate across the region. Startups like Gestalt Diagnostics, advancing AI-enabled cancer detection, have recently secured $7.5 million to advance digital pathology and AI-powered cancer detection, reflecting the city's drive to address national challenges with cutting-edge solutions.

As detailed by the Spokane Journal of Business on local startup investments, despite a nationwide funding lull, local ecosystems and programs like LaunchPad INW and Spokane Angel Alliance are nurturing entrepreneurs, with mentorship and community connections seen as critical factors in transitioning Spokane to a true innovation hub.

Yet, as Washington state claims its place as the nation's fifth-ranked AI startup region - boasting 481 AI startups and $4.5 billion in funding since 2013 according to the WTIA AI Startup and Investment Landscape report - experts warn that sustainable growth hinges on attracting late-stage investment, expanding diversity, and maintaining momentum beyond Seattle.

“Our region is going to see a pretty significant growth and transformation to becoming more of an innovation economy… It's critical that our region embrace and help innovators and get more and more people to help volunteer, to mentor, and we increase the pipeline of talent, and we track more funding and people to this region.”

For aspiring tech founders, Spokane's current trajectory offers fertile ground - especially for those equipped to leverage community resources, innovative thinking, and AI expertise.

Amazon's newest leap in warehouse automation, the Vulcan robot - now fully operational at Spokane's fulfillment center - integrates advanced force-feedback sensors, stereo vision, and AI to deliver human-like dexterity when picking and stowing approximately 75% of all inventory items.

Unlike traditional warehouse robots that rely solely on vision and simple mechanics, Vulcan's sense of touch allows it to finely adjust grip strength and object handling in real time, significantly reducing damage risks and ergonomic strain for employees, especially when accessing hard-to-reach storage pods.

This innovation is part of Amazon's global robotics strategy, which now includes over 750,000 robots handling nearly three-quarters of all orders, and is credited with both boosting efficiency and creating new technical jobs such as automation maintenance and robotics support.

As Aaron Parness, Amazon's Director of Robotics AI, explained,

“Vulcan represents a fundamental leap forward in robotics. It's not just seeing the world, it's feeling it, enabling capabilities that were impossible for Amazon robots until now.”

Key functionalities are summarized below:

Feature	Details
Touch Sensitivity	Force-feedback sensors and tactile AI finely manipulate items of varied shapes and fragilities
Operational Efficiency	Picks and stows ~75% of items at human speed; over 500,000 orders processed in Spokane and Hamburg
Worker Safety	Focuses employees on ergonomic “power zone” tasks, reducing reaching, climbing, and injury risk

As Vulcan's deployment expands across the U.S. and Europe, experts note that these smart bots are reshaping fulfillment operations - and the workplace itself - for safety, speed, and upskilling opportunities.

Learn more through Amazon's official Vulcan announcement, an in-depth analysis at Digital Commerce 360's analysis of warehouse impacts, and a broader industry context via CIO Inc.'s feature on Vulcan's automation breakthroughs.

Spokane-based Gestalt Diagnostics has secured $7.5 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-driven digital pathology platform, PathFlow, which is transforming how pathologists analyze and collaborate on complex cases as reported by the Spokane Journal of Business.

The investment, led by Cowles Ventures alongside several regional funds, aims to accelerate AI development, reach more healthcare customers, and pursue FDA clearance - key steps to addressing a national shortage of pathologists amid rising cancer rates according to TechNews180.

PathFlow enables digitized slide review, remote consultations, and AI-powered biomarker scoring to optimize diagnosis and therapy selection for clinical, academic, and research partners.

CEO Dan Roark remarked,

“PathFlow is transforming pathology by leveraging robust digital workflows and AI algorithms to support scoring of key biomarkers.”

The company was founded in 2017 and has grown to serve major hospital networks and research groups across the U.S. and internationally.

This funding follows a surge in Series A rounds among Inland Northwest startups, with recent life sciences investments underscoring Spokane's emergence as a biotech hub.

For more on this funding round and Gestalt's trajectory, see the official PR Newswire announcement on Gestalt Diagnostics' Series A funding.

Company	Location	Funding Raised
CarbonQuest Inc.	Spokane Valley	$20 million
Gierd Inc.	Sandpoint	$8 million
Impact Laboratories	-	$4.95 million
Qualterra Inc.	Pullman, WA	$4.5 million

Microsoft is channeling $5 million in Azure credits and expert collaboration into 20 pioneering organizations across Washington State - including several Spokane-based projects - through its AI for Good Lab, marking the company's 50th anniversary with a robust commitment to regional innovation.

Grantees encompass universities, nonprofits, and research groups developing novel AI solutions in sustainability, health, and education. For example, Washington State University is leveraging AI for wildfire risk assessment, soil contamination mapping in Spokane and Hanford, and accessible science education tools for rural teachers.

At the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, teams are building a cloud laboratory utilizing satellite imagery and spatial demography to forecast drought and food insecurity risks, offering actionable health data for decision-makers.

As described by Microsoft, the initiative's goal is

“to tackle global challenges via AI, helping nonprofits, NGOs, academic institutions do more with less”

.

The table below highlights a selection of awardees and their project focus areas:

Organization	Project Focus	AI Application
Washington State University	Wildfire risk, soil cleanup, science education	AI-guided risk models, large language models, teacher assessment tools
IHME	Population health, food security	Global cloud lab using AI, satellite data
Evergreen Goodwill	Public goods efficiency	AI donation ingestion and cataloging

By empowering regional changemakers, the program amplifies Washington's leadership in tech for social good.

Explore details of the award recipients and their AI projects, discover how these efforts align with Microsoft's vision at the AI for Good Lab Open Call page, and review coverage of this milestone for Washington innovation on Life Science Washington.

Spokane's retail scene is evolving as former tech executive Jeff Aden brings an innovative, AI-powered business model to Nine Mile Feed & Hardware. After acquiring the storied store on April 30, 2025, Aden - a Whitworth University alumnus and co-founder of 2nd Watch Inc. - has already welcomed over 1,000 customers and begun modernizing operations while maintaining community ties.

Leveraging artificial intelligence, Aden set inventory using demographic data and ran margin scenarios, streamlining the transition and reportedly saving $20,000 to $30,000 in professional service costs:

“What I was able to do with AI was pretty fun... By the time I got done, I felt like I had a team of business analysts,” he shared.

Learn more about Aden's vision for the store.

Planned upgrades include launching a subscription-based rental service for tools and machinery, introducing local wines and beers, and expanding feed delivery, all modeled after successful tech-enabled service strategies.

Customers can expect educational AI workshops, new locally sourced products, and minor store renovations. For a detailed background on Aden's entrepreneurial journey in tech and cloud computing, visit the original Spokane Journal coverage, and for broader strategies on leveraging AI and digital tools in small business, explore this breakdown at Brand Builders Group.

AI Application	Impact
Inventory Optimization	Data-driven restocking & product selection
Margin Scenarios	Faster, more informed decision making
Cost Savings	$20,000–$30,000 in professional fees

Spokane Public Schools are navigating a major shift as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an integral part of classroom life, emphasizing ethical adoption and student empowerment.

District educators, supported by Washington's human-centered state guidelines, now use tools like Magic School AI and Khanmigo to personalize lessons, encourage critical media literacy, and streamline teacher workloads.

As the state's Comprehensive Human-Centered AI Guidance highlights, students and teachers are urged to approach AI use responsibly - evaluating outputs critically, safeguarding privacy, and citing AI-generated work.

According to the Inlander's local feature on AI integration in education, elementary libraries now teach even fourth graders about distinguishing real from AI-generated information, while administrators and state leaders stress that AI's place in education should enhance, not replace, human connection.

Spokane joins a national trend, as described by the Center on Reinventing Public Education's study on AI in schools, where districts pilot AI in coaching, lesson planning, and individualized student support - all amid discussions about equity, bias, and digital literacy.

As Betsy Lamb, Spokane's Director of Learning Technology, states,

"Students are fearless, and they will push boundaries, so our job is to stay one step behind - hopefully just one."

This balanced approach aims to ensure AI fosters opportunity, safety, and innovation throughout Spokane's classrooms.

Washington State University is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to advance global pandemic prevention, thanks to a new machine learning model that can predict animal species likely to harbor and spread zoonotic viruses, including those in the orthopoxvirus family such as smallpox and mpox.

The model, developed through a multidisciplinary network, incorporates both ecological traits and viral genetics to deliver improved risk predictions, identifying key geographic hotspots - Southeast Asia, Equatorial Africa, and the Amazon - where high biodiversity and low vaccination rates elevate outbreak risk.

As Dr. Stephanie Seifert explains,

“Nearly three-quarters of emerging viruses that infect humans come from animals. If we can better predict which species pose the greatest risk, we can take proactive measures to prevent pandemics.”

The AI-driven approach not only helps prioritize wildlife sampling but also shifts global health response from reactive to proactive, equipping researchers and public health agencies for more targeted and effective surveillance.

For further details, visit the official WSU press release on pandemic prevention AI, read an accessible summary on how this AI offers new hope for outbreak risk management, or explore the broader context of WSU's AI innovations in university research and healthcare transformation.

Model Focus	Key Hotspots	Predicted Hosts for Mpox
Orthopoxviruses (smallpox, mpox)	Southeast Asia, Equatorial Africa, the Amazon	Rodents, Cats, Canids, Skunks, Mustelids, Raccoons

The potential for mass layoffs in the white-collar workforce has taken center stage as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that artificial intelligence could eliminate half of all entry-level office jobs and drive unemployment rates to 10–20% within the next five years.

Fields most at risk include technology, finance, law, and marketing, while recent graduates and young professionals face a particularly tough job market - a trend reflected in hiring data showing a 50% drop in Big Tech recruitment of new graduates since before the pandemic and a rise in jobless rates for bachelor's degree holders aged 22–27 to about 6%, compared to 4% overall.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei emphasizes the urgent need for industry transparency and targeted government response, calling for proactive solutions like retraining, public awareness campaigns, and potential reforms such as a revenue tax on AI companies to support displaced workers.

In Spokane, local workforce organizations are closely watching these developments, focusing on skill development and transition resources to protect talent as AI adoption accelerates.

The broader tech industry and policymakers are divided - some believe predictions of an AI-driven job apocalypse are overstated, but many experts agree disruptive change is imminent.

As industry insiders underline the need for new grads to adapt by pairing with AI and upskilling rapidly, others urge lawmakers to get ahead of the issue and address the risks to economic stability and social cohesion.

As Amodei cautioned,

“You can't just step in front of the train and stop it. The only move that's going to work is steering the train... but we have to do it now.”

Learn more about the immediate impacts and practical strategies for Spokane's workforce from these insights on how to protect your career in the AI era.

Amazon's commitment to workforce development is transforming Spokane's tech landscape through robust programs like Career Choice and Mechatronics & Robotics Apprenticeships.

The Amazon Career Choice program empowers employees at all experience levels, providing prepaid tuition and career coaching for over 200,000 participants globally, with Spokane Colleges offering more than 100 specializations for upskilling and seamless transitions into in-demand tech roles.

For those interested in hands-on technical careers, the Reliability and Maintenance Engineering (RME) Mechatronics and Robotics Apprenticeship features 12 weeks of paid classroom training, four industry-recognized certifications, and 2,000 hours of on-the-job mentorship - culminating in a guaranteed position maintaining and troubleshooting Amazon's advanced robotic systems.

Notably, these initiatives support wage growth - with apprenticeship program graduates seeing nearly 40% salary increases - and open the door to new roles necessary to support increased automation at Amazon's fulfillment centers.

As described by a current technician,

“Amazon has given me hope and a career path by investing in my growth. I get paid to learn what I love.”

For more on certification pathways and the skills to maintain Amazon's warehouse technology, check out the latest offerings and testimonials on the Amazon Apprenticeships and Certifications portal.

These programs not only prepare Spokane residents for the future of automated warehousing but also exemplify Amazon's focus on sustainable, upward career mobility through education and technical training.

Meta has significantly intensified the generative AI competition with the launch of its standalone Meta AI App, powered by the advanced Llama 4 model and designed to compete directly with industry leaders like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

The app's key differentiators include deep personalization - users who link their Facebook and Instagram accounts gain access to highly contextualized responses and recommendations thanks to Meta's vast troves of previously shared social data - a point of both strategic advantage and privacy debate.

Core features of the app include conversational voice and text chat, multimodal image generation and editing, and a social “Discover” feed where users can be inspired by, share, and remix AI interactions and creative prompts.

Integration with Ray-Ban Meta glasses enables hands-free AI access and seamless transition of conversations between devices, while the app's availability on both iOS and Android positions it for rapid adoption.

Market data reveals that AI chat and art apps amassed 1.5 billion downloads and $1.5 billion in in-app purchases during 2024, with Meta's monthly AI users climbing from 600 million to 700 million by early 2025 (Meta AI app details from CNBC).

The competitive landscape against ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok is outlined below:

AI Assistant	Model	Notable Feature	Monthly/Weekly Users
Meta AI App	Llama 4	Social integration, personalization, voice+image	700M monthly
OpenAI ChatGPT	GPT-4	Text & image, code generation	500M weekly
Google Gemini	Gemini AI	Web search, multimodal	N/A
Anthropic Claude	Claude 3	Safety, longer context	N/A

As Forbes coverage notes,

“With a user base spanning billions, Meta has access to rich and diverse data, meaning it can train highly optimized models across a unique data set.”

However, this powerful blend of innovation and user data collection has ignited fresh conversations about privacy, responsible AI, and the future of social interaction (in-depth analysis by Indian Express).

The high-stakes DOJ v. Google antitrust trial has evolved into a pivotal moment shaping the intersection of search, artificial intelligence, and tech innovation.

As closing arguments wrapped in late May, the Justice Department pressed for remedies that would directly address Google's expanding influence in both traditional search and generative AI, such as requiring Google to divest its Chrome browser and restrict default search engine arrangements with manufacturers.

The court is also considering whether Google should be compelled to share its vast search data with AI competitors - a move advocates argue is necessary to prevent Google's new AI product, Gemini, from becoming the next uncontested gateway to information access.

“The reason we are so focused on GenAI is because that is the new search access point,”

emphasized DOJ attorney David Dahlquist, capturing concerns that Google could leverage search supremacy to entrench its AI dominance.

However, Google counters that the AI field remains highly competitive, citing robust growth from rivals like OpenAI and Meta AI, and warns that forced breakups may stifle innovation and user security.

Judge Amit Mehta's expected ruling in August 2025 will weigh these arguments and could signal a new era for technology regulation. To understand the DOJ's proposed remedies and the trial's implications for the future of AI and search, see DOJ's focus on AI tools in the Google antitrust case, how AI lies at the heart of Google's search engine trial, and an in-depth breakdown of Google's possible breakup and its global implications for AI innovation.

Despite recent upheavals, including the revocation of a $48M federal grant for its aerospace tech hub, Spokane's tech ecosystem demonstrates notable resilience and adaptability.

While local leaders decried the loss as “an unnecessary setback” and an “outrage” for the regional economy, many remain committed to supporting innovation through congressional and community action (Trump administration withdraws $48 million from Spokane tech hub).

At the same time, the Inland Northwest startup scene is poised for renewed growth in 2025, driven by robust mentorship networks, returning investor optimism, and an increasingly vibrant talent pipeline.

Bill Kalivas, co-founder of LaunchPad INW, captures this spirit:

“Our region is going to see a pretty significant growth and transformation to becoming more of an innovation economy... It's critical that our region embrace and help innovators, increase the pipeline of talent, and attract more funding and people to this region.”

Spokane's strengths are amplified by its advanced tech and green business sectors - which constitute 26% of non-farm employment and benefit from a robust infrastructure ideal for mission-critical operations (Spokane Valley's advanced tech and energy workforce).

As the region transitions toward a future shaped by digital transformation and AI, ongoing upskilling and inclusive tech education - such as specialized bootcamps and scholarships - remain vital.

For further analysis on how the region is actively shaping a workforce ready for tomorrow's opportunities, including innovative companies like Drip7 and dynamic events like the INCH360 Cyber Hub Conference, see Spokane Tech Transformations: Embracing AI and Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow.