This Month's Latest Tech News in Spokane, WA - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

April 2025 marked a major leap forward for Spokane's tech sector, as the city officially launched the Spokane Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center Tech Hub with a transformative $48 million federal grant, positioning the region as a national leader in next-generation aerospace innovation and workforce development.

This investment, part of the nationwide Tech Hubs program, is set to boost advanced material manufacturing for aircraft and spacecraft, supporting over 40,000 projected new aircraft and expanding opportunities across the I-90 corridor with broad regional impact.

• Tech Center Launches: Susan Jones reports that Spokane's new Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center Tech Hub received federal funding to propel local innovation in aerospace and workforce development.
• Industry Growth: Mary Wilson highlights Spokane's tech sector as one of the area's fastest-growing industries, fueled by AI and upskilling opportunities that broaden access for nontraditional candidates, according to Greater Spokane Inc..
• Startup Optimism: Jessica Williams notes that, even with a funding slowdown, Spokane's startup ecosystem remains resilient and collaborative, focusing on talent and mentorship, as covered in the Spokane Journal of Business.

"Spokane is clearly on the cusp of a technological renaissance, blending high-impact investment with inclusive workforce growth."

April marked a significant boost for Spokane's tech landscape as Microsoft awarded $5 million through its AI for Good Lab to support 20 AI-powered projects across Washington, with notable funding directed toward local innovation.

This two-year grant program aims to address pressing challenges in sustainability, health, and education - fields critical to Spokane's future - by empowering nonprofit, academic, and startup organizations to develop practical AI solutions.

Included among the recipients are initiatives tackling wildfire vulnerability, advancing digital tools for sustainable land use, and improving healthcare delivery, such as AI-powered clinical trial matchmaking for underserved communities.

Microsoft's investment not only provides financial resources but also collaboration, cloud technology, and mentorship, deepening the company's longstanding ties to Washington on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

By betting on scalable, locally-driven projects, the AI for Good Lab is expected to accelerate Spokane's capacity to deploy technology for real-world impact in fields like soil decontamination and science education, keeping the region at the forefront of responsible tech development.

For further details on the round of grant recipients and project themes, see KING 5's announcement on Microsoft's AI for Good grants in Washington, official background from the AI for Good Lab Open Call, and Microsoft's reflection on 50 years of innovation supporting local communities.

Gestalt Diagnostics, a Spokane-based innovator in AI-driven digital pathology, has raised $7.5 million in Series A funding to accelerate the expansion of its flagship PathFlow® platform - an important leap for both local tech and global healthcare.

PathFlow's cloud-based system utilizes artificial intelligence to digitize and streamline pathology workflows, supporting healthcare providers and research institutions with faster, more accurate cancer diagnoses and biomarker scoring for therapy matching.

The investment, led by Cowles Ventures alongside investors TVF Funds, Inland Imaging, KickStart Funds, and regional angels, will fuel enhancements to Gestalt's AI capabilities, drive broader adoption, and support efforts toward FDA clearance - critical for expanding clinical use nationwide.

This comes at a pivotal time as the demand for digital pathology surges due to rising cancer rates and a shrinking pathologist workforce, aligning with trends in digitally enhanced diagnostics seen in radiology and cardiology.

As CEO Richard Taylor emphasized, these improvements promise not only improved patient outcomes but also democratized access to high-quality diagnostic expertise.

For more on the impact and strategic goals behind this funding, see the official announcement on Yahoo Finance, a detailed overview from TechNews180, and further insights at Medical Device Network.

Spokane Public Schools are charting a thoughtful and adaptive course as artificial intelligence rapidly enters K-12 classrooms, engaging both enthusiasm and debate among educators and families this month.

The district has embraced AI not only as a tool to personalize instruction and streamline administrative tasks, but also as a catalyst for rethinking teaching roles and media literacy, introducing platforms like Magic School and Khanmigo for targeted classroom use.

Safer integration is fostered by comprehensive district guidelines that emphasize student privacy, responsible attribution, and ethical use, with a growing emphasis on professional development - including an innovative AI coaching platform that enables Spokane teachers to reflect on their classroom practices and deepen collaboration without formal evaluation pressure.

• Adaptation and Enthusiasm: Spokane Public Schools are taking a thoughtful and adaptive approach as AI becomes part of K-12 classrooms, encouraging discussion among both teachers and families.
• Purposeful Implementation: The district is actively personalizing instruction and updating administrative work with AI, while exploring new teaching roles and enhanced media literacy by utilizing classroom platforms like Magic School and Khanmigo.
• Guidelines and Ethics: Comprehensive AI guidelines are ensuring student privacy and encouraging responsible, ethical AI use, emphasizing both attribution and transparency.
• Teacher Support: Ongoing professional development enables educators, such as Jennifer Thompson, to utilize an innovative AI coaching platform that allows teacher growth without formal evaluations, encouraging collaboration.
• Addressing Concerns: Main issues such as academic honesty, job changes, possible algorithm bias, and the environmental impact are being openly discussed by leaders like Joseph Thompson.
• Future-Readiness: The importance of preparing students and staff for an AI-centric future is echoed, balancing the pros and cons of heavy restrictions against the risk to local learners.
• Broader Dialogue: Spokane's current debates reflect national conversation about integrating AI for both equity and critical thinking in education, as recently discussed by Barbara Rodriguez in local news outlets.

The local conversation reflects Spokane's role as a microcosm of the national debate on how to integrate AI into classrooms for equity, critical thinking, and future-readiness - an approach explored in recent profiles of Spokane's transition and in the district's own official AI guidelines, as well as classroom perspectives detailed by Inlander's coverage of teachers and students adjusting to the rise of AI and an in-depth look at how SPS classrooms are using AI this school year.

Washington State University (WSU) researchers have developed a groundbreaking machine learning model that predicts which animal species are likely to harbor viruses capable of spilling over into humans - a major leap toward pandemic prevention.

The AI model goes beyond traditional ecological models by incorporating both host characteristics and viral genetic data, resulting in higher accuracy when pinpointing potential outbreak hotspots and high-risk species, particularly for orthopoxviruses such as smallpox and mpox.

• Transformative Technology: The AI model integrates host traits and viral genetics for greater accuracy in identifying risks.
• Targeted Surveillance: WSU's method pinpoints animal reservoirs like rodents, cats, weasels, and skunks for efficient monitoring.
• Proactive Public Health: This innovation supports a proactive approach, showing how artificial intelligence is crucial to future pandemic prevention.

"By identifying key animal reservoirs and mapping global hotspots, our AI model enables more targeted and efficient wildlife surveillance," explained Robert White, lead WSU researcher. "This addresses the logistical and financial hurdles of traditional field sampling."

This research showcases the proactive approach needed to mitigate future pandemics and underscores the transformative power of artificial intelligence in public health.

To learn more, read the WSU press release on the AI model's capabilities, this overview of how AI is reshaping disease prevention, and coverage from a local Spokane news outlet.

Meta made headlines in April by launching its first standalone AI app, signaling a major leap in the race to bring accessible, conversational artificial intelligence to everyday users.

Powered by the open-source Llama 4 model, the Meta AI app is now available on iOS, Android, and web, offering not only voice and text-based assistance but also context-aware personalization and seamless integration with Meta platforms and devices - including Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

What differentiates Meta's offering is its unique blend of AI capabilities (such as real-time Q&A, image and video generation, and web search) with a social twist: the new Discover feed allows users to view, share, and remix AI-generated content, reflecting Meta's broader push for social AI experiences.

Designed to draw on individual preferences gleaned from users' Facebook and Instagram data, the app's responses become more tailored over time, though this approach also revives ongoing debates over privacy and data usage.

With nearly 700 million monthly active AI users by January 2025, Meta's app aims to rival tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, striving to become the go-to digital assistant for over a billion people worldwide.

• Accessible AI: Meta's app aims to make artificial intelligence available to mainstream daily users.
• Personalization: The app's responses become increasingly tailored by leveraging individual social data over time.
• Social Integration: Its Discover feed encourages sharing and remixing of AI-created content, reinforcing social connections.
• Privacy Concerns: Use of personal data for tuning AI responses revives privacy and usage debates within the tech community.
• Competition: This launch intensifies the race with rivals like ChatGPT and Google Gemini in digital assistant space.

For more on the launch and its key features, see Meta's official announcement, a detailed breakdown in Decrypt's in-depth review, and further industry perspective from CNBC's coverage of the AI showdown.

April brought historic courtroom drama as Alphabet CEO David Hernandez took the stand in a high-profile antitrust trial that may reshape the future of both online search and artificial intelligence (AI).

The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for sweeping remedies after a prior ruling that Google maintained its search monopoly through exclusive deals and leveraging its dominance to bolster AI offerings such as Gemini.

At the heart of the trial is whether Google should be forced to provide its vast search data and technology to rivals, a move Hernandez described as a “de facto divestiture” that would undermine decades of innovation, potentially making it impossible for Google to keep funding search and AI development on the same scale.

He argued that such measures would not just harm Google, but also consumers and the U.S. tech sector, while Google attorneys pointed to the healthy competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta's AI, which remain market leaders by user count.

The trial's outcome could set a precedent for how data and AI leadership are regulated, with closing arguments expected in May and a judge's decision - likely to be appealed - anticipated this summer.

For a closer look at the legal arguments and Hernandez's testimony:

• Read NPR's coverage of the trial and Sundar Pichai's defense.
• Explore analysis from The Verge on the case's impact on innovation.
• Review The New York Times reporting on what's at stake for Google and the broader AI landscape.

April saw a significant boost for wildfire resilience innovation in Spokane as Washington State University (WSU) was named among 20 grantees in Microsoft's $5 million AI for Good Lab initiative.

WSU researchers are harnessing AI to combine satellite imagery, weather data, and simulation models, aiming to predict wildfire vulnerability of residential areas and ultimately reduce disaster risk for local communities.

Their project is backed by both the Microsoft funding and a recent $1 million National Science Foundation grant, the latter supporting the creation of advanced community-centered wildfire simulators and outage prediction tools that factor in complex variables - such as landscape diversity, urban infrastructure, and real-time community input - to inform targeted resilience strategies. This collaboration not only recognizes Spokane's pivotal role in the fight against climate-driven disasters, but also underpins Microsoft's broader commitment to AI-powered sustainability and public good across Washington State.

• Innovative AI project: Washington State University is leveraging AI with Microsoft's support to create wildfire prediction models that can safeguard Spokane's communities.
• Statewide technology impact: Read more on how the $5 million AI initiative is driving sustainable technology across Washington and fostering cutting-edge research.
• Community-centered research: Discover details about WSU's recent National Science Foundation grant empowering residents to plan for wildfires and power outages using advanced tools.

“By synthesizing AI and community-driven data, Spokane researchers are laying the groundwork for innovative solutions that could become models statewide.” - Elizabeth Jackson

This April, Washington State University (WSU) advanced efforts to address longstanding soil contamination in the Spokane and Hanford regions through the power of artificial intelligence.

Backed by Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, WSU's Department of Chemistry is leveraging geochemistry and advanced language models to build datasets that support new techniques for remediating heavy metals like arsenic and lead - pollutants stemming from historic industrial activity and known to pose public health risks, especially for children.

• AI-powered research: WSU's innovative project uses artificial intelligence and geochemistry to develop real-world solutions for polluted soil in Eastern Washington.
• Funding from Microsoft: The initiative is one of twenty sustainability-focused projects in Washington State supported by a $5 million investment from Microsoft over the next two years.
• Community engagement: Local and state agencies provide free soil testing and educational outreach to raise awareness and support affected residents in contaminated neighborhoods.

“By uniting AI-driven research with community outreach, WSU's project represents a significant step toward safer environments and demonstrates how regionally based technology can target major environmental health challenges.” - Susan Thomas

Find out more about these stories and opportunities below:

• Meet the 20 awardees of the AI for Good Lab's open call
• Department of Ecology soil testing announcement
• WSU to lead national AI research institute for agriculture

Providence is making significant strides in healthcare innovation by implementing advanced artificial intelligence tools to improve clinical trial access, reduce clinician burnout, and personalize patient care.

In partnership with Microsoft and the University of Washington, Providence Cancer Institute has developed AI-driven systems that automatically match patients to relevant clinical trials, which not only streamlines enrollment but also increases equity by helping underserved communities access novel therapies - a change credited with raising targeted therapy or trial enrollment rates from 52% to 62% in a single year.

• AI-driven clinical trial matching systems significantly enhance enrollment equity and streamline the process for patients and providers.
• Prov-GigaPath innovation showcases how multi-modal data integration accelerates cancer research and outcome prediction.
• AI for Good Lab investment supports real-time medical data analysis and democratizes access to advanced treatments across Washington State.
• Providence's responsible AI leadership is rooted in ethical collaborations and positions the organization as a national data-driven healthcare pioneer.

These developments are part of a broader initiative, supported by the recent $5 million AI for Good Lab investment, to harness AI for real-time analysis of medical data and to democratize groundbreaking treatments across Washington State.

Innovations like Prov-GigaPath - an AI-powered pathology model published in Nature - demonstrate how integrating multi-modal data can accelerate discoveries in cancer research, diagnosis, and outcomes prediction.

Providence's leadership in responsible AI adoption, highlighted by ongoing collaborations and ethical considerations, positions them at the forefront of a national shift towards data-driven, inclusive, and efficient healthcare.

Providence's ongoing collaborations and dedication to ethical AI use reflect a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes, reducing disparities, and leading the way in national healthcare innovation.

For more on these transformative efforts, read about the Providence Cancer Institute AI partnership, Microsoft's recognition of Providence as an AI for Good Lab awardee, and how Providence's AI revolution is transforming healthcare in the region.

April saw AI continue to reshape Spokane's journalism landscape, with both excitement over new opportunities and ongoing concerns about trust and transparency.

Recent research found that nearly half of Americans remain wary of receiving news created by generative AI, and over 90% of highly news-literate readers demand clear disclosures when AI is used for articles or images (Poynter/University of Minnesota study).

Despite this skepticism, Spokane outlets are innovating: The Spokesman-Review is transitioning to a nonprofit model, aiming to connect more deeply with the community while leveraging new tech responsibly (Editor & Publisher).

Meanwhile, national resources like the American Journalism Project's Product & AI Studio are helping local newsrooms - including those in the Pacific Northwest - experiment with AI-powered translation, transcription, and audience engagement tools within ethical frameworks (AJP Product & AI Studio).

Taken together, these efforts illustrate a dual path: Spokane journalism is embracing AI's potential to reach new audiences and boost efficiency, while also grappling with the need for clear communication - and radical transparency - with readers about when and how these tools are deployed.

• AI Journalism Challenges: Many readers are concerned about trust and seek clear AI use disclosures.
• Local News Innovation: The Spokesman-Review in Spokane is adopting a nonprofit model to strengthen community ties and responsibly incorporate new technology.
• AI Tools & Ethics: National organizations like the American Journalism Project are enabling ethical AI experiments in newsrooms for translation, transcription, and engagement.

"Spokane journalism is embracing AI's potential to reach new audiences and boost efficiency, while also grappling with the need for clear communication - and radical transparency - with readers about when and how these tools are deployed." - Christopher Jones

As April 2025 draws to a close, Spokane's technology sector stands out as a vibrant hub both embracing and shaping the new AI-driven era of innovation in the Pacific Northwest.

While major cities like Seattle are drawing attention for their rapid growth in AI startups and collaborative hubs, Spokane is emerging with its own remarkable momentum - supported by a tech sector growing at a pace projected to surpass national averages over the next five years.

Companies such as Drip7 are advancing workforce training with AI-powered tools, while sustainability-focused startups like Impact Laboratories are gaining national recognition and investment, validating Spokane's position in the global tech ecosystem (Spokane's Tech Transformations).

The rise of local ventures, such as Alphy Inc., now serving major clients and earning acclaim for ethical AI communication solutions, highlights both the depth of talent in the region and the potential for homegrown innovation (North Idaho AI Startup Gains Momentum).

Local events like TechConnect 2025 further foster community and professional growth, helping Spokane's workforce and businesses skill up for an AI-centric future (TechConnect 2025).

With strong investment, an ecosystem eager for upskilling, and direct engagement between employers and education, Spokane has firmly secured its place as a dynamic player in the Northwest's rapidly evolving AI and tech landscape.