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

Spokane's tech sector is riding a wave of local success stories while aligning with the national surge in AI innovation. Homegrown company Rapid Innovation, founded in 2019, has made the national list of top AI startups to watch in 2025, recognized for expertise in AI and blockchain solutions and boasting a unique 90-day development guarantee.

This local momentum echoes a nationwide trend: in just the first quarter of 2025, U.S. AI startups raised multiple billion-dollar mega-rounds, including OpenAI's staggering $40 billion round and Anthropic's $3.5 billion, as detailed in TechCrunch's roundup of AI funding records.

Meanwhile, the broader industry is navigating critical questions around AI fairness and transparency - an issue highlighted by both recent funding trends and growing public demand for ethical guidelines.

As discussed in Poynter and the Associated Press' 2025 Summit on AI,

People want disclosure. Their reflexive default is, ‘Tell me when (AI) is being used.'

For Spokane's tech professionals and learners, these developments present both opportunity and responsibility to innovate with trust and accountability; explore Spokane's emerging role at the crossroads of AI growth and ethics in the full coverage by Poynter's AI and journalism summit report.

Microsoft's recent $5 million investment through its AI for Good Lab is accelerating social innovation across Spokane and Washington State by supporting 20 diverse projects at the intersection of sustainability, health, and education.

The awardees - ranging from university researchers to nonprofits - receive Azure cloud credits and expert collaboration to address pressing challenges, such as wildfire prevention, ecological restoration, AI-enabled healthcare, and K–12 educational assessments.

For Spokane, this includes Washington State University's work applying AI to assess wildfire vulnerability in homes and models for heavy metal soil decontamination, as well as AI-powered education tools to reduce absenteeism and support rural science teachers.

According to the official Microsoft announcement on the 20 awardees, “Microsoft is excited to support these changemakers using AI to solve challenges and create a brighter future for Washington State and beyond.” These efforts are complemented by local initiatives such as smart AI tools for wetlands planning and wildlife monitoring, and programs that increase efficiency in philanthropy and youth mentorship.

As detailed in KING 5's summary of the AI for Good grants, funded projects are selected for their innovative use of AI in sustainability, healthcare, and community impacts over a two-year span.

The community reach and technical breadth are highlighted in the table below, making clear how Microsoft's support is fueling regional momentum for AI-driven solutions.

For a closer look at the sustainability and job-training impact in Washington, see The Technology Express's feature on Microsoft's $5M Washington AI grants.

Focus Area	Example Projects from Awardees	Local Impact
Sustainability	AI wildfire risk assessment, wetlands restoration, smart grid management	Wildfire risk reduction, ecological management in Spokane
Health	AI diagnostic tools, soil decontamination modeling, patient-friendly radiology reports	Spokane healthcare innovation, environmental health
Education/Public Good	AI for K–12 assessment, youth mentorship matching, donation automation	Dropout early warning, improved teacher support, efficient local philanthropy

“Microsoft is excited to support these changemakers using AI to solve challenges and create a brighter future for Washington State and beyond.”

Spokane-based Gestalt Diagnostics has secured $7.5 million in Series A funding to propel the development and adoption of its AI-powered digital pathology platform, PathFlow®.

Led by Cowles Ventures and supported by TVF Funds, Inland Imaging Investments, and KickStart Funds, this investment will support broader market reach, advanced AI enhancements, and critical steps toward FDA clearance for digital diagnostics.

PathFlow® serves healthcare providers, academic centers, and research organizations, integrating seamlessly into existing lab information systems to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses, improved biomarker scoring, and reduced diagnostic errors.

Key features also include AI-powered disease progression analytics, real-time expert collaboration, and secure document sign-outs. As rising cancer cases and pathology workforce shortages intensify demand for streamlined diagnostics, Gestalt aims to set new standards for speed and precision in pathology workflows.

CEO Dan Roark highlighted the company's mission:

“PathFlow is transforming pathology by leveraging robust digital workflows and AI algorithms to support scoring of key biomarkers. This enables organizations to accurately match patients to known therapies and generate rich datasets for research and new drug development. Our technology is designed to improve patient outcomes by enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses and broadening access to clinical expertise.”

For an in-depth look at the investment's impact and future goals, visit the official Gestalt Diagnostics Series A announcement, review a comprehensive funding breakdown on TechNews180's report on Gestalt's expansion, or explore the clinical benefits and product features detailed by Medical Device Network's coverage of the PathFlow platform.

Investment Amount	Lead Investors	Platform Focus	Main Use of Funds
$7.5M	Cowles Ventures, TVF Funds, Inland Imaging, KickStart Funds	AI-powered digital pathology (PathFlow®)	Market adoption, AI upgrade, FDA clearance

Washington State University is taking a bold step toward pandemic prevention with a newly developed machine learning model that predicts animal species likely to harbor viruses transmissible to humans - a proactive approach detailed in WSU's official release on their machine learning model for virus reservoirs.

By integrating both host traits and virus genetics, WSU's tool sets a higher bar for accuracy compared to previous models, enabling more targeted surveillance in regions such as Southeast Asia, equatorial Africa, and the Amazon - areas with high biodiversity but low smallpox vaccination rates.

The model is particularly effective at identifying potential reservoirs of orthopoxviruses, including agents of smallpox and mpox, pinpointing rodents, cats, canids, skunks, mustelids, and raccoons as likely hosts while correctly ruling out known-resistant species.

According to Assistant Professor Stephanie Seifert,

“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 provides a roadmap for efficiently allocating field sampling resources - an essential advancement when tracking new outbreaks in ecological hotspots.

In collaboration with national and international partners through the Viral Emergence Research Institute, WSU's efforts are not only advancing pandemic preparedness but also set the stage for adapting their model to other viral threats in the future.

Learn more about this public health innovation in-depth at Life Science Washington's feature on WSU's predictive virus model and explore the broader role of AI in biomedical research at Washington State Magazine's coverage of AI in health sciences.

Virus Focus	Likely Animal Hosts	Geographic Hotspots
Orthopoxviruses (smallpox, mpox)	Rodents, cats, canids, skunks, mustelids, raccoons (excluded: rats)	Southeast Asia, Equatorial Africa, The Amazon

Spokane Public Schools (SPS) exemplifies the balance of opportunity and caution as artificial intelligence steadily transforms local classrooms. Guided by Washington's statewide AI framework released in 2024, educators now teach not only subject matter but also media literacy and AI ethics - arming students as early as elementary school with critical skills to identify misinformation and responsibly navigate tools like Adobe Express and Magic School.

SPS has adopted tiered AI use protocols for teachers, students, and staff, emphasizing data privacy, ethical use, proper attribution, and the essential human connection in learning.

As SPS educators integrate AI for individualized lesson plans and time-saving differentiation, professional development has also evolved, with AI-powered coaching platforms providing private, personalized reflection and expanding mentoring capacity without overburdening coaching staff.

As District Coordinator Nick Lundberg puts it,

“It's the safest place possible for a classroom teacher - a self-contained reflection on a practice of their choosing.”

Yet, challenges remain, including concerns around cheating, creative authenticity, job displacement, and even energy consumption - AI and data centers already consume almost 2% of global electricity, a figure expected to double by 2026.

The district's approach stands in striking contrast to the nationwide patchwork of bans and pilots, with prominent districts elsewhere still debating blanket restrictions.

For Spokane's tech-forward educators, the answer lies in ongoing dialogue, policy refinement, and continued professional learning. As captured in a recent Inlander feature on Spokane Public Schools AI strategy, and aligned with the most current Spokane Public Schools AI district guidelines, teachers and students alike are learning how to use AI both wisely and transparently.

Meanwhile, Spokane's experience with AI-powered teacher development has even attracted national interest, as detailed in Edthena coverage of Spokane Public Schools AI coach pilot program, which tripled its reach in a single year.

In Spokane, AI is neither a silver bullet nor a threat - but a powerful, imperfect tool that, when handled thoughtfully, expands both access and possibility in public education.

Meta has introduced its new standalone Meta AI app, aiming to rival ChatGPT with a suite of features designed for everyday personalization and productivity - an update likely to grab Spokane residents' attention.

Built on Meta's latest Llama 4 model, the app offers a dedicated AI assistant that remembers your preferences, integrates with your Facebook or Instagram activity, and supports both voice and text interactions for seamless multitasking.

Spokane users will find the powerful Discover feed especially engaging, allowing you to see and share how others are exploring AI prompts, fueling social connectivity and creativity.

Additionally, Meta AI now links with Ray-Ban Meta glasses, making hands-free AI access and real-time translation possible on the go. As of January 2025, Meta AI boasts approximately 700 million monthly active users, with Meta planning to invest $65 billion in AI infrastructure expansion this year, underscoring the company's focus on smart, scalable deployment.

For a feature overview and comparison across leading AI assistants, see the table below:

Platform	AI Model	Key Features
Meta AI App	Llama 4	Personalized responses, voice/text chat, Discover feed, AI glasses integration
OpenAI ChatGPT	GPT-4	Text/voice chat, plugins, code generation
Google Gemini	Gemini	Search integration, multimodal input

Mark Zuckerberg remarked, “2025 is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant.”

For details on Meta AI's features and privacy considerations, read CNBC's coverage of Meta's standalone AI app launch, explore Meta's official announcement of the Meta AI app, and get additional user tips from USA TODAY's detailed breakdown of the Meta AI app.

Alphabet's record-setting Q1 2025 results place the tech giant at the center of both robust AI-driven growth and heightened antitrust scrutiny. With quarterly revenues reaching $90.23 billion and net income up 46% year-over-year, Alphabet attributes much of this momentum to rapid adoption of AI across cloud, search, and advertising platforms - AI Overviews now boast 1.5 billion monthly users and Google Cloud revenue soared by 28%.

This surge in performance comes as Alphabet faces “extraordinary” antitrust proposals in federal court, with CEO Sundar Pichai warning the Department of Justice's remedies - like forced data sharing and a potential Chrome browser divestiture - could “render Google's intellectual property worthless” and threaten further innovation:

“It's not clear to me how to fund all the innovation we do if we were to give all of it away at marginal cost.”

Despite these legal headwinds, Alphabet's AI infrastructure investments remain aggressive, with $75 billion in projected capital expenditure for 2025, spearheaded by new custom TPUs and widespread Gemini AI integration.

Industry analysis highlights the company's “full-stack” AI approach as a strategic advantage for scaling enterprise and consumer solutions globally, while competitors and policy leaders question whether break-up or forced sharing would foster greater competition and security.

The following table summarizes Alphabet's Q1 highlights:

Metric	Q1 2025 Value	YoY Growth
Revenue	$90.23B	+12%
Net Income	$34.54B	+46%
Google Cloud Revenue	$12.26B	+28%
AI Overviews Users	1.5B/month	+50%

For further insight on Alphabet's financial results, see the Futurum Group's CEO analysis on Alphabet Q1 FY 2025 revenue driven by cloud and ads, and for courtroom developments, read the Washington Post coverage on the DOJ's antitrust remedies involving Sundar Pichai testimony.

Washington universities are at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into environmental resilience strategies, particularly in the battle against wildfires and water scarcity.

Washington State University (WSU) recently secured a National Science Foundation grant to lead a multidisciplinary project developing community-centered frameworks and advanced wildfire simulators that factor in power grid vulnerabilities, diverse landscapes, and the realities of climate change.

In parallel, WSU researchers have leveraged machine learning models to study human behavior during wildfire evacuations, providing actionable insights for emergency managers to develop better evacuation plans, with their findings showing that factors like education and prior experience heavily influence response times (read the full study).

AI is also instrumental in water resource management, as presented in recent state and national webinars, with integrated models filling gaps in water usage data to help policymakers assess and address the balance between water supply and demand in the face of changing demographics and climate (discover more environmental AI initiatives).

As WSU's Dr. Ji Yun Lee emphasizes in project updates,

“When we know the values, needs and perspectives of the community, we can incorporate them into engineering solutions.”

Together, these efforts highlight how data-driven science and AI are transforming the Pacific Northwest's approach to environmental challenges.

Spokane's fight against environmental threats is harnessing next-generation artificial intelligence to bolster health and safety across the region, with cutting-edge initiatives targeting everything from wildfires to toxic soil contamination.

At the forefront, ZenaTech's ZenaDrone subsidiary has deployed the autonomous ZenaDrone 1000, equipped with thermal imaging and LiDAR, to detect early-stage wildfires - including during night operations - enabling emergency response teams to intervene sooner and significantly curtailing human patrol costs.

As CEO Shaun Passley stated,

“Wildfires are not slowing down - but with drone technology emergency response and prevention measures can dramatically speed up. As these risks increase globally, demand from governments, insurers, and private sectors is rising - particularly in the dry and hot US West and Southwest areas. We believe the ZenaDrone 1000 is well-positioned to lead innovation in addressing this need with much improved precision and cost-effectiveness.”

This push for rapid detection is paralleled by expansive efforts such as the Google-supported FireSat satellite constellation, set to identify wildfires as small as 5×5 meters within 20 minutes, and by projects like MyRadar and OroraTech, which are integrating AI into fleets of satellites and sensor networks to offer near real-time alerts.

These technological advancements are crucial, as recent analysis reveals that fast-moving wildfires, while making up just 3% of incidents, cause 89% of damage and 66% of deaths nationwide, generating $18.9 billion in suppression costs annually.

For a comparative look at the leading wildfire detection initiatives and their capabilities, consult the table below. Spokane is also leveraging Microsoft's AI for Good grants to combat health risks, such as using geochemistry and large language models to design soil decontamination methods for heavy metal contamination.

Explore more on the ZenaDrone wildfire detection system, the FireSat AI satellite network, and Spokane's locally tailored AI environmental health projects funded by Microsoft's AI for Good grants.

Initiative	Detection Technology	Coverage/Speed	Unique Feature
ZenaDrone 1000 (ZenaTech)	Thermal imaging & LiDAR AI drone	Night operation, on-site, real-time	40 kg payload, DaaS model
FireSat Constellation	AI-powered satellites	Detect fire as small as 5×5 m in 20 min	Planned 50+ satellites, near-global
Microsoft AI for Good (WSU, et al.)	Language models, geochemistry, satellite fusion	Soil/health risk analysis for regional sites	AI-driven solutions for Spokane's toxic soils

Artificial intelligence is accelerating innovation across K–12 and youth mentorship programs in Eastern Washington, driven by a sweeping federal push to transform how students and teachers engage with technology.

A recent White House executive order on advancing artificial intelligence education for American youth established an AI Education Task Force to coordinate efforts across agencies, ensuring early exposure to AI concepts, comprehensive teacher training, and robust support for apprenticeships.

According to national reporting on AI integration in K-12 schools, 2025 is poised to be a watershed year for AI in classrooms, with federal toolkits and growing professional development empowering both educators and students.

In practical terms, AI now supports lesson planning, personalized instruction, and is guiding students toward career pathway exploration. Here's a quick snapshot of progress:

Metric	Recent Progress
Teachers trained in data science (since 2020-21)	2,500 (71,000 hours)
Schools with data science classes	277
Federal guidance/toolkits (pages)	74

Yet, as more districts roll out AI-powered teaching tools, attention must be paid to digital citizenship, security, and ethical use, with experts noting,

“Schools must transition from understanding the efficient use of AI to integrating it responsibly.”

Learn more about the expanded partnerships and the training focus through detailed policy insights at Holland & Knight's analysis on the executive order advancing AI education.

As Spokane's schools adapt, these developments offer both new opportunities and the need for thoughtful oversight in equipping the next generation for an AI-driven future.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping local journalism in Spokane and beyond, offering both opportunities and challenges that reflect broader national concerns.

While AI tools can support journalists - improving workflows, aiding research, and enhancing audience engagement - recent survey data indicate public skepticism is strong: nearly 60% of Americans fear AI will reduce journalism jobs, and a similar percentage have low confidence in AI-generated news content, particularly images and original stories.

As summarized by the Minnesota Journalism Center report on AI and public skepticism, demand for transparency is high, with about half of respondents believing it is "very important" for newsrooms to label AI-generated material, and 58% urging clear ethical guidelines before further adoption.

Some local initiatives seek positive, community-centered AI applications - such as the AI Community Engagement Lab program - demonstrating that, when thoughtfully implemented, AI can help newsrooms expand reach and build trust.

At the same time, the industry is urged to proceed with caution and accountability, a topic highlighted at the 2025 Poynter/AP Summit on AI, Ethics and Journalism, where experts stressed that

“People want disclosure. Their reflexive default is, ‘Tell me when (AI) is being used.'”

This tension between innovation and public trust defines the double-edged impact of AI on journalism, underscoring the importance of ethical implementation as Spokane's newsrooms navigate AI's growing role.

Statistic/Fact	Value
Daily/weekly AI usage (surveyed)	20%
Never used AI (surveyed)	~40%
Believe news orgs use AI	~66%
Low/no confidence in AI use	~60%
Importance of AI use disclosure	~50% "very important"
Support for clear ethical guidelines	58%

As Spokane's tech community navigates the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, local schools and educators demonstrate a proactive, ethical, and resilient approach to innovation.

Spokane Public Schools (AI guidance for Spokane Public Schools) are integrating generative AI by prioritizing privacy, maintaining transparency with clear attribution requirements, and uplifting critical thinking.

Instructors now teach students to examine AI's limitations and fact-check its outputs, as highlighted in candid lessons about media literacy and digital citizenship.

Meanwhile, the region's educators echo a statewide movement, emphasizing that, just as calculators transformed math education without replacing foundational skills,

“AI will not destroy learning,”

fostering a culture where AI complements - rather than replaces - human relationships (AI integration in Spokane and Washington education).

These values are reinforced by ongoing professional development, robust policies, and an embrace of innovation that ensures all students, regardless of background, are supported and not left behind.

As Spokane cultivates a tech-savvy generation, the city stands as a model for responsible AI integration that both values progress and protects community welfare.

For those inspired to join the next wave of ethical technologists, local coding bootcamps like Nucamp offer accessible pathways - with courses in front-end, full stack, and cybersecurity, scholarships for underserved groups, and flexible payment options - to help shape Spokane's resilient digital future (Nucamp bootcamp scholarships and financing options).