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

Stockton's tech scene is accelerating alongside California's AI momentum, as the state increasingly deploys generative AI (GenAI) to enhance key services. In June 2025, Governor Newsom announced expanded AI initiatives targeting traffic management, roadway safety, and customer service, with Caltrans leveraging Microsoft and Deloitte technologies to predict congestion and improve safety for vulnerable road users, while the Department of Tax and Fee Administration pilots GenAI for faster taxpayer support.

As explained in Government Technology's overview of the GenAI expansion, these projects are part of a larger strategy to streamline government operations and lead tech innovation.

Meanwhile, the California Frontier AI Working Group's recent report urges transparent AI model development and robust risk assessments to safeguard public interests amid rapid digital transformation.

Stockton's local leadership is also emphasizing balanced budgets and public-safety priorities during this AI-driven evolution, a dialogue captured in recent citizen portal updates.

As intelligent systems roll out, Stockton is poised to shape, and be shaped by, California's tech-driven future.

Governor Gavin Newsom's recent intervention has sent ripples through California's AI policymaking, as he urged the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to avoid heavy-handed AI regulations that could threaten the state's leadership in tech innovation.

Newsom's letter to the CPPA cautioned that strict rules targeting automated decision-making technologies may trigger

"significant unintended consequences and impose substantial costs that threaten California's enduring dominance in technological innovation,"

emphasizing the need for clarity and balance between privacy protection and fostering growth POLITICO article on Newsom warning privacy watchdog on AI.

The draft regulations under debate would require businesses to provide pre-use notices, allow some opt-outs, and conduct risk assessments - aligning closely with Europe's GDPR, but potentially surpassing current US norms Fisher Phillips overview of California's proposed AI rules.

This has drawn stark opposition from business leaders and tech companies concerned about a chilling effect on innovation, while labor and advocacy groups argue the protections are vital to guard against discrimination and unchecked profiling.

The Brownstein AI policy report captures this policy crossroads, describing the Newsom administration's push for

"balanced, evidence-based AI regulation"

and voluntary industry compliance - while noting that legislative momentum may still steer toward stricter oversight and possible ballot initiatives in 2026 Brownstein policy insights on California's AI direction.

As the debate continues, the outcome will likely shape not only California's legal landscape but also set benchmarks nationwide.

California is launching the largest generative AI pilot in state government history, rapidly deploying AI-powered tools across critical agencies to improve efficiency and public services.

As announced by Governor Newsom, these initiatives leverage leading-edge models - including Microsoft Azure Open AI, Anthropic's Claude, and Google-backed Gemini - to reduce highway congestion, enhance road safety, and streamline taxpayer support.

In a landmark move, the state awarded $1 pilot contracts to five tech firms for a secure six-month testing period, ensuring responsible oversight without accessing confidential data.

Notably, Caltrans uses GenAI to swiftly analyze sensor and camera data, predict traffic bottlenecks, and prioritize safety interventions, while the Department of Tax and Fee Administration employs AI assistants to help staff navigate over 16,000 pages of tax code and improve call center responsiveness.

Dr. Vladimir Filkov, a UC Davis AI researcher, noted,

“This technology is the best new thing since sliced bread,”

but also stressed the importance of trust and strong guardrails.

The following table summarizes current GenAI projects:

Department	AI Vendor / Tech	Main Application
Caltrans	Accenture (Azure Open AI), Deloitte (Gemini)	Traffic analysis, congestion prediction, roadway safety
Tax & Fee Administration	SymSoft (Claude by Anthropic)	Assisting staff with taxpayer inquiries, real-time reference
Health & Human Services	Various	Multilingual access to health/public services

This pioneering approach positions California as a national leader in public sector AI innovation, with ambitions to expand further into housing, workforce planning, and bill analysis by summer 2025.

For comprehensive details and official statements, see the Governor's press release on California's generative AI government rollout, in-depth coverage from ABC10 on AI efficiency across state agencies, and analysis of traffic applications by GovTech's report on Caltrans AI pilots.

This month, the FDA's approval of adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) marks a turning point for Parkinson's treatment in Stockton and beyond. aDBS - commercially launched as Medtronic's BrainSense Adaptive system - uses real-time brain signal monitoring and AI-enhanced algorithms to deliver electrical stimulation only when needed, personalizing therapy to patients' unique and fluctuating symptoms.

Clinical trials such as the ADAPT-PD study, covering 68 patients across multiple continents, demonstrated that aDBS significantly improved symptom control, reduced side effects, and shortened programming time by 85% compared to traditional continuous DBS. As Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart of Stanford University notes,

“Adaptive deep brain stimulation will help revolutionize the approach to therapeutic treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease. The transformative personalized care we can achieve through automatic adjustment greatly benefits patients receiving therapy that adapts to their evolving needs.”

Patient stories highlight dramatic quality-of-life improvements: reductions in medication burden, restoration of motor function, and decreased brain fog.

Meanwhile, global advancement continues, with Newronika's AlphaDBS earning CE Mark approval in Europe. The table below compares key features of leading aDBS platforms:

Manufacturer	System Name	FDA/CE Approval	Personalization Method	Programming Time Reduction
Medtronic	BrainSense Adaptive DBS	FDA (US), CE (EU)	Real-time brain signal monitoring (LFP)	85%
Newronika	AlphaDBS	CE (EU)	Dynamic neurophysiological feedback	Not specified

Explore further on the FDA's landmark approval of BrainSense Adaptive DBS technology, learn about local patient experiences and AI's role in personalized brain stimulation, and see how Medtronic's innovation is reshaping Parkinson's care nationwide.

Saia's Stockton hub is at the forefront of trucking innovation, taking the spotlight in the upcoming North American Council for Freight Efficiency's (NACFE) “Run on Less – Messy Middle” demonstration with its battery-electric Tesla Semi day cab tractor.

Starting September 8, 2025, this three-week event unites 13 North American fleets to showcase long-haul trucks powered by diesel, natural gas, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells, examining real-world operational data across these four powertrain types.

As described by NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth,

“The Messy Middle is a time when fleets can choose from a variety of powertrain solutions and other efficiency enhancing technologies.”

The initiative aims to help fleets navigate this transitional period by collecting transparent performance metrics via Geotab telematics, all published live for industry-wide insights.

Below is a snapshot of the participating fleets and their chosen powertrain solutions:

Fleet & Location	Truck Model & Type	Powertrain Technology
Saia (Stockton, CA)	Tesla Semi day cab	Battery electric
Albert Transport (Laredo, TX)	Freightliner Cascadia sleeper	Diesel
Frito-Lay (Topeka, KS)	Volvo VNL sleeper	B99 biodiesel
Kleysen Group (Edmonton, AB)	Kenworth T680 sleeper	Natural gas
Pilot Travel Centers (Bloomington, CA)	Hyundai XCIENT day cab	Hydrogen fuel cell

This collaboration not only underscores Stockton's leadership in green logistics but also provides valuable benchmarks as the trucking industry explores zero-emission solutions.

For further details on the full lineup and innovative goals of the event, see the in-depth overview from ACT News, the official announcement by NACFE, and additional market context at FleetOwner.

Nautilus Data Technologies, renowned for pioneering water-cooled floating data centers in Stockton, has taken its sustainable approach global with the launch of EcoCore, a modular infrastructure solution now being deployed at Start Campus's 495MW megascale facility in Sines, Portugal.

This collaboration marks a breakthrough in zero-water consumption liquid cooling, enabling high-density, AI-ready data halls to operate with minimal environmental impact.

The EcoCore system, which consists of prefabricated 2.5MW blocks, integrates advanced Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs) each capable of rejecting up to 833kW of heat, along with robust power redundancy, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and scalability.

As Start Campus's CEO Rob Dunn highlights,

“The innovative cooling offer will drive our infrastructure's efficiency and green credentials to new heights, allowing us to meet our clients' evolving needs with unparalleled precision and reliability, while staying true to our founding principle of sustainability.”

The partnership's next phase will add 120MW of capacity, continuing the mission of advancing ecological standards across the data center sector.

For further details on the technology and deployment, see the official announcement on Nautilus and Start Campus's multi-megawatt agreement, a detailed look at Nautilus's EcoCore modular launch, and an overview of the project's eco-friendly ambitions.

Feature	Details
Core Cooling Unit	EcoCore CDU, up to 833kW heat rejection per unit, zero-water cooling
Initial Block Capacity	2.5MW prefabricated modules
Power Architecture	1250kW 3-phase primary + 1250kW reserve (N+1 redundancy)
Deployment Location	495MW Sines Project, Portugal (Phase 1), with 120MW expansion planned

This month, Stockton's own Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is in the spotlight for collaborating with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) to launch the comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Toolkit for In-House Lawyers.

Released in late April, the toolkit is tailored for in-house legal teams to help navigate the rapid growth of AI, offering practical resources such as sample policies, compliance checklists, and an AI maturity roadmap.

It also addresses emerging challenges in generative AI, from intellectual property and privacy to contract analysis. As Kilpatrick partner Joel Bush asserts,

“In-house legal teams are on the front lines of managing the risks and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence. This AI Toolkit is designed to help in-house lawyers ask the right questions, spot issues early on, guide cross-functional teams, and implement strategies around governance, regulatory compliance, IP ownership, confidentiality, and more.”

Supporting over 48,000 ACC members worldwide, the toolkit and the upcoming June launch of the ACC AI Center of Excellence signal a major step forward in legal AI readiness.

For further insights into the project and Kilpatrick Townsend's innovation leadership, visit the official Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Insights page, and read the legal tech industry's take in Law360's coverage of the new toolkit for in-house counsel.

ACC Membership	Organizations Represented	Global Reach
48,000+	10,000+	100+ Countries

San Jose's commercial real estate market is showing new signs of life as AI companies continue to drive leasing surges at One Santana West, a flagship office tower at Santana Row.

The building, developed by Federal Realty Investment Trust, has recently welcomed AI leaders Etched and Securiti.ai - signing for 49,500 and 10,900 square feet respectively - bringing occupancy to over 80% and shifting the developer's strategy from single to multiple tenants for greater adaptability.

Coupled with recent leases from companies like Couchbase, which relocated its headquarters from Santa Clara to a modern 23,700-square-foot space, and other tenants such as PwC (141,000 sq ft) and Acrisure (29,000 sq ft), One Santana West stands out amid Silicon Valley's 21.8% office vacancy rate, well below the regional average.

The table below highlights key tenants at One Santana West:

Company	Focus	Leased Space (sq ft)
PwC U.S. Group	Professional Services	141,000
Etched	AI Semiconductor Chips	49,500
Couchbase	Cloud Database Software (AI)	23,700
Acrisure	Insurance Technology	29,000
Securiti.ai	AI/Data Security	10,900

“Santana West is ideal for companies seeking a modern and efficient workspace and the deepest set of amenities and services available,”

remarked Federal Realty CIO Jan Sweetnam, emphasizing the building's fitness centers, cafes, and walkable community.

Explore detailed analysis in ConnectCRE's coverage of AI expansion at Santana West, delve into the market impact via The Registry's report on leasing momentum, or learn how Couchbase's move reflects broader industry trends in this SiliconValley.com feature.

Supio, a rapidly growing AI-powered legal platform based in Seattle, has secured $60 million in Series B funding led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Mayfield and Thomson Reuters Ventures, bringing its total funding to $93 million since its 2021 founding by Jerry Zhou and Kyle Lam, both former Microsoft engineers.

This investment will enable Supio to double its workforce, expand its Seattle headquarters, and accelerate development of its core tools - including Supio Assistant, Case Signals, and Litigation Drafting - which streamline case data analysis, automate document review, and power mass tort litigation for firms like Thomas Law, Daniel Stark, and Whitley Law.

The rise in AI-driven legal tools is mirrored by industry-wide trends, with 79% of legal startup funding since 2024 - nearly $2.2 billion - directed toward AI-enhanced platforms, and Supio joins a cohort of well-funded peers like Clio, Harvey, and Luminance.

As Supio's CEO Jerry Zhou put it,

“AI has created a major inflection point for the legal industry... If Excel transformed finance 30 years ago, AI will do the same for legal knowledge workers.”

For more on Supio's latest milestone, visit the TechCrunch feature on Supio's funding and expansion, read the official press release from Supio, or explore industry trends in AI legal tech investment on Crunchbase's legal tech funding analysis.

The competitive legal tech landscape is transforming quickly, with AI platforms promising to cut manual review hours, boost firm productivity, and deliver higher settlements for clients.

California is at the forefront of deploying artificial intelligence to streamline public services, with this month marking a major rollout of generative AI tools in agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).

These advancements were enabled by Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order, which prioritized efficiency and customer engagement through innovative technology.

The CDTFA, for example, is piloting the Claude AI assistant to swiftly search over 16,000 pages of reference materials - helping staff provide faster, more accurate responses to taxpayer inquiries by phone and live chat, and minimizing the need for workflow disruptions during peak seasons.

In addition, AI implementations at the DMV aim to reduce customer wait times and expedite services, while Department of Transportation projects use AI to analyze traffic, reduce congestion, and enhance roadway safety.

As Governor Newsom declared,

“GenAI is here, and it's growing in importance every day. We know that state government can be more efficient, and as the birthplace of tech it is only natural that California leads in this space.”

Early results point to significant staff productivity gains and improved constituent satisfaction, setting a national precedent for responsible, impactful government AI use.

For deeper insights into these transformative government applications, explore the official announcement on California's first-in-the-nation GenAI deployment, see how the citizen-facing AI pilots are reshaping state services in this ABC10 technology feature, and track ongoing pilot programs at GenAI.ca.gov.

Satirical news site The Babylon Bee has drawn national attention to Stockton's place in the AI and free speech debate by lampooning California's new law targeting AI-driven deepfake parodies, following Governor Gavin Newsom's signature on a bill that bans the dissemination of materially deceptive content, particularly around elections.

In response, The Babylon Bee released a parody video and a series of AI-generated images of Newsom, pushing the limits of satire and the new legislation - one segment teases, “Please don't put us in jail.

Yet.” The incident underscores growing tensions between regulation and creative expression, as discussed in The New York Times' exploration of satirical content, misinformation, and platform moderation.

Governor Newsom's rationale for the law was made clear:

“I just signed a bill to make this illegal in the state of California. You can no longer knowingly distribute an ad or other election communications that contain materially deceptive content - including deepfakes.”

The interplay of legislation, technology, and humor spotlights ethical and policy dilemmas around AI-generated content - a topic further contextualized by The Gateway Pundit's coverage of digital creativity and regulatory challenges now rippling through California's evolving tech landscape.

Stockton stands at the forefront of California's transformative tech chapter, as new AI-driven policies and pilot projects shape everything from infrastructure to regulatory safeguards.

In recent months, Governor Newsom's administration has launched first-in-the-nation GenAI technologies across state departments to reduce highway congestion, elevate traffic safety, and streamline customer service - with immediate, practical impacts now visible in communities statewide, underscoring Stockton's proximity to innovation hubs and logistics corridors (California's GenAI Initiative).

Meanwhile, major policy debates continue as the California Privacy Protection Agency retools automation restrictions, striving to balance business agility with citizen privacy - demonstrating how Stockton, like much of the state, must stay agile amid evolving legislation and Big Tech influence (CPPA Automation Fight).

At the federal and state levels, new AI-related bills - addressing deep fakes, algorithmic bias, and AI-generated content safeguards - reflect a regulatory landscape in flux, empowering local cities, including Stockton, to carve their own responsible innovation paths (U.S. Tech & AI Regulatory Update).

As California continues to serve as a testbed for emerging tech and data-driven policymaking, Stockton's commitment to workforce growth, digital literacy, and regulatory engagement secures its place as a vital engine in the Golden State's next technology-powered future.