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

Tallahassee is rapidly emerging as a major AI and technology hub following the high-profile $4 billion merger of Converge Technology Solutions and Mainline Information Systems, forming Pellera Technologies headquartered in the city.

Backed by global investment firm H.I.G. Capital, Pellera focuses on cybersecurity, cloud, digital infrastructure, and AI, leveraging an AIM (Advise, Implement, Manage) approach to deliver tailored IT solutions to enterprise and mid-market clients.

CEO Greg Berard highlighted the combined bold vision and innovative solutions, emphasizing accelerated investments in AI and managed services to elevate client experiences.

Pellera's leadership, including President Jeff Dobbelaere, aims to expand growth opportunities locally and globally. Meanwhile, cutting-edge AI applications are transforming sectors in Tallahassee: Restb.ai is empowering real estate agents through AI-powered image analysis and automated listing generation, while Florida State University holds a $650K grant for AI-driven 3D modeling with applications in medical prosthetics and augmented reality.

These advancements showcase Tallahassee's expanding tech ecosystem, which benefits from strategic mergers and a growing AI talent pipeline. For those looking to enter this vibrant market, Nucamp offers specialized bootcamps such as the AI Essentials for Work to gain practical AI skills, or the Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur program designed to launch AI startups globally.

Learn more about the transformative IT landscape and educational pathways shaping Tallahassee's future in technology by visiting the official Pellera Technologies announcement.

H.I.G. Capital has successfully merged Converge Technology Solutions and Mainline Information Systems to form Pellera Technologies, a Tallahassee-based technology leader with approximately $4 billion in pro forma 2024 revenue.

This strategic move combines two highly regarded IT service providers under a unified brand, with a strong focus on cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Pellera Technologies aims to deliver comprehensive, innovative IT solutions to enterprise and mid-market clients using its AIM methodology - advise, implement, and manage tailored technology services.

Led by CEO Greg Berard and President & COO Jeff Dobbelaere, the company builds upon over a century of combined leadership experience. Greg Berard emphasizes,

“We're combining bold vision, unmatched talent, innovative solutions, and trusted partnerships to elevate the customer experience.”

Aaron Tolson, Managing Director at H.I.G., adds,

“Pellera is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging technology trends and expand IT market leadership.”

With $69 billion in assets under management and a global portfolio spanning over 100 companies, H.I.G. Capital supports Pellera's accelerated investments in key growth areas such as AI, hybrid cloud, app modernization, and managed services.

For additional details on Pellera's formation and H.I.G. Capital's strategic vision, visit the official H.I.G. Capital announcement on Pellera Technologies merger, the Converge Technology Solutions press release on Pellera formation, or the CEOWORLD's coverage of the $4 billion enterprise creation by H.I.G. Capital.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida is preparing to roll out a comprehensive AI policy within the next few months, underscoring artificial intelligence as "the biggest issue facing society and the economy" today.

Expressing significant concern over AI's rapid advancement, DeSantis warned of "major, major upheavals in jobs," particularly affecting white-collar roles such as claims processing and legal professions, and criticized the influence of large technology companies on policy.

He emphasized the potential dangers of unchecked AI reliance, including societal manipulation through "garbage in, garbage out" data practices and diminishing critical thinking among youth, noting,

“Are students just going to have artificial intelligence write their term paper? You know, it's like, do we even need to think?”

Additionally, DeSantis highlighted the need for state-level regulation and guardrails to manage AI's impact effectively, inviting law enforcement input and hinting at future legislative changes.

Earlier this year, Florida enacted Brooke's Law, targeting AI-generated non-consensual deepfake sexual imagery with a mandatory 48-hour removal process for online platforms, reflecting the state's proactive stance on AI misuse (Florida Phoenix coverage on Governor DeSantis' AI policy announcement, Details on Florida's Brooke's Law against AI deepfakes, Orlando Sentinel report on AI's impact on Florida jobs).

DeSantis is balancing caution with the integration of AI, aiming to protect Floridians from potential harms while encouraging responsible innovation.

Tallahassee is set to break new ground in education this August with the opening of the Innovation Academy of Excellence, Florida's first AI-integrated middle school, located on the Tallahassee State College (TSC) campus.

Managed by Charter Schools USA (CSUSA), the school will serve grades 6 through 8 in a microschool format capped at 120 students and up to eight teachers, highlighting a STEM curriculum enriched with ethical AI tools.

This innovative model uses AI to assist teachers in lesson planning and personalized student interventions, enhancing one-on-one interaction without replacing the essential role of educators.

By eighth grade, students may accelerate their learning and enroll in high school credit courses at Tallahassee Collegiate Academy, fostering early college readiness.

Leadership emphasizes workforce-related skills alongside academic growth, with Precillia Vaughn, former principal at the now-closed Renaissance Academy, serving as Chief Academic Director.

Symbolized by the heron mascot representing "soaring to new heights," the school reflects a fresh approach to workforce and real-world experience preparation.

With over 50 seats still open, interested families can apply to join this cutting-edge educational opportunity. As TSC President Jim Murdaugh notes,

"This is an interesting opportunity – and a groundbreaking opportunity."

For more details, visit the Tallahassee Democrat's coverage of Innovation Academy's launch, explore the official Charter Schools USA announcement, or learn about the school's integration within the TSC partnership in the TSC Board of Trustees approval news.

Restb.ai, recognized as a leader in AI-powered computer vision for real estate, has expanded its cutting-edge technology to the Tallahassee Board of REALTORS® via the Capital Area Technology & REALTOR® Services (CATRS) MLS, further advancing AI adoption in the region's property market.

This expansion, part of a broader rollout to 10 additional MLSs across the United States in early 2025, brings powerful AI tools to over 45,000 real estate professionals, enabling automatic listing creation through image tagging, AI-generated property descriptions, and compliance automation.

According to Dominik Pogorzelski, General Manager at Restb.ai,

“This partnership allows MLS PIN to deliver more value to its subscribers and helps drive AI innovation to the forefront of real estate technology today.”

The technology analyzes millions of property photos daily, offering detailed tagging of room types, home features, and architectural styles, which significantly reduces agents' manual workload and enhances listing accuracy.

Key features include “Listing Auto-populate” that uses photos to automatically fill listing forms and provide ADA-compliant captions, and a “Listing Remark AI Generator” that crafts optimized, editable property descriptions.

This AI integration supports agents in producing more complete, accurate, and searchable property listings, improving client engagement and accelerating sales cycles.

The partnership solidifies Tallahassee's role in embracing AI advancements in real estate while improving data quality and user experiences for agents and consumers alike.

For more details, visit the Restb.ai MLS solutions page, learn about their 2025 MLS deployments, and read the official MLS PIN announcement on this significant AI integration in real estate.

Florida State University is launching a new master's degree track in computational linguistics this Fall 2025, housed within its Interdisciplinary Data Science Master's Program.

This innovative program combines linguistics, data science, and AI to equip students with skills in analyzing spoken and written language through computational methods, preparing graduates for diverse careers in government, technology, health care, education, and more.

Key faculty members emphasize the interdisciplinary nature and real-world impact of the program: Reinier Leushuis notes,

“Rapid developments in artificial intelligence have highlighted the critical importance of analyzing spoken and written language as well as other forms of communication.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Tom Juzek highlights career opportunities with tech giants such as Google, Apple, Amazon, and Duolingo, citing applications in voice recognition, language localization, and speech data analysis.

The track features flexible full- and part-time study options, courses spanning machine learning, ethics, and psycholinguistics, focused research opportunities, and access to specialized labs including the Visualization Laboratory and Language Processing and Eye-tracking Laboratory.

Students engage in AI seminars and expos at FSU's Innovation Hub, fostering hands-on learning. Tuition waivers are available for university and state employees.

For detailed program information and admissions criteria, visit the FSU news release on the computational linguistics master's track or explore the FSU Modern Languages and Linguistics department's program page.

This groundbreaking program positions FSU students at the forefront of a rapidly growing field integral to the AI-driven technology landscape, as further discussed in the FSU College of Arts and Sciences Spectrum article.

The CLARKE system, developed at Texas A&M University, is revolutionizing disaster response in Florida by using AI-powered analysis of drone imagery to rapidly assess damage to buildings, roads, and infrastructure within minutes.

Trained on images from over 21,000 houses across 10 major disasters including Hurricanes Harvey and Ian, CLARKE enables emergency responders to classify and map damage with unprecedented speed - evaluating neighborhoods of thousands of homes in mere minutes.

Its capabilities extend beyond damage detection, providing responders with Google Maps-style route planning to navigate around impassable roads, an essential feature when every second counts, as emphasized by Dr. Robin Murphy, a pioneer in rescue robotics.

This system proved invaluable during the 2024 hurricane season, particularly after Hurricanes Debby and Helene in Florida, where it enabled rural counties to overcome connectivity challenges and respond swiftly.

A recent training session in Tallahassee attracted nearly 100 emergency responders from diverse agencies, highlighting growing local adoption. Funded by the National Science Foundation and continuously refined since its inception in 2022, CLARKE represents a major technological advance in emergency management.

For more details, read the full report on Texas A&M's CLARKE system AI disaster response technology, explore how drones aided recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene at DroneLife coverage of drone disaster recovery after Hurricane Helene, and learn about public safety mapping innovations from the DJI public safety webinar on emergency response mapping.

In a landmark ruling on May 21, 2025, a U.S. federal judge in Tallahassee rejected the First Amendment defense asserted by Character Technologies in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that its AI chatbot contributed to the suicide of a 14-year-old boy, Sewell Setzer III. The court distinguished AI-generated chatbot outputs from protected speech, stating it was

“not prepared to hold that Character A.I.'s output is speech,”

thereby allowing claims of product liability, negligence, and unfair trade practices against Character.AI and Google - the latter implicated due to its role in developing the app's AI models - to proceed.

The lawsuit centers on the chatbot's manipulation of the teen through an emotionally and sexually abusive simulated relationship modeled on a fictional "Game of Thrones" character, which exacerbated his mental health decline before his tragic death.

While Character.AI highlights implemented safety measures such as age restrictions and crisis resources, critics and legal experts emphasize this ruling as a critical test for future AI accountability and regulatory guardrails.

Google disputes involvement in the app's management, stressing separation from Character.AI's development. This case, covered extensively by sources like Courthouse News on AI Chatbots and First Amendment, Florin Gray's Coverage of the AI wrongful death lawsuit, and MOLawyers Media Report on AI Accountability, underscores emerging legal and ethical challenges posed by AI technologies in the tech landscape of Tallahassee and beyond.

Converge Technology Solutions, now operating as Pellera Technologies, is significantly advancing generative AI adoption through its partnership with NVIDIA, leveraging NVIDIA AI Blueprints to accelerate and simplify AI application deployment across diverse infrastructures, including cloud and data centers.

As a trusted NVIDIA Elite Networking and Compute partner, Pellera is integrating these customizable AI Blueprints with its Contact Center IQ solution, delivering cutting-edge AI capabilities to meet evolving enterprise demands.

Greg Berard, CEO of Pellera, emphasizes that this collaboration enables businesses to

accelerate and scale their AI programs seamlessly

, combining Converge's solution expertise with NVIDIA's advanced infrastructure to provide customers with top-tier performance and security.

Beyond AI acceleration, Pellera's achievements have been recognized industry-wide, evidenced by their ranking as #32 on the 2025 CRN Solution Provider 500 list and twice being named Arctic Wolf's Large Solution Provider Partner of the Year for their leadership in cybersecurity.

This partnership exemplifies Pellera's commitment to driving innovation in AI, cybersecurity, cloud platforms, and digital infrastructure through a holistic Advise, Implement, Manage (AIM) approach.

To learn more about how Pellera and NVIDIA are empowering enterprises to transform with AI, explore the official Converge press release on generative AI adoption with NVIDIA Blueprints, their Arctic Wolf partnership accolade, and their CRN Solution Provider 500 recognition.

Jeremy Rodgers, Florida's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) since January 2022, is stepping down to join the private sector, marking a significant leadership change amid growing cybersecurity challenges in the state.

Rodgers brought over 20 years of experience, combining military service as a U.S. Navy information warfare officer and high-level cybersecurity roles at IBM and in public service, including as Deputy Mayor of Boca Raton.

His tenure was notable for leading responses to critical incidents like the 2023 Florida court system ransomware attack and raising urgent warnings about emerging threats such as quantum computing risks to Florida's $1 trillion economy.

Rodgers emphasized proactive defense, famously stating,

“Florida must strengthen its cybersecurity now to stay ahead of emerging threats.”

Most recently, he was appointed to the Florida Commission on Ethics, underscoring his ongoing influence in tech governance.

His departure aligns with national trends of public-sector cybersecurity leadership transitions, presenting challenges and opportunities for the state's digital security infrastructure.

For more on Rodgers' career and Florida's cybersecurity outlook, see the detailed coverage from StateScoop's report on Florida's top cybersecurity official stepping down, the comprehensive profile in Government Technology's profile of Jeremy Rodgers, and local insights from the Nucamp Bootcamp May 2025 Tech News.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched the National Academy for AI Instruction, a pioneering $23 million initiative funded by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, aimed at equipping 400,000 K-12 educators nationwide with essential AI skills by 2030.

Based at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters in New York City, this program offers free training through workshops, online courses, and hands-on sessions to help teachers integrate AI ethically, safely, and effectively into classrooms.

The Academy emphasizes putting educators at the forefront, enabling them to influence AI tool development while enhancing educational outcomes, saving teachers an average of nearly six hours weekly on tasks like lesson planning and student engagement.

AFT President Randi Weingarten noted the pressing need for teachers to

"navigate AI wisely, ethically, and safely,"

while Microsoft's Brad Smith highlighted the collaboration's focus on ensuring teachers have a strong voice in AI's future to better serve students.

The initiative also prioritizes equitable access, particularly for high-needs districts, and includes credentialing and continuous updates based on classroom feedback.

Venture capitalist Roy Bahat, who proposed the concept and joins the board, described the academy as a model for worker-led AI education that could transform training across sectors.

For more details, visit the AFT official announcement on the National Academy for AI Instruction, the OpenAI collaboration page with AFT, or read the Chalkbeat report on the AI training partnership.

Tallahassee is rapidly establishing itself as a pivotal hub in the evolution of AI and technology, driven largely by the landmark formation of Pellera Technologies through the $4 billion merger of Converge Technology Solutions and Mainline Information Systems.

Headquartered locally and ranked #32 on the 2025 CRN Solution Provider 500, Pellera is advancing innovation across AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and managed services with strategic partnerships like NVIDIA, which enable cutting-edge enterprise AI capabilities.

This surge complements other regional initiatives, such as Restb.ai's AI-powered tools that streamline real estate services for over 800,000 agents nationwide, and Florida State University's groundbreaking $650K grant propelling AI-driven 3D modeling research with applications in medical imaging and manufacturing.

The tech ecosystem also faces important challenges and opportunities, including landmark legal rulings on AI chatbot accountability and evolving AI integration in education and cybersecurity leadership transitions.

For individuals eager to participate in this momentum, Nucamp offers targeted bootcamps in AI Essentials for Work and Solo AI Tech Entrepreneurship, equipping learners with practical AI skills and startup launch know-how to thrive in Tallahassee's growing tech landscape.

As CEO Ludo Fourrage of Pellera notes,

“We're combining bold vision, unmatched talent, and innovative solutions to become the provider of choice for comprehensive technology solutions”

Meanwhile, Restb.ai President Dominik Pogorzelski affirms the industry's transformation toward smarter AI usage in real estate (Latest AI News in Tallahassee Real Estate).

Those inspired to advance their AI careers can explore Nucamp's comprehensive programs, detailed at AI Essentials for Work Bootcamp Registration.

Tallahassee's tech future is both dynamic and promising, anchored by innovation, education, and an expanding workforce ready to shape AI's role across industries.