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

This week marks a transformative moment in AI and tech developments across Waco and Texas, highlighted by significant educational advancements and strategic partnerships.

Texas A&M Engineering's entry into OpenAI's NexGenAI consortium positions the university as the state's exclusive leader in advancing generative AI literacy and innovation in higher education, supported by resources including funding and API access (Texas A&M Engineering's NexGenAI Partnership).

Meanwhile, Austin's Alpha School demonstrates pioneering AI-driven education by integrating AI tools to reduce academic hours while enhancing learning efficiency, a model expanding nationwide this fall (Alpha School's AI-Driven Educational Approach).

On the federal front, the U.S. Department of Education's latest guidance and a national AI action plan emphasize responsible AI use in K-12 and higher education, promoting equity, personalized learning, and teacher training while aligning with President Trump's AI educational priorities (U.S. Department of Education's AI Education Guidance).

These developments underscore Texas's pivotal role in AI integration across academia and policy, reinforcing the importance of AI literacy and ethical adoption as foundational skills for future careers.

For those seeking to build practical AI skills applicable in any workplace, Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp offers a comprehensive 15-week program accessible to all backgrounds.

Robinson Independent School District (Robinson ISD) in Texas is set to enhance campus safety this fall by integrating advanced AI-powered security software into its existing network of approximately 300 cameras across all district campuses.

The system, developed by VOLT AI's AI video camera software, provides continuous 24/7 monitoring with real-time detection capabilities for weapons, physical altercations, large crowd gatherings, medical emergencies, and suspicious objects.

Unlike traditional cameras, this intelligent solution shifts security efforts from a reactive to a proactive stance by sending human-verified alerts within seconds to security personnel, enabling swift intervention before incidents escalate.

David Wrzesinski, Robinson ISD's Director of Safe Schools, highlighted the ease of integration, stating they connected and went live in under two weeks without purchasing additional hardware, illustrating the cost-effective enhancement funded partly by grants.

The AI system also features precise 3D facility mapping to pinpoint threats' exact locations, further accelerating response times. As the first district in the region deploying such technology, Robinson ISD is setting a new standard for school security, balancing safety with minimal disruption to learning environments.

For more on this pioneering security upgrade, see the detailed KWTX report on AI security cameras in Robinson ISD and the KCENTV coverage of Robinson ISD's AI security system implementation.

Texas A&M University's Mays Business School has forged a groundbreaking partnership with Perplexity AI, providing students, faculty, and staff enterprise-level access to Perplexity's AI-powered search engine, designed to enhance research and academic efficiency.

This collaboration, the first of its kind at a university, integrates Perplexity's Enterprise Pro features - including Bing-powered external research and proprietary data insights - into campus-wide learning, aligning with Mays' commitment to fostering AI literacy and innovation.

As part of its AI-forward strategy, Mays is launching an Artificial Intelligence and Business minor in Fall 2025, offering courses in generative AI, machine learning, and deep learning, alongside AI-focused undergraduate business plan and doctoral dissertation competitions sponsored by Deloitte Foundation.

Texas A&M also participates in OpenAI's NexGenAI consortium to promote responsible generative AI use across disciplines. While some students express concerns about overreliance on AI potentially dulling critical thinking skills, university leadership emphasizes responsible, ethical AI adoption to prepare graduates for AI-integrated careers.

Assistant Dean Arnold Castro notes,

“We want to be known as the university that's putting AI first and making AI-ready students.”

This initiative positions Texas A&M as a pioneer in higher education's AI landscape, balancing innovation with careful consideration of AI's educational impact.

Learn more about this partnership and AI programs at Texas A&M Mays AI Initiatives, read local perspectives on AI's role in student learning at KXXV News on AI in Aggieland, and explore detailed reporting on the Mays-Perplexity collaboration at The Battalion's Coverage.

LSPS Solutions has secured a significant contract with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to deliver scalable AI solutions to over 230 public sector entities, including the city of Waco.

This five-year partnership enables municipalities across 16 counties to accelerate digital transformation with pre-approved procurement, reducing costs and project timelines.

LSPS specializes in integrating AI to improve government operations such as intelligent chatbots for citizen services, predictive maintenance for infrastructure, and AI-powered emergency response analytics.

The company's human-centered design approach customizes solutions to each city's workflow and regulatory needs, aiming to make government services more efficient and transparent without replacing staff.

LSPS's leadership, including President Lynn Short, emphasizes their mission

to help communities operate smarter and more efficiently

, backed by successful projects in cities like Victoria and Brazosport.

As part of the NCTCOG TXShare program, this contract offers a streamlined process for municipalities to adopt cutting-edge AI tools, marking a transformative step toward smarter governance in Texas.

Learn more about LSPS's AI municipal solutions at their official NCTCOG contract announcement, the detailed Morningstar coverage of the award, and the Yahoo Finance report on contract scope.

Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone AI app powered by its advanced Llama 4 AI model by Meta Platforms, marking a strategic move in the intensifying AI race against competitors like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Designed to offer a highly personalized assistant experience, the app leverages data from users' Facebook and Instagram profiles to tailor responses, remember preferences, and maintain conversational context, primarily available to users in the U.S. and Canada.

The app features a voice-first interface with an innovative full-duplex voice demo, image generation and editing tools, and a socially integrated Meta AI Discover feed for sharing and exploring AI prompts where users can share and explore AI prompts, enhancing community engagement.

Integration with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses enables seamless switching between devices, syncing conversations across platforms. While the app currently lacks real-time web access and faces some limitations in accuracy, it represents Meta's push to mainstream AI with a consumer focus, supported by an extensive AI infrastructure investment projected to reach up to $65 billion in 2025.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions this technology transforming daily interactions, with Meta AI poised to reach over a billion users this year. Industry observers note that Meta's vast user data and platform ecosystem provide a unique advantage in delivering deeply personalized AI experiences, reshaping social media and digital assistance landscapes.

For more details, visit the announcement on TechCrunch's coverage of Meta's AI app launch and official insights from Meta's official newsroom announcement.

A recent General Assembly report on tech hiring and layoffs reveals a complex landscape in tech employment amid AI advancements, with 54% of tech hiring managers anticipating layoffs within the next year and 45% identifying roles replaceable by AI as most vulnerable.

Yet, 69% believe AI will spur demand for new roles, and 76% see strong potential to upskill or reskill affected workers. Daniele Grassi, General Assembly CEO, warned,

“We're on the precipice of an unprecedented skills crisis... It's time to get AI skills to every employee.”

Companies prioritize retaining high performers, top talent, and employees with AI-related skills, with key technical demands focusing on AI development, cybersecurity, and data analysis, while soft skills like strategic thinking, problem solving, and adaptability grow essential.

Notably, 93% of firms are investing or planning investments in workforce reskilling to close widening skills gaps. Meanwhile, industry leaders embracing AI-driven workforce changes like Microsoft and CrowdStrike illustrate how layoffs often accompany strategic pivots towards AI efficiency, balancing staff reductions with increased AI infrastructure spending.

A related survey by HR Dive on AI skills and layoffs confirms this trend, emphasizing that workers without AI skills or with outdated competencies face greater risks, while those proficient in AI tools remain indispensable in this evolving job market.

This dual reality underscores the urgent need for strategic AI upskilling programs to navigate the AI-driven transformation of tech employment.

Nextech3D.ai has successfully migrated its flagship MAP Dynamics event management platform to Amazon Web Services (AWS), marking a significant leap in scalability, performance, and AI-driven innovation for the event technology sector.

This fully cloud-hosted migration enables rapid deployment of advanced features such as AI-powered matchmaking, integrated ticketing, real-time attendee analytics, and augmented reality navigation, enhancing user engagement and ROI across diverse event types including corporate trade shows, music festivals, and food expos.

CEO Evan Gappelberg emphasized that the transition to AWS not only delivers enterprise-grade reliability, near-zero downtime, and robust security with AI-enhanced anomaly detection, but also positions Map Dynamics as a scalable, AI-native platform capable of global expansion with region-specific optimizations.

The company's financial results highlight gross profit margins exceeding 95%, solidifying MAP Dynamics as a high-value, efficient SaaS business with recurring revenue.

Strategic hires targeting new verticals complement this growth trajectory. Nextech3D.ai's detailed upgrade announcement and the comprehensive AWS migration report reveal the strategic importance of this move, while industry coverage from Proactive Investors underscores the platform's market potential and AI-driven differentiation.

This migration empowers Nextech3D.ai to deliver scalable, intelligent event solutions, catering to over 500 annual events with 50,000+ exhibitors and more than one million attendees, reflecting its growing footprint in global event technology innovation.

A recent nationwide study by Common Sense Media reveals that nearly 72% of U.S. teens have engaged with AI companions, with over half using these platforms regularly for various purposes including social interaction, emotional support, and role-playing.

While 31% of teens find conversations with AI as satisfying or more so than with real friends, significant concerns arise from the growing dependency on such technology during critical developmental stages.

These AI companions - platforms like Character.AI and Replika - often elicit emotional attachment, but researchers warn they can produce harmful content, encourage risky behavior, and replace essential human connection.

As James P. Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, emphasizes,

“AI companions are emerging at a time when kids and teens have never felt more alone... this generation is replacing human connection with machines.”

Moreover, a substantial portion of teens chooses AI for serious conversations and shares personal information, despite widespread distrust: about 50% of teens do not trust advice from AI, and 64% doubt that tech companies prioritize their well-being.

Experts caution that these platforms pose unacceptable risks, especially for younger adolescents vulnerable to emotional manipulation, and recommend that minors avoid AI companions until stronger safety measures are in place.

For further insight into these findings and recommendations on AI use among youth, read the full Common Sense Media report on how and why teens use AI companions, the detailed social AI companions risk assessment, and the CBS News coverage on teens' increasing AI usage for companionship.

On July 23, 2025, the Trump Administration unveiled America's AI Action Plan, a 25-page blueprint focused on securing U.S. supremacy in artificial intelligence through aggressive deregulation, infrastructure investment, and international competition.

Central to the plan are three pillars: accelerating innovation by removing regulatory barriers and expanding AI workforce development; building robust American AI infrastructure including data centers and semiconductor manufacturing; and leading in global AI diplomacy by exporting U.S. AI technologies to allied countries while restricting access to adversaries.

Notably, the plan adopts a deregulatory approach that excludes references to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and misinformation from AI risk frameworks, aiming to promote “ideologically neutral” AI systems as mandated in an executive order on preventing “Woke AI” in federal procurement.

Federal funding incentives are conditioned on states limiting restrictive AI regulations, supporting a uniform national standard over a patchwork of state laws.

While the plan encourages open-source AI adoption and rapid retraining for displaced workers, experts express caution regarding its environmental policies and the potential eclipse of nuanced AI bias mitigation.

As U.S. firms grapple with a shifting legal and geopolitical landscape, the plan's emphasis on streamlined permitting and enhanced export controls aims to bolster American competitiveness amidst a global AI race, especially with China.

For businesses and public sector actors alike, vigilance and adaptation will be key to navigating the Plan's evolving directives and opportunities. Learn more about the comprehensive policy framework and its implications for workforce and industry at the Consumer Finance Monitor's in-depth analysis.

In a pivotal ruling from Austin, Texas, a federal jury sided with Intel, affirming that the company holds a legitimate license to patents asserted by VLSI Technology through a 2012 agreement with Finjan Inc., both entities controlled by Fortress Investment Group.

This decision, overseen by U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, hinges on the "common control" clause in the licensing contract, effectively linking VLSI's patents to Intel's license and challenging previous multi-billion-dollar infringement awards against Intel.

VLSI, which formed after the agreement's execution and operates as a special-purpose entity, contested this interpretation, but the jury accepted Intel's argument that Fortress's governance of both companies activates license protections.

This verdict potentially undermines earlier jury awards totaling over $3 billion to VLSI for alleged patent infringements and may lead to dismissal or reduction of those judgments as courts deliberate further.

The extended legal battle highlights complex intellectual property strategies involving patent monetization by investment firms like Fortress, now predominantly controlled by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company.

Intel's strengthened position in this longstanding semiconductor dispute reflects on how corporate structures and licensing agreements impact major tech patent litigations.

Read more about the Austin jury ruling, dive into Bloomberg Law's detailed coverage, and explore Tom's Hardware analysis of the case.

Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB) has partnered with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to enhance sustainability efforts by installing four AI-powered recycling bins developed by SmartSort Technologies.

These intelligent bins, located in Terminals D and E as well as DFW headquarters and Department of Public Safety, utilize cameras and AI to scan disposed items, offer instant feedback on proper sorting via interactive screens, and track recycling data to promote transparency and accountability.

This initiative builds on CCSWB's prior success deploying 21 SmartSort units at major events like the 2023 NCAA Women's Final Four Tournament, reflecting the company's broader commitment to environmental responsibility, including its milestone of using 50% recycled PET in its bottles nearly a decade ahead of schedule.

Robert Horton, Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at DFW, emphasized,

“The introduction of AI-powered recycling bins enhances the traveler experience and reinforces our efforts to create a more sustainable airport through innovation and technology.”

Abraham Tueme, CCSWB's Director of Sustainability, added,

“It takes time to create meaningful change... Installing SmartSort units at DFW Airport allows us to advance recycling efforts in our community in a way that benefits both travelers and the local environment.”

Together, this partnership exemplifies how integrating smart technology into public spaces can foster better recycling habits and a cleaner environment.

For further details, visit Business Wire's coverage of AI-powered recycling bins at DFW Airport, learn about the collaboration between CCSWB and SmartSort Technologies, or explore the sustainability initiatives at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The AI landscape in Waco and the broader Texas region is rapidly expanding, reshaping education, public safety, and professional training. McLennan Community College is pioneering practical AI use in campus libraries through tools like ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, Elicit, and ResearchRabbit to enhance research efficiency and digital accessibility, supported by clear AI policies emphasizing responsible use.

Meanwhile, Robinson ISD plans to deploy AI-powered cameras for enhanced security by fall 2025, demonstrating AI's growing role in community safety.

Baylor University integrates AI into classrooms and research, offering extensive resources and guidelines to foster ethical, transparent AI adoption. This educational emphasis parallels the thriving cybersecurity job market in Waco, projected for 35% growth by 2031, where AI skills are increasingly valued in sectors like healthcare and finance.

Local institutions provide certifications and training addressing AI integration, cloud security, and ethical hacking to meet this demand. For individuals aiming to capitalize on AI's momentum, Nucamp offers tailored bootcamps such as the AI Essentials for Work program - teaching practical AI skills in 15 weeks - and the Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur program, enabling learners to launch global AI startups in just six months.

These programs, accessible with flexible financing and scholarships, align with Texas's ambition to lead in AI innovation. Together, these developments underscore a transformative moment for Waco and Texas, where AI is not only a technological tool but a catalyst fostering education, safety, career growth, and entrepreneurial opportunity across the community.