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

West Palm Beach continues to accelerate its emergence as a vibrant tech innovation hub, spotlighted by recent initiatives such as the launch of the AI-powered chatbot "Ask Poli" in nearby Palm Beach, designed to simplify government information access through natural language search (read more on GovTech about the AI-powered chatbot "Ask Poli").

Locally, West Palm Beach's pilot of the Digital Trust for Places & Routines (DTPR) standard increases transparency around public space technologies, fostering community trust and engagement (learn about the DTPR transparency initiative in West Palm Beach).

Complementing these efforts, workforce development programs like RiseUp with ServiceNow are breaking barriers by providing job-ready digital skills and career pathways tailored to diverse learners, supporting the city's tech talent pipeline (explore West Palm Beach's tech workforce development initiatives with RiseUp and ServiceNow).

These local advancements exemplify how West Palm Beach aligns with national AI trends emphasizing innovation, transparency, and inclusivity, positioning the region to thrive amid rapidly evolving technology landscapes.

For aspiring technologists, Nucamp offers flexible AI and tech bootcamps - ranging from AI Essentials for Work to Solo AI Tech Entrepreneurship - equipping learners with practical skills to seize opportunities in this dynamic ecosystem.

The City of Palm Beach has launched "Ask Poli," an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance public service access by providing residents with 24/7 digital assistance for government inquiries and services.

This initiative aligns with a growing trend in local governments adopting AI to meet increased citizen expectations for fast, efficient, and modern communication channels while addressing budget constraints and staffing shortages.

"Ask Poli" utilizes advanced multimodal AI and agentic capabilities, enabling it to understand and respond to complex queries across text, speech, and even visual inputs, reflecting innovations seen in leading AI models such as Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro and OpenAI's GPT-4o.

The chatbot not only delivers immediate answers but also routes more specialized requests to appropriate departments, helping Palm Beach streamline operations and reduce routine workload.

With AI adoption expanding rapidly in the public sector, cities like Palm Beach emphasize responsible and transparent AI use to build public trust while improving service delivery.

This move follows national momentum, as highlighted by OpenAI's introduction of ChatGPT Gov for U.S. agencies, which prioritizes security and compliance suitable for government environments.

For more on the transformative role of AI chatbots in government, see insights on local government AI applications in enhancing public services, the broader progress of generative AI and agentic AI in 2025, and the launch of ChatGPT Gov tailored for U.S. government agencies.

Sinclair Broadcast Group has taken a significant step in enhancing news accessibility by implementing AI-driven real-time translations for local television newscasts, including at WPEC Channel 12 in West Palm Beach.

Powered by Deeptune's advanced software, this technology currently delivers live Spanish audio translations and is expected to expand to languages such as Hindi and Japanese.

Sinclair COO Rob Weisbord highlighted the company's commitment to breaking down language barriers to engage diverse viewers, while Deeptune CEO Tim Lupo emphasized the responsible use of AI to serve public interests.

This initiative follows Sinclair's prior AI use with HeyGen and signifies a broader industry trend, as broadcasters like Fox and E.W. Scripps explore AI applications for multilingual content to maintain competitiveness and enhance viewer experience, despite cautious rollout strategies.

Complementing Sinclair's efforts, XL8 technology has enabled AI-powered real-time Spanish caption translations in U.S. public broadcasting, further illustrating the transformative role of AI in media inclusivity.

As the deployment matures, viewers with NextGen TV capabilities can effortlessly switch language options, underscoring a future where AI-driven multilingual news becomes standard rather than exceptional.

For detailed insights on Sinclair's approach, Deeptune's technology, and industry perspectives, see the original reports from The Desk's coverage of Sinclair's AI translation rollout, TV Technology's overview of AI in broadcasting, and NewscastStudio's report on XL8 real-time captions technology.

ZenaTech, Inc. has officially completed the acquisition of Wallace Surveying Corporation, a respected West Palm Beach land surveyor with 30 years of experience, for $1.3 million on April 3, 2025.

This marks ZenaTech's second acquisition in the Southeast and third nationwide, bolstering its national Drone as a Service (DaaS) portfolio by integrating Wallace's expertise and enhancing access to their advanced ZenaDrone 1000 and IQ series multifunction drones.

The acquisition supports ZenaTech's strategic goal to revolutionize the land surveying industry by leveraging AI-powered drone data collection, management, and mapping capabilities to improve survey speed, accuracy, and reliability for developers, contractors, engineers, and architects.

ZenaTech's DaaS model, which offers subscription or pay-per-use drone solutions, reduces customer costs and operational complexity while expanding services across sectors like construction, agriculture, law enforcement, and search and rescue.

The drone surveying market is rapidly expanding with a projected global CAGR of 19.3% through 2033, driven by technological advances and increased demand for accurate, timely spatial data.

CEO Shaun Passley emphasized this acquisition as a vital step towards creating a scalable national DaaS business that integrates innovation and fosters growth in multiple verticals.

For more details, see the full press release from ZenaTech, the market announcement on MarketScreener, and detailed analysis of industry trends.

The Palm Beach Police Department has launched its cutting-edge Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), a transformative AI-enabled hub designed to enhance public safety across Palm Beach Island.

This state-of-the-art facility integrates live video streams from the town's comprehensive network of AI-powered surveillance cameras, license plate readers, body-worn cameras, and traffic cameras, providing detectives and officers with real-time situational awareness before and during incidents.

According to Sgt. Michael Ogrodnick,

“Once our patrol units turn on their lights, body cameras are activated and their live feeds are displayed on RTCC screens, allowing detectives to monitor events as they unfold.”

Funded in part by a $1.2 million contribution from the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation to upgrade the island's camera infrastructure, the RTCC officially launched in May 2025 following about a year of careful installation and integration.

This technology not only shortens response times and reduces investigative workloads by allowing immediate access to live data but also helps police strategically deploy resources to manage incidents and traffic challenges effectively.

Additionally, the department has recently augmented its public safety arsenal with underwater drones for specialized search-and-rescue missions. Palm Beach's adoption of advanced AI surveillance and communication tools echoes a broader regional trend toward smart policing.

For detailed coverage, visit the WPBF 25 News report on Palm Beach Police's Real Time Crime Center, the Palm Beach Daily News overview of the Real Time Crime Center, and explore the official Palm Beach Police Department website for updates and safety initiatives.

Palm Beach County is set to enhance its disaster preparedness this hurricane season with the rollout of the BEACON (Broadcast Emergency Alerts and Communication Operations Network), an innovative AI-powered emergency alert system developed in collaboration with the University of Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Unlike traditional Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts that often deliver one-time alerts via TV or radio, BEACON offers a continuous, always-on text-to-speech platform that automatically updates critical safety information in multiple languages via local radio, mobile apps, and streaming services - even during power outages or network failures.

This system aggregates data from diverse official sources and ensures real-time, redundant messaging, addressing previous issues in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast where residents missed or received delayed tornado warnings.

With a dedicated 24/7 radio channel and the capacity to provide repeated alerts and localized updates, BEACON aims to significantly improve residents' access to life-saving information.

As Dr. Randy Wright, Executive Director of Media Properties at the University of Florida, states,

“BEACON is a really unique and innovative tool that's designed to work for, and with, the official government agencies that actually do the alerting.”

Currently active in Gainesville and other Florida cities, BEACON is scheduled for launch in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Naples, and Fort Lauderdale within the next three months, bolstering regional emergency communication infrastructure ahead of the 2025 storm season.

For more detailed insights, visit the BEACON Weather Alert System overview, explore how Florida is launching AI-based emergency broadcasts, and see official details at the BEACON system website.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is setting a national precedent by integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools into K–12 education through comprehensive initiatives like the AI Institute, which has trained over 17,000 educators on responsible and effective AI use.

The district's largest-of-its-kind implementation includes deploying Google's Gemini chatbot to more than 105,000 high school students, emphasizing critical thinking and ethical engagement with AI rather than mere reliance.

Teachers use AI to enhance personalized learning, provide instant feedback, and facilitate role-playing exercises, while principals and administrators receive specialized cohort-based training to embed AI into school operations and curricula.

Miami EdTech furthers inclusion by focusing on AI literacy for English language learners and underserved communities, offering registered apprenticeship programs and culturally relevant curricula that equip students with practical AI skills.

This well-rounded approach combines hands-on use, professional development, and efforts to ensure AI tools comply with privacy and fairness standards. As Roberto J. Alonso, M-DCPS school board member, notes,

“Every student should have some level of introduction to A.I. because it's going to impact all of our lives.”

With ongoing support and expansion, Miami-Dade's AI initiatives exemplify how public education can responsibly harness AI to prepare students for the future workforce, as detailed in The New York Times' coverage of Miami's AI classroom integration, the district's official AI Institute program, and Miami EdTech's pioneering AI literacy efforts.

Yellow Tail Tech has launched its highly anticipated Lnx For Jobs program, designed to help individuals without a tech background or degree reskill for high-paying IT roles focused on Linux and AI. This comprehensive training spans 6 to 9 months, combining hands-on learning with mentorship to prepare students for jobs such as Linux System Administrator, DevOps Engineer, and Automation Engineer.

Participants master key skills including Linux system management, scripting, networking, and cloud automation, with dedicated tracks like the Ansible Automation and DevOps on AWS to deepen expertise.

Graduates also gain valuable certification prep for the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) and CompTIA Security+ to enhance job readiness. Yellow Tail Tech's program features personalized career support, apprenticeships, and active job placement assistance, boasting an 82% certification pass rate and up to 73% job placement within 12 months.

As Paloma Vilceus, CEO and co-founder, notes, their approach emphasizes clarity and practical skills to empower career changers:

“With no tech experience, only a goal and many questions, together we built the answers step-by-step focusing on the right skills.”

Offering accessible online courses and eligibility for federal funding, this initiative addresses the growing demand for Linux and AI expertise in today's evolving tech landscape.

Prospective students can learn more and book an introductory call through Yellow Tail Tech's official site to start their reskilling journey and position themselves for remote, high-paying IT roles.

Discover the full details at Yellow Tail Tech's main website and explore the program benefits in-depth on their recent press release.

Following its successful Nasdaq debut in May 2025, Arrive AI is accelerating its global expansion by tripling its workforce with the addition of approximately 40 new team members, primarily based at its Fishers, Indiana headquarters.

The hires will focus on artificial intelligence scientists, software and product engineers, alongside sales and marketing professionals, to support the scaling of its patented Autonomous Last Mile (ALM) platform, which facilitates secure deliveries to AI-powered smart mailboxes via drones, ground robots, or human couriers.

CEO Dan O'Toole emphasized the company's commitment to creating well-paying, innovative jobs locally, stating,

“We're an Indiana-born company and are very pleased to bring well-paying, highly rewarding jobs to the local economy... help shape the future of autonomous logistics.”

Arrive AI is also advancing international partnerships, notably with Skye Air to deploy drone delivery services in India, as well as expanding hospital and specialty pharmacy deliveries in the U.S. Its platform integrates real-time tracking, smart logistics alerts, and advanced chain of custody controls, enhancing efficiency and security across delivery networks.

For further details on this transformative growth and employment opportunities, visit Arrive AI Careers, read the official Nasdaq press release, or explore comprehensive market insights at Stock Titan News.

The Veterans Health Venture Studio, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and prominent partners such as Microsoft and MIT Hacking Medicine, is advancing innovative AI-driven healthcare solutions aimed at improving outcomes for Veterans.

Central to these efforts is the upcoming Veterans Health Hackathon 2025, a three-day event in Tampa designed to unite multidisciplinary teams equipped with generative AI tools and VA's de-identified data to tackle pressing challenges such as improving timely access to care, optimizing operations, and enhancing coordination between VA and community partners.

Complementing this initiative, the VA's National Artificial Intelligence Institute (NAII) has established itself as a leader in healthcare AI by launching targeted pilot programs like the AI Tech Sprint - which encourages the creation of AI tools to alleviate clinician burnout through improved clinical documentation and record integration (VA Artificial Intelligence Vision Statement, VA AI Tech Sprint Competition).

Moreover, the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center incorporates advanced technologies such as telehealth, barcode medication systems, and secure personal health records (My HealtheVet) to support Veterans locally, showcasing the region's active participation in this transformation (West Palm Beach VA Medical Center Technology).

These initiatives underscore a concerted effort to combine AI innovation, expert collaboration, and regional healthcare infrastructure to enhance Veteran care accessibility, efficiency, and quality across Florida and beyond.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence could eliminate half of all white-collar jobs in the U.S., highlighting a looming shift in the labor market that is already influencing hiring trends across industries.

Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Farley emphasized the growing importance of skilled trades amid a decline in tech hiring by nearly 50% since 2019, remarking,

“Artificial intelligence is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.”

He advocates for a renewed focus on vocational training, citing critical shortages with an estimated 600,000 factory and nearly 500,000 construction worker deficits.

This perspective aligns with similar concerns from leaders at JPMorgan and Amazon, who are planning workforce reductions tied to AI adoption. However, some industry figures like Nvidia's Jensen Huang offer a more optimistic view, anticipating AI will reshape rather than eliminate jobs.

Recent labor market data underscores these changes: white-collar job postings declined 12.7% year-over-year in Q1 2025, reflecting a realignment toward efficiency and automation.

The automotive sector exemplifies this trend, with major manufacturers such as General Motors and Tesla conducting significant layoffs to accelerate AI integration and digitization.

Given these dynamics, workers and educators face pressing questions about preparing for a future where AI will significantly restructure employment landscapes.

For a full analysis, see the detailed reports from Business Insider on Ford CEO's AI job warnings, Yahoo Finance on AI's role in tech layoffs, and Fortune's coverage of AI, skilled trades, and labor shortages.

West Palm Beach continues to solidify its position as a burgeoning innovation hub, blending significant tech industry growth with strategic educational investments to navigate the future of AI and technology.

The area now hosts over 2,100 tech companies driving advances across AI, sustainable energy, fintech, and urban mobility, contributing $26.4 billion to the local economy and creating more than 15,000 jobs since 2018.

Landmark initiatives, such as Vanderbilt University's upcoming graduate campus focusing on AI, data science, and business, underline the region's commitment to fostering talent and research, promising an economic impact of $7 billion over 25 years.

The city's flourishing startup ecosystem - from Blue Biofuels' sustainable aviation fuel innovations to Triangulate Labs' AI-driven healthcare diagnostics - demonstrates a potent mix of sustainability, health, and AI entrepreneurship.

Local government and private sectors collaborate to address infrastructure and workforce challenges, with AI-enabled services like the multilingual “Ask Poli” chatbot enhancing civic engagement and the BEACON emergency system improving public safety.

For aspiring technologists, Nucamp's diverse bootcamps offer practical pathways into AI, cybersecurity, web and software development, and tech entrepreneurship, supporting West Palm Beach's evolving workforce needs.

In this dynamic environment, proactive adoption of AI and strategic partnerships position West Palm Beach not only as “Wall Street South” but also as a resilient, tech-forward community ready to lead in the next wave of innovation.

Learn more about the top startups driving West Palm Beach's tech boom, explore Palm Beach County's rise as a national innovation hub, and see how Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work bootcamp prepares professionals to thrive in this cutting-edge landscape.