This Month's Latest Tech News in Winston Salem, NC - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Winston-Salem is experiencing a pivotal month in technology and innovation, marked by dynamic events and record-setting growth. The city's renowned LAUNCH 2025 accelerator program for digital healthcare breakthroughs is accepting applications to propel advancements, particularly in AI-powered care navigation and digital tools for clinical trials.

Meanwhile, the Innovation Quarter is abuzz with the Techstars Startup Weekend focused on AI and Life Sciences in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter, convening thought leaders, students, and entrepreneurs to ignite new ventures in just 54 hours.

The Founders' Journey 2025 event further bridges research and commercialization, offering free resources for early-stage founders backed by the National Science Foundation.

According to recent figures, Winston Starts has supported 98 startups to secure $138 million in funding, generate $31 million in revenue, and create 316 jobs since December 2024.

“We have already surpassed the job growth of the previous decade over the last four years and continue to make strides in optimizing our workforce pipeline.” - Mark Owens, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.

For a comprehensive look at the Triad region's community, economic, and tech momentum, explore deeper insights in Business North Carolina's Triad and Carolina Core economic and technology overview.

Winston-Salem has welcomed a new era of personalized, tech-driven fitness with the grand opening of The Exercise Coach on South Stratford Road this May. This cutting-edge gym leverages artificial intelligence and bio-adaptive, electromagnetic equipment to deliver efficient, customized 20-minute workouts, revolutionizing the exercise experience for busy professionals, those in injury recovery, and individuals seeking tailored training in a comfortable environment.

Each session begins with AI-driven fitness assessments and bio-data collection, allowing the equipment to adapt resistance in real time based on a client's unique strength profile, which helps maximize results while minimizing injury risk.

The interactive workout resembles a video game, where members aim to keep their output within a targeted range on screen. As co-owner Kirsten Dunn explained,

“It's a way that we can give very tailored and customized exercises to folks in a way that makes them feel comfortable and helps them progress week over week without hitting plateaus.”

Rather than replacing personal trainers, the AI system serves as a powerful support tool, enabling progression and safety.

With over 200 studios nationwide employing this innovative approach, The Exercise Coach stands at the forefront of integrating health, convenience, and advanced technology in fitness.

Discover more about how AI is powering Winston-Salem's high-tech Exercise Coach studio, explore personalized workouts driven by Exerbotics technology, or locate The Exercise Coach studio nearest you.

The Winston-Salem Police Department is making significant strides in public safety by implementing advanced AI-powered surveillance through a widespread deployment of Verkada License Plate Recognition (LPR) and multisensor cameras.

With over 2,000 integrated cameras protecting more than 253,000 residents across 133.7 square miles, the department's Real Time Crime Center leverages smart analytics to reduce criminal investigation time from days to minutes.

As Lieutenant Ben Jones explains,

“A more informed officer makes better decisions. We provide as much real-time intelligence as possible to detect, deter, and solve crime.”

By pairing LPR with multi-lens sensors at intersections, officers gain a unique four-way view - something unmatched by competing solutions - which has led to improved response during shootings, homicides, and missing persons cases.

Integration with Fūsus allows the department to incorporate community-owned cameras for expanded coverage, while AI-powered search helps pinpoint vehicles of interest based solely on objective characteristics like color and model, minimizing mistaken identity.

According to recent data, this approach has led to quicker suspect apprehensions and greater accuracy, as video tags now link directly to associated footage for additional context.

Looking forward, the department aims to increase camera density and harness emerging AI features such as real-time vehicle tracking and natural-language video searches.

For more insights on how Winston-Salem's data-driven policing is transforming community safety, see the department's in-depth case study on real-time analytics and LPR deployment (Winston-Salem Police Department real-time analytics case study), explore Verkada's comprehensive smart policing solutions for real-world public safety impact (Verkada AI-driven law enforcement security systems), and review an industry-wide perspective on the benefits and ethics of AI in policing (AI in Law Enforcement: Benefits and Implications article).

Winston-Salem hospitals are transforming heart health through a wave of new wearable technologies, AI imaging tools, and data-driven research partnerships. Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center now leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze cardiac strain, enabling earlier diagnoses of heart disease and providing physicians deeper insight from routine scans; the system has enhanced patient care for at least five years, breaking down barriers in cardiac diagnostics (AI-enabled cardiac diagnostics at Novant Health Forsyth).

Meanwhile, a $1 million research collaboration between Novant Health, UNC Health, and the UNC School of Medicine is funding groundbreaking studies such as portable, AI-powered prenatal ultrasound devices, and AI-supported strategies for opioid stewardship after surgery - both with a focus on rural and underserved communities (Regional research expanding AI in care).

On the patient front, smartwatches are flagging irregular heart rates, with follow-up AI-enhanced CT scans at Novant Health allowing for noninvasive, rapid detection of blockages and heart disease; the technology can merge multiple phases of the heart cycle into detailed 3D images, delivering unprecedented clarity for clinicians and quick, confident recoveries for patients (AI and wearable tech accelerate heart care).

As Dr. Robert Preli, Novant Health cardiologist, explains,

“We're trying to intervene at a lower risk with shorter recovery.”

This coordinated push for innovation is reducing hospital stays, lowering readmission rates, and making lifesaving heart care more accessible across Winston-Salem and beyond.

Piedmont Advantage Credit Union (PACU), headquartered in Winston-Salem, has promoted Robert Payne to Chief Technology Officer, signaling a bold step in their technological evolution.

With over 30 years of tech experience and a decade leading PACU's IT department, Payne is focused on fortifying cybersecurity, streamlining digital banking experiences, and leveraging automation and AI to maximize efficiency and member satisfaction.

President & CEO Dion Williams praised Payne's leadership:

"Robert has a clear vision for how technology can enable innovation and preserve the human connections that make our credit union so unique. His leadership has been instrumental in building a technology strategy that puts our members first and empowers our employees to serve with confidence and ease."

Payne prioritizes a seamless, resilient digital infrastructure, and recognizes the importance of human-centered service, stating, "No technology can replicate the relationships, trust and sense of belonging that define who we are.

That's priceless, and it will always be our priority." PACU's commitment to innovation is underscored by its strong regional roots and expanding branch network.

To learn more about Payne's vision and background, visit the official press release on Robert Payne's CTO appointment.

Triad Business Journal also takes a deeper look at how tech upgrades aim to benefit both members and staff in their recent career & workplace spotlight on Robert Payne.

For a wider industry context and technology stack details, see the latest PACU company overview and tech adoption comparison.

Winston-Salem's housing outlook is undergoing major change as local builders tap into the power of robotics and artificial intelligence, led by Durham-based startup BotBuilt.

The company's AI-driven robotic systems automate the labor-intensive process of framing and assembling housing components, with the goal of slashing construction costs and project timelines - potentially reducing days or weeks of framing to just a few hours.

According to the Triangle Business Journal article on BotBuilt's innovations, BotBuilt co-founder Brent Wadas aims to cut housing construction costs in half, addressing both affordability and the acute labor shortage (industry data show over half a million more jobs are needed nationwide).

As described in Offsite Builder's profile of BotBuilt's robotic framing technology, BotBuilt's robots use adaptable software to fabricate custom wall panels from digital house plans and deliver them for rapid on-site assembly.

This approach not only streamlines labor but also improves safety, minimizes onsite waste, and ensures higher quality control. Wadas notes, “We have to help humans through augmented labor sources, and the most cost-effective way to do that is through automated techniques.”

“We're automating construction so everyone has a safe, beautiful, and affordable home.”

In addition to boosting home availability, BotBuilt's expansion - backed by $12.4 million in seed funding and partnerships with top builders - is helping Winston-Salem remain competitive amid a wave of upcoming major development projects in Winston-Salem citywide.

Here's a snapshot of BotBuilt's impact:

Metric	Detail
Homes built to date	About 10
Cost savings	Up to 50% (target)
Seed funding raised	$12.4 million
Framing time	From weeks to hours

As AI in construction continues to evolve, Winston-Salem's commitment to affordable, efficient housing is set to transform neighborhoods and support sustained economic growth.

For a deeper dive into the technology and its regional impact, visit BotBuilt's official website.

Amid economic uncertainty, Winston-Salem's small businesses are embracing artificial intelligence to build resilience, boost productivity, and create jobs. According to the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, 72% of small business owners using AI tools reported increased productivity, while 61% saw higher revenues in the past six months - a testament to AI's tangible impact on local ventures.

Beyond automating content creation and marketing, AI helps owners streamline customer service, manage recruitment, and gain actionable insights for smarter decision-making.

Tools like GoDaddy Airo™ have powered notable job creation, with each published website generating an average of 20 new jobs per county and even contributing to local unemployment reduction.

Despite these promising trends, 38% of microbusiness owners identified a lack of AI knowledge, highlighting the need for further education to unlock the technology's full potential.

As economist Alexandra Rosen notes,

“Small businesses already create seven jobs per entrepreneur on average. AI presents an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen local and national economies by launching businesses faster, creating jobs, and growing local economies.”

For a snapshot of the data:

AI Adoption Outcome	Reported Impact
Increased Productivity	72% of AI users
Higher Revenue	61% of AI users
Job Creation per Website (per county)	20 jobs (22 urban, 4.2 rural)
Sales Increase (Airo + Online Store)	Up to 43%
Lack of AI Knowledge	38% of microbusiness owners

Learn more about these trends and their economic implications in the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab survey on AI adoption, explore the detailed report on AI-driven job and economic growth, and see how entrepreneurs like Walton Goggins are integrating AI to efficiently launch and scale businesses in challenging economic times at Fredericksburg.com's coverage of AI in small business.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have unveiled a groundbreaking AI-powered technology that detects dangerous blood clots in real time, marking a pivotal advance in cardiovascular medicine.

By integrating frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) microscopy with artificial intelligence, doctors can now non-invasively monitor platelet activity and clumping - key indicators of clot risk - directly from a standard arm vein blood sample rather than relying on invasive arterial procedures.

As shown in clinical trials involving over 200 patients, this method enables direct, immediate assessment of antiplatelet therapy effectiveness and provides personalized insight into clotting risk for those with acute and chronic coronary syndromes.

According to Dr. Kazutoshi Hirose,

“Our technology can help doctors see how each individual's platelets are behaving in real time. That means treatments could be adjusted to better match each person's needs.”

Detection Method	Invasiveness	Real-Time Data	Precision
Traditional (catheterization, ultrasound)	Invasive/Indirect	No	Moderate
AI-FDM Microscopy	Non-invasive	Yes	High

While the technology is still in early research phases and requires miniaturization for widespread use, its potential to transform diagnostics, optimize therapy, and reduce preventable strokes and heart attacks is significant.

Read more on the pioneering AI-driven blood clot detection breakthrough, explore expert perspectives and technical comparisons at Tokyo Scientists Pioneer Non-Invasive Blood Clot Detection, and delve deeper into the clinical impact and future adoption hurdles in ScienceDaily's detailed report on real-time platelet tracking for heart health.

Bank of America is solidifying its regional fintech leadership with an ambitious $4 billion investment in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for 2025 - a move representing nearly a third of its total tech budget.

The bank's signature AI-driven virtual assistant, Erica, has handled more than 2.5 billion interactions and now serves 20 million active users, with adoption rising 7% year-over-year.

Internally, over 90% of BofA's 213,000 employees leverage the Erica for Employees tool, which has reduced IT service desk calls by more than 50% while boosting staff efficiency and client service across lines of business.

AI-driven innovations aren't limited to chatbots; BofA's generative AI tools enhance developer productivity by over 20%, streamline client meeting preparations, and analyze call center interactions at scale for actionable feedback.

In 2024 alone, BofA's digital channels saw 26 billion interactions (a 12% increase), while digital sales climbed to 55% of all transactions. This data-centric, pragmatic approach extends to BofA's robust patent portfolio - nearly 7,400 patents overall, with more than 1,200 focused on AI and machine learning.

As Chief Technology & Information Officer Aditya Bhasin noted,

“AI is having a transformative effect on employee efficiency and operational excellence.”

For a detailed breakdown of BofA's digital engagement growth and Erica's achievements, see the official Bank of America AI adoption press release, this illuminating Bank of America $4 billion AI investment coverage, and the year-end digital interactions summary report.

Medisafe has announced the launch of VIA (Voice Intelligent Agent), a pioneering AI-powered voice assistant designed to close the $5 billion gap in pharmaceutical patient support and dramatically transform how specialty brands engage with patients.

Unlike traditional chatbots, VIA uses human-like, multilingual voice calls to proactively guide patients through onboarding, medication adherence, and benefit access - without requiring additional apps or portals, helping address the reality that only 3% of patients currently utilize costly support programs.

The new solution integrally connects with brand hubs, CRM systems, and healthcare workflows for seamless, rapid implementation (in as little as 30 days), allowing providers to offer timely, empathetic voice outreach, reduce enrollment friction, and improve overall outcomes.

As Rotem Shor, Medisafe's co-founder and CTO, explained:

“VIA is the missing link between support programs and the patients who need them. It is the voice that turns confusion into clarity and how we make patient support human again at scale.”

Research shows that digital health interventions like VIA can mirror successes seen at major health systems - Mayo Clinic reduced readmissions by 40% and Cleveland Clinic achieved 94% triage accuracy with AI. For an in-depth look, read Medisafe's official announcement on VIA's AI voice technology supercharging patient engagement and discover how VIA fits into the broader evolution of digital healthcare in the expanding healthcare ecosystem with digital capabilities.

For industry perspectives and further feature details, see AI Insider's coverage of Medisafe's VIA voice assistant launch.

North Carolina is moving rapidly to modernize internal auditing and government oversight through artificial intelligence, with Winston-Salem and state agencies at the forefront.

This spring, State Treasurer Brad Briner launched a pioneering 12-week pilot partnering with OpenAI to responsibly leverage AI for analyzing public finance data, enhancing oversight of unclaimed property, and streamlining audits for over 1,100 local governments.

As Briner noted,

“The big issue with AI in state government ... is how do you ensure data privacy for non-public data in the context of using AI? That's a big, thorny, complicated question, but we wanted to see if we could get tremendous productivity out of this tool by applying it only in the divisions where we don't use private data.”

For comparison, Pennsylvania reported an average 95-minute daily time savings per user in similar initiatives.

Legislation such as Senate Bill 474, now advancing through the General Assembly, proposes to use AI in the Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency to audit agency performance and recommend improvements, sparking both bipartisan support and debate over employee impacts and transparency.

Meanwhile, the accounting sector across North Carolina is also undergoing a significant transformation: Gartner predicts that by the end of 2025, 90% of finance functions will use AI, with leading firms implementing robust governance, strict data privacy, and cloud-based solutions for secure, highly automated audits and financial analysis.

For a detailed overview of these statewide developments, see the North Carolina agency's OpenAI pilot harnessing AI for public finance, the progress of Senate Bill 474 on AI auditing in North Carolina government, and how North Carolina's best tech-forward accounting firms are harnessing AI for secure, data-driven governance.

As Winston-Salem closes out a transformative month, the city continues to accelerate its tech-forward momentum through impressive collaborations, funding milestones, and educational leadership.

Regional innovation flourished with NCInnovation's recent approval of $13.6 million to support 17 university R&D projects, including AI-powered tools for agriculture, healthcare, and VR nurse training led by Winston-Salem State University - a move expected to bolster both health outcomes and workforce development across the state (NCInnovation R&D investment advances diverse research).

Meanwhile, Wake Forest's launch of an AI resource hub and community-guided guidelines emphasizes ethical, inclusive adoption of generative AI in academia, setting a values-driven foundation for the city's educational and operational use of emerging technologies.

As Provost Michele Gillespie noted,

“These guidelines reflect the very best of Wake Forest - our collaborative spirit, our commitment to whole-person education, and our drive to prepare students for meaningful lives and careers in a rapidly evolving world.”

These developments are mirrored by celebrated digital transformation efforts: the HBCU ‘Smart City' Challenge at Winston-Salem State University saw students pioneering real-world tech solutions for urban issues, further nurturing local tech talent and civic impact (HBCU students innovate for North Carolina cities).

Notably, a $100 million U.S. Department of Energy investment into Forge Battery strengthens North Carolina's position as a leader in clean energy manufacturing and job creation, while partnerships with local schools and nonprofits ensure that economic benefits reach deep into the community (Forge Battery's expansion fuels tech job growth and sustainability).

Together, these initiatives highlight Winston-Salem's commitment to inclusive growth, ethical innovation, and preparing residents for future-ready careers - with local resources like Nucamp's bootcamps and scholarships poised to help community members seize these new opportunities.