Emerging Tech

The Beta District’s new executive director lays out the nascent Central Ohio ecosystem’s vision for growth in areas like mobility and agriculture. The sectors, he said, “are definitely tied together.”

A National Integrated Ballistic Information Network van, one of just two such mobile units in the country, gives police better access to information on firearms used in crimes. In service less than three months, it has already generated leads.

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, which serves residents in two Northern California counties, is using the devices at all its bus stops to identify vehicles that are illegally parked. The program began Wednesday.

As the U.S. becomes more diverse, emergency call centers are responding to more non-English speakers. Prepared and its competitors are using AI to power more capable, real-time translation.

Residents of the Buckeye State gained the ability Wednesday to add their driver’s licenses to their Apple Wallets — and more than 75,000 had done so by late Friday, the state said.

A report on trends in the public sector reveals state and local government IT departments are looking to implement ITIL best practices and ITIL-aligned tools to better serve citizens.

Similar to cities and states, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration recommended governments be open toward artificial intelligence — but called for risk monitoring in larger AI models.

The company behind the cryptocurrency mine, Blockfusion Ventures, is exploring powering the endeavor by a nuclear microreactor. A “technical assessment” of “advanced power supply systems” for its data center is on the way.

The Midwest state is the fifth in the nation to enable residents to take their licenses digital. But officials said Wednesday that does not replace a physical ID — which is still needed for driving and interacting with law enforcement.

The California Department of Human Resources has released professional development courses in generative artificial intelligence. The classes were created with InnovateUS, which worked with New Jersey on similar courses.

The Alabama Blockchain Study Commission, created by legislative resolution in May, met for the first time Tuesday. State lawmakers, and public- and private-sector representatives chose its leaders.

The National Association of Counties’ AI Exploratory Committee has released a report for local governments on integrating artificial intelligence. It offers use cases, and examines risks and opportunities.

Tulsa Innovation Labs has received a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to develop an innovation hub that will look at ramping up advanced manufacturing for autonomous systems, from agriculture to transportation.

Technology execs are critical of state Sen. Scott Wiener’s Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act. The San Francisco Democrat said Thursday it is narrower than the European Union AI law.

The group, established in March by legislation, will have its first meeting Friday and discuss how the Pacific Northwest state can foster artificial intelligence while ensuring it is controlled.

The technology company joins Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI and others in agreeing to voluntary measures around artificial intelligence. These will include testing AI systems for security flaws and risks.

The proposed bill is the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act. It would regulate “development and deployment of advanced AI models,” in part by creating a new regulator, the Frontier Model Division.

The site, long home to steel manufacturing, is expected to land billions in investment from California-based tech company PsiQuantum, which is working to build the first commercially viable quantum computer.