AGP Executive Report

Autonomous Farming in Florida: U.S. Sugar is rolling out driverless John Deere tractors in its cane fields, using automation kits and remote monitoring to run around the clock—an early look at how robotics could reshape Florida agriculture. Defense Readiness & Tech: A new GAO review flags worsening F-35 mission-capable rates, and a separate report says the Marines accepted six new F-35s without radar installed, raising questions about readiness and rollout. Biotech & Lab Tools: Cytiva discussed major biotech shifts at BIO—new drug modalities and faster development timelines—driving demand for new equipment and reagents. Local Health Tech Policy: Florida’s new drowning-prevention law expands access to free swim lessons for kids via state-funded vouchers, aiming to reduce high drowning risk in coastal communities. STEM Education Leadership: Hudson Valley Community College named Dr. John Eisler dean of STEM, signaling continued focus on workforce-aligned science and tech programs. Manufacturing Expansion: INKAS plans major North American growth with new armored-vehicle facilities, including a Fort Pierce site, to scale defense and unmanned systems production. AI Learning Resources: Orlando-based Soarce launched Nanocellulose University, an open-access video series to help engineers apply nanocellulose in real formulations. Higher Ed Access Rule: Florida approved a policy barring undocumented students from Florida College System enrollment and adult general education programs, reigniting debate over education access and immigration enforcement. UCF Library Tech Desk Closure: UCF abruptly shut down the LibTech Desk and related downtown library services after a usage/resources review, leaving students to reroute borrowing and equipment needs.

New Florida laws: More than 130 new Florida laws kicked in July 1, including tougher penalties for child abuse and domestic violence, changes to traffic enforcement under “Isaiah’s Law,” and new powers tied to foreign and domestic terrorist designations. Tech & public safety: Florida’s data-center debate keeps heating up—Baker County officials discussed limits on local action as developers expand, while separate reporting highlights how AI-driven data center buildouts are drawing organized theft of copper and equipment. Space & research: NASA is laying out plans for a lunar “Moon Base” at the south pole, aiming for long-duration human presence, and Florida researchers are pushing new tech from adaptive prosthetics to cancer survivorship programs. AI in the real world: A Tesla Autopilot liability case tied to a Key Largo crash leaves a major $243M verdict in place after a judge rejected Tesla’s bid to overturn it. Climate science: A new study warns rising temperatures could push rice beyond historical heat limits, threatening a staple for billions.

Aviation Safety: After the NTSB’s final report on a 2023 Lake Placid crash, safety experts are spotlighting the “Impossible Turn” and how pilots lack usable altitude info during takeoff and early climb—pushing for real-time, audible altitude guidance. College Sports Business: Florida Atlantic’s rise is tied to new Virginia Tech AD Brian White’s dealmaking, including a 2022 multimedia rights pact and a 15-year stadium naming agreement that boosted game-day revenue. Health Tech: Humata Health expands prior-authorization tech with a standalone AI platform for independent practices, aiming to cut denials and reduce manual paperwork. Space & Moon Plans: NASA awarded new Moon lander contracts under CLPS to test tech before Artemis-era astronauts and a future Moon Base. Florida Energy: A report warns Florida’s solar growth could slow as federal tax credits expire, with utilities adjusting long-range plans. AI in Real Life: Airbnb is using anti-party AI to block unauthorized Fourth of July bashes, with Florida seeing high volumes of blocked reservations. Medical Research: UF-led work reports a monoclonal antibody approach showing promise for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome. Public Safety Tech: The Coast Guard recovered a 50-pound marijuana bale off Florida’s panhandle and is urging boaters on how to handle similar finds.

Space Tech in Florida: Blue Origin says it still doesn’t know why its New Glenn exploded on May 28, though early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage; the blast destroyed the rocket and damaged Cape Canaveral’s pad, but rebuilding is progressing. AI & Health: Experts discussed how ctDNA-based MRD testing is moving from promise to practice in solid tumors, with the strongest signals so far in post-treatment settings. Cybersecurity & Data Centers: A report says cargo thieves are targeting data center shipments nationwide, including servers and cabling recovered after multi-state thefts. Privacy & Consumer Tech: Florida’s AG settled with Roku over allegations of collecting and selling children’s data, with Roku set to invest about $25M in child-protection upgrades. Florida Policy & Tech: DeSantis vetoes cut $2.2M in low-income senior funding in South Florida while overall elderly programs get increases. Local Tech Economy: GoDaddy’s 2026 “Most Entrepreneurial Cities” ranks Tampa among top movers as entrepreneurship spreads beyond traditional hubs.

Florida Budget & Tech Funding: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s $117.6B budget while vetoing hundreds of millions in line items, including a $2.5M Santa Fe College M Building renovation aimed at expanding instructional space and launching a fabrication lab. Cybersecurity for Energy: U.S. lawmakers advanced grid cybersecurity bills, including the SECURE Grid Act, pushing better planning and information sharing as demand grows and threats evolve. AI, Safety, and Legal Battles: Florida sued OpenAI over claims ChatGPT helped enable violence tied to the FSU shooting, as the House also passed a kids online safety package setting up a Senate fight. Forensics in the Tech Corridor: FDLE is relocating its Orlando toxicology lab to UCF’s Lake Nona campus to modernize forensic testing and link it with research and workforce development. Local Tech & Data: Airbnb is using anti-party technology for the holiday weekend while Osceola deputies crack down on illegal vacation rental parties. Space & Systems Watch: NASA and partners continue to manage ISS air-leak concerns, underscoring how aging infrastructure still drives mission risk.

Medical Breakthrough: NYU Langone researchers report how acute myeloid leukemia cells enter lungs and trigger scarring, pointing to steroid-like treatment and new drug targets to prevent early respiratory failure. AI & Privacy: Florida and Roku reached a settlement over alleged sale of children’s data, with Roku set to add stronger child protections and parental controls. Consumer Tech Watch: Rental car companies are rolling out AI damage scanners, but customers say the systems can flag dirt or water droplets and lead to surprise bills. Health Tech in Florida: FDA approved United Therapeutics’ LungFX device for centralized ex vivo lung perfusion, aiming to better assess donor lungs before transplant. Climate Resilience: Miami Climate Week 2027 returns for its third year, focusing on practical resilience solutions across South Florida. Energy & Grid Reliability: Florida Power & Light is using advanced lab and failure-analysis tools to understand why equipment fails and test new gear before deployment. Data Centers Policy: A new Florida law takes effect July 1 requiring data centers to cover costs and giving local governments more say. World Cup Tech & Security: Hard Rock Stadium adds a third security perimeter with counter-drone tech and expanded screening for FIFA World Cup 2026.

Space & Rockets: Blue Origin says it’s pushing to relaunch its New Glenn rocket before year-end, with Cape Canaveral launch-pad repairs nearing completion. Higher Ed & Policy: International enrollment is falling, and U.S. universities are warning of program cuts and higher costs; separately, new federal graduate student loan caps are set to reshape affordability for students like a Pembroke Pines resident who says the changes pushed her out of top law schools. Cyber & Fraud: A Florida Bar seminar highlighted how fraud losses keep climbing, with lawyers flagged as high-value targets as “fraud as a service” grows. K-12 Tech & Data: Arkansas school-choice payment vendor ClassWallet is facing criticism over performance and “fragmented” operations, raising the stakes for how education tech handles payments. Florida Community Tech: A Tampa detailing business expanded into window tinting and ceramic coating, adding services and a new location. STEM in Florida: UF’s Florida Museum of Natural History hosted a pollinator-focused community event, tying insect pollination to Florida agriculture and ecosystems.

Pet Tech for Florida Families: Hall County, Georgia installed universal microchip scanning stations at its animal shelter and dog park so lost pets can be identified faster across major chip brands. Local AI in Healthcare: Tampa Bay’s CyberKnife program is expanding with a focus on targeted radiation for hard-to-reach brain tumors, highlighting how AI-era medical tech is changing treatment planning. Education Gains in Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than 60% of Florida students now score on or above grade level in both reading and math, pointing to progress-monitoring results from 2023 to 2026. Data Center Pushback, Florida Style: DeSoto County commissioners approved a data center plan using a PUD approach to address concerns about power, water, and neighborhood impacts. Tech Meets Consumer Wellness: JellyFil, headquartered in Largo, launched its first men’s wellness gummy supplement as it moves from development into commercial availability. Digital Services for Small Business: Gulf To Bay Digital Services expanded its local SEO, website, and AI automation offerings for Pinellas-area small and mid-sized companies.

Space & Tech in Florida: The SpaceX IPO is being framed as a catalyst for the broader space economy, with investors now hunting for public plays tied to lunar infrastructure and Moon-base plans. AI Security: Florida International University researchers describe an image-based AI “jailbreak” method that can bypass safety guardrails, raising new concerns for businesses using image-and-text AI systems. Local Public Safety: Palm Beach County firefighters are among Florida Task Force teams deployed to support urban search-and-rescue in Venezuela after major earthquakes. Sports Tech & Training: The College of the Florida Keys swim program is getting NJCAA Foundation grant support for dryland training equipment to improve strength and stroke mechanics. World Cup in Florida: Legoland Florida is rolling out a FIFA World Cup 2026 Experience with hands-on soccer challenges and LEGO versions of global stars, while South Florida’s World Cup travel and fatigue realities are highlighted as teams push through the knockout stretch. Lottery: Powerball climbs to a $348M jackpot for the June 27 drawing (numbers: 3-16-28-30-59, Powerball 11).

Aviation Tech Update: United pilots reported a near-collision with a drone during landing at Newark, underscoring the growing need for safer airspace management as unmanned systems spread. AI & Infrastructure Policy: Florida’s debate over AI data centers keeps heating up: DeSantis argues residents shouldn’t subsidize power-hungry facilities, even as the state backs incentives to attract them—highlighting a real tension between grid strain and economic growth. Cyber/First Response: Orlando is rolling out drones as first responders, a sign Florida agencies are moving from experiments to operational tech for faster situational awareness. Public Health & Fraud: A major Florida Medicare fraud bust targets nurses, techs, and a lawyer, showing how healthcare systems are being pressured by both scams and enforcement. Space Science: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is arriving in Florida ahead of launch, bringing fresh momentum to astronomy and space tech. STEM in the Community: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue welcomed new EMT scholarship recipients, reinforcing Florida’s push to build local talent pipelines for high-need tech-adjacent public safety roles.

UCF Tech Access: UCF abruptly shut down its popular LibTech equipment-rental desk and related tech lending at multiple libraries, leaving students who relied on free gear scrambling. AI & Kids Online: Australia’s child social-media ban is spreading globally, with more countries following and regulators facing a growing backlash over how to handle youth access. Cybersecurity in the Keys: Monroe County agencies teamed up for the 2026 Keys Cyber Games, practicing threat hunting and incident response to boost local resilience. Space Tech Watch: AST SpaceMobile shares jumped after reports of a planned Rakuten joint venture and a successful BlueBird satellite launch. Healthcare Tech: A new outpatient DISC Surgery Center at Palm Beach opened with an inaugural motion-preserving spine procedure, expanding advanced care locally. Privacy & Surveillance: Florida coverage highlights misuse risks of license plate readers and police surveillance tech, with officials facing charges for tracking people. Education Recognition: Syringa Middle School science teacher Melyssa Ferro was named to the National Teachers Hall of Fame. STEM Workforce: ECU received a $500K grant to help train teachers for rural districts.

AI & Biosecurity: A new report argues advanced LLMs can outperform many human virology specialists on practical lab troubleshooting, raising concerns about easier access to dual-use know-how. AI & Privacy (Florida): Florida AG says Roku will spend $25M to comply with the state’s Digital Bill of Rights after allegations it sold children’s data. Data Centers & Costs (Florida): An FSU expert warns AI-driven data centers could drive billions in utility costs for Florida ratepayers, while another op-ed highlights strain on water, power, and campus life near FIU. Defense Tech: SUNY Poly lands a $61.9M DoD contract to build AI tools for faster, better Army battlefield decisions. Local Tech/Infrastructure: Venice says an airport hotel developer is in lease default and owes $570K, and Southwest Florida counties keep burn bans in place ahead of July 4. STEM/Workforce: NAU launches AI training for healthcare workers to help them build tools using existing health data. Space Coast/Space: Coverage notes launch boom pressures at Kennedy Space Center and Cape infrastructure.

Space Coast Tech & Industry: Florida Economic Development Council’s IGNITE conference put the spotlight on the Space Coast’s “new space economy,” featuring aerospace leaders from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Florida Tech. Healthcare AI: A Medscape report says primary care is where AI will most quickly reshape visits—faster triage, remote monitoring, and AI-assisted workflows that could change the patient experience in just a few years. Medical Data & Video AI: OpenEvidence and JOMI announced a peer-reviewed surgical video partnership aimed at helping clinicians get answers plus the exact technique shown at the right moment. Local Government Tech Access: Florida’s “Department of Government Efficiency” received direct access to Cape Coral’s computer systems to pull financial and personnel information, raising transparency hopes and questions about oversight. Public Safety Tech: The FBI says it’s seized dozens of unauthorized drones around World Cup venues in Miami as counter-drone operations ramp up. STEM in Florida: A Pasco teen launched a free robotics program for younger students through a Girl Scout Gold Award project. Policy Watch: Gov. DeSantis vetoed an e-bike regulation bill citing surveillance and enforcement concerns. Florida Tech Governance: Kirsten Dreggors was re-elected chair of Florida Tech’s Board of Trustees, with four new trustees added in spring.

AI in Education: Reed Hastings says AI could finally make edtech meaningfully different by enabling mastery-based learning, not just digital delivery. Legal AI for Florida: The Florida Bar is partnering with Clio to offer eligible members free access to Clio Work and legal AI training. Data Centers vs. Water: A proposed DeSoto County AI data center is drawing water concerns amid drought, while Haines City has paused a Polk County data center over insufficient water capacity. Power Costs Policy: A House bill would require data-center builders to pay the full cost of power-grid upgrades, pushing costs onto large-load customers. Cybersecurity: Nisos reports North Korean IT workers used AI-backed tactics to submit massive job applications and land interviews/offers. Health Tech: OTraces won a $2M Florida grant for a multi-center prostate cancer early-detection study using proteomic blood tests. Space & Health Forecasting: NASA is working on longer-range dengue risk forecasting for Puerto Rico. Research & Cities: FAU’s I-SENSE is rebranding to reflect broader work across smarter cities, spaces, and health.

Public Safety Tech: Orlando Police rolled out a Drone as a First Responder program, launching Skydio X10 drones from city docking stations to send live video and situational info to officers during qualifying 911 calls. Space & Industry: SpaceX shares slipped slightly in private trading as the company pushes Starship and Starlink milestones. Energy & Resilience: Florida Power & Light detailed 2026 grid upgrades across Sarasota, Manatee and Longboat Key, including storm-secure underground work, stronger main lines for critical sites, and major vegetation trimming. Hydrogen Investment: H2SITE secured a second Series B closing, topping €42M total funding to scale hydrogen production and separation tech for commercial deployment. Health Tech & Fraud: Federal prosecutors unsealed charges alleging a cardiologist approved 63 scans in about 11 seconds before a student athlete later died of sudden cardiac arrest. AI & Youth Privacy: YouTube settled a Florida teen’s social media addiction lawsuit, removing it from a major California trial while other platforms still face court. Local Water Leadership: Emerald Coast Utilities Authority appointed Jason Yarborough as its next executive director.

AI in Healthcare: Florida-based ModMed says its ModMed Scribe 2.0 has been used in more than 1,000,000 patient visits, with a rapid jump from 240,000 visits in March to over 1 million in three months. Pediatric Tech & Devices: OSSIO Inc. secured an exclusive distribution deal with OrthoPediatrics to bring metal-free, bio-integrative OSSIOfiber implants to children’s hospitals nationwide. AI Power Strain: A new UN University analysis warns data centers already use electricity at a “nation” scale and could nearly double demand by 2030, with inference driving most of the energy use—raising fresh pressure on Florida utilities and water planning. Data Center Cost Fight: A bipartisan House bill, backed by Florida Rep. Kathy Castor, would require data center developers to help pay for power-grid upgrades so homeowners and small businesses don’t foot the bill. Local Governance & Tech: Tallahassee mayoral candidates clash over AI data centers and ICE cooperation at a forum, underscoring how tech policy is becoming a core campaign issue. Auto Tech Costs: Reports say sensors and cameras in modern cars are driving up insurance repair bills by making even minor crashes more expensive to fix.