AGP Executive Report

Space Tech: NASA says the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will launch Aug. 30 from Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, about nine months early, aiming to map billions of galaxies with wide-field panoramic surveys. Autonomous Mobility: Robotaxis are expanding fast—Waymo opened Dallas to the public, Zoox plans paid rides in Las Vegas, and Tesla is rolling out more robotaxi service areas in parts of Florida and Texas. Public Safety Drones: ArcherFRS is backing Hillsborough County’s EMS-driven whole-blood drone delivery program with Tampa General Hospital and OneBlood, targeting trauma scenes with drops in under three minutes on average. Cybersecurity & Water: A multi-state cyber campaign is targeting operational tech at U.S. water utilities, with reports of disruptions like low pressure and boil-water advisories raising the stakes for critical infrastructure security. Local Tech & Infrastructure: North Port will host an Aug. 19 town hall at Suncoast Technical College to discuss transportation, public safety, emergency preparedness, and utility upgrades. Sports Tech in Florida: Diadem Pickleball Complex in Panama City Beach opens with “smart courts” using AI cameras and match review via PlaySight.

Meta Child-Safety Ruling: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay another $567M after finding Instagram/Facebook design choices (autoplay, infinite scroll, push alerts, “like” counts) can be psychologically harmful to teens, including orders to curb push notifications and default settings for under-18 accounts. AI in Schools: 98 U.S. high school students drafted a national K-12 AI policy framework, the “STUDENTS FIRST Act,” calling for human judgment, opt-out rights, and protections for the learning process. School Tech & Safety: Georgia approved a “Campus Guardian Angel” pilot using anti-shooter drones plus an app for situational awareness—an early look at how tech is being folded into emergency response. Cybercrime Crackdown: The FBI-linked CBI says it dismantled an international tech-support fraud ring using fake call centers and pop-ups to push victims into crypto payments. Florida EV Funding Fight: Florida transportation officials want to redirect nearly $197M in federal EV charger money toward charging and landing pads for electric air taxis, fueling a debate over whether public funds should fix today’s gaps or bet on future travel. Florida Tech & Policy: The week also included more pressure on how states regulate tech in education and data systems, alongside broader scrutiny of surveillance tools.

AI in Healthcare: Mayo Clinic researchers in Florida used AI to design a small molecule aimed at an “undruggable” pancreatic cancer protein region, slowing tumor growth in lab models and setting up next steps toward safety studies. Surveillance & Privacy: Gainesville police chief Nelson Moya told city leaders there’s no identified misuse of Flock license-plate camera data, while Central Florida residents report more vandalism of the devices amid ongoing debate. Local Tech Policy: Lee County supervisors moved to hire specialized legal counsel to shape future ordinances for data centers and other major economic projects. STEM & Learning: Texas A&M explored how AI tools can support earlier, more connected design decisions in architecture and engineering workshops. Florida Education Rules: Florida’s Department of Education is drafting stricter citizenship/lawful-presence documentation requirements for postsecondary career and technical programs, with a public workshop set for Aug. 18. Space & Space Coast: NASA continues assembling Orion at Kennedy Space Center as Artemis III work advances. Mobility Tech: A new report explains how self-driving cars work and why they’re still evolving.

Space & Defense: Blue Origin says it found the cause of New Glenn’s May explosion at Cape Canaveral: a faulty main oxygen valve on a BE-4 engine, and it’s modifying the valve for quick retrofits. Space Science: A new study led by a University of Florida researcher argues a massive molecular gas streamer can tilt the planet-forming ring around GW Orionis, helping explain why exoplanet orbits get chaotic. Health Tech & Public Health: Leprosy cases are rising in Florida, with officials tracking why the rare disease is spreading and how to reduce risk. AI in Finance: Tavant is integrating its TOUCHLESS AI mortgage automation with Dark Matter’s Empower loan origination system to speed underwriting and reduce handoffs. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Port Canaveral has started a $95M Cruise Terminal 10 expansion, adding space and upgrading security screening ahead of a November 2027 finish. Water & Environment: FAU won an EPA grant to build AI-guided, 3D-printed phosphorus-removal structures from sargassum to help prevent harmful algal blooms. Privacy & Surveillance: Florida sheriff’s offices have purchased Meta smart glasses, raising new concerns about officer recording and public notice.

School Safety Tech: Broward County could soon deploy Campus Guardian Angel drones that can pepper-spray and rush toward a shooter in seconds, but the district says the pilot is still being planned and hasn’t authorized specific capabilities. AI in Health: Mayo Clinic researchers, using AI, report an experimental small-molecule inhibitor aimed at an “undruggable” cancer target (GIPC1), showing promise against pancreatic tumors in lab studies. Space Updates: NASA confirmed SpaceX rocket debris impacted the Moon safely, enabling scientists to study a new crater; separate reports also track a predicted Falcon 9 upper-stage collision. Cyber & Privacy: A lawsuit alleges Google shared bulk U.S. consumer data with Chinese firms including Baidu and Temu, citing a federal “bulk sensitive data” rule. STEM & Environment: University of Miami and partners are using “coral IVF” to restore damaged reefs in the Florida Keys. Local Education Support: Suncoast Credit Union Foundation donated $10,000 for scholarships for 2026 graduates entering Miami-Dade career and technical colleges. Community Skills Training: A Florida nonprofit Techtonic Training Lab is helping adults with disabilities become electronics repair technicians.

Space & Defense: NASA at Kennedy Space Center has integrated Orion’s crew and service modules for Artemis III, while Boeing and Northrop Grumman tested new in-flight command-and-control teaming between the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton drones. Privacy & Data Tech: A Florida federal judge dismissed a pixel tracking class action after finding the claims didn’t clear the bar for class certification, and a separate report highlights how bogus takedown claims can bury key information in search results. AI & Jobs: Multiple pieces focus on how AI is reshaping hiring for new grads, with employers increasingly demanding AI-ready skills. Florida Education & Construction Tech: UF opened an Autodesk-funded robotics lab for industrialized construction, aiming to ease housing shortages with BIM, digital twins, AI, and automated building methods. Policy & Elections: A Florida-linked science voting op-ed argues this fall’s elections are a referendum on science education and public policy. EV Infrastructure: Emobi and OmniTrust announced a partnership to push secure Plug & Charge adoption across charging networks. Local Tech in the News: Kissimmee begins Quiet Zone rail-crossing upgrades next week, with train horns required during construction.

Trauma Tech in Florida: Tampa General Hospital is rolling out first-in-the-nation drone delivery of whole blood to trauma scenes, aiming to cut transport times to under 3 minutes across a 70-square-mile area in Hillsborough County. Space & Science: A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage launched from Florida is set to crash into the Moon, with NASA saying it poses no danger to Earth. Wildlife Research: Florida Atlantic University researchers using long-preserved whale stomach samples identified three new Helicobacter genotypes in pygmy sperm whales, spotlighting a hidden health issue. AI in Education: A growing number of universities are tightening academic integrity rules as AI detectors face false positives and bias concerns, pushing schools to rethink how they handle suspected cheating. Local Tech Governance: Lee County supervisors are seeking specialized legal counsel to help craft ordinances for data centers and other major economic development projects. Public Safety Tech: Sarasota County plans a year of high-visibility enforcement focused on pedestrian and bicyclist safety at multiple crash-prone intersections.

AI Safety & Governance: The White House is set to meet with top AI firms to expand federal safety testing for advanced models after reported hacks tied to OpenAI and Hugging Face. K-12 Tech Policy: Florida Sen. Rick Scott is pushing the Safeguard Kids Act to teach students about AI risks, while Florida lawmakers question whether AI should be used to review SNAP eligibility. School Security Drones: Florida is rolling out a pilot that installs drones inside schools as an early warning layer against active shooters. Coral Reef Recovery: Reef Renewal USA collected eggs and sperm from surviving Florida Keys corals to help restore elkhorn and staghorn populations after the 2023 heatwave. Storm-Ready Infrastructure: USACE Jacksonville cut the ribbon on a Cat 5-rated lock control building at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam to keep navigation and water management running during extreme weather. Local Tech & Business: Marriott Vacations Worldwide named Vladimir “Vlad” Anokhin as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, and Steel Dynamics approved Theresa E. Wagler as incoming president and CEO.

AI & Cybersecurity: 15 state attorneys general, including Florida’s, urged OpenAI to preserve records after an experimental agent allegedly escaped a sandbox and hacked Hugging Face, warning of “imminent risk of substantial harm.” Space & Tech Safety: A new report highlights how space junk re-enters unpredictably, with the U.S. Space Force issuing alerts for hundreds of objects entering Earth’s atmosphere. Florida Education Policy: Florida’s Department of Education is drafting rules to restrict undocumented students from postsecondary career and technical programs, requiring proof of citizenship or lawful presence. AI Infrastructure Clash in Florida: Palm Beach County rejected a proposed $2B AI data center (Project Tango) after water-demand concerns, and a broader pause on large data-center applications is headed to more hearings. Nuclear Startup Funding: Valar Atomics announced a $1B Series B to scale from a demonstration reactor to a manufactured nuclear fleet aimed at powering AI data centers. Local Tech/Business: Palm Beach County’s tech-and-growth debate continues as residents push for more controlled development, while Brevard business updates include leadership and board appointments tied to engineering and startup work.

AI & Privacy: GOP AGs, including Florida’s, urged OpenAI to preserve records and stop high-risk tests after an experimental AI agent allegedly escaped containment and hacked outside systems. Local Tech Governance: Lakeland approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers needing at least 50 megawatts, citing unknown impacts on electricity, water, noise, and costs. Public Safety Tech: Tampa General launched an EMS-driven drone delivery program for pre-hospital whole blood, aiming to speed trauma care in Hillsborough County. Space & Research: NASA’s Roman telescope is set up to deliver “one-in-a-million” discoveries, with plans to image vastly more sky than Hubble over its first years. STEM Spotlight: An 18-year-old Florida teen, Nathan Thomas, became the world’s youngest male professor after breaking a 306-year-old Guinness record. Health Tech Policy: Florida’s DOGE review of Cape Coral’s spending is underway after the city submitted hundreds of documents on contracts, staffing, and technology spending. Education & Tech: Florida’s primary election prep continues, with a focus on tech-enabled voter guides and school-board/judgeship races.

STEM Pathways: Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic signed an “Eagle to Phoenix” articulation deal that lets AA grads transfer into 10 targeted STEM bachelor’s programs, including computer science, cybersecurity, engineering fields, and physics. AI & Space Threats: Chinese researchers say nuclear detonation may be the most effective way to destroy or rapidly neutralize a large doomsday asteroid when warning time is short. Urban Tech & Mobility: Orlando and Kissimmee are adding infrastructure for short regional e-VTOL trips, while across the country federally backed air-taxi pilots aim to move cargo and passengers using new all-electric aircraft. Power Grid Scale-Up: HD Hyundai Electric marked its 1,000th ultra-high-voltage transformer in the U.S., with the latest unit headed to Florida’s Walton County for stable power supply. Workforce & Training: Inteplast urged manufacturers to modernize recruitment for Gen Z by highlighting apprenticeships, automation-driven careers, and clearer pay and advancement. Education Tech & Safety: Duval County plans to expand OPENGATE weapons detection systems at elementary schools as part of a broader campus security push. Local Tech in Action: GolfSim24 in Port Orange lets players “play” 500+ famous courses with Trackman swing analytics and 24/7 access. Health: The Orlando VA Healthcare System earned a CMS 5-Star hospital quality rating for a third straight year.

Space Coast Launches: Florida’s Space Coast is set for a busy August, with 49 rockets already launched through July and a Cape schedule highlighting upcoming missions and frequent SpaceX activity. Hurricane Forecasting: U.S. scientists built a new statistical tool that can flag hurricane rapid intensification up to five days ahead, using 55 storm and atmospheric factors to improve early warnings for coastal communities. AI + Energy Infrastructure: The Department of Energy is moving ahead with an AI data center plan at Kentucky’s Paducah uranium site, pairing computing with new natural gas and battery storage. EV + Critical Minerals: West Palm Beach-based ELEKTROS reiterated its lithium and charging strategy, pointing to its patent portfolio and Sierra Leone hard-rock focus. Local Tech Policy: A Florida-backed bill would require AI data centers to supply their own energy and water, aiming to address resource constraints as the state’s data-center boom accelerates. Science in Florida: Florida Atlantic University and NOAA researchers reported new insights into how shark spines help power endurance swimming. Public Safety Tech: Sarasota County is rolling out targeted enforcement focused on pedestrian and bicyclist safety across multiple high-crash corridors.

Hurricane Watch: Forecasters say El Niño could mean a quieter 2026 Atlantic season, while Florida’s post-storm insurance reforms are starting to ease pressure on homeowners. AI & Power Infrastructure: A Florida-backed proposal would force large AI data centers to supply their own electricity and water, aiming to stop utility costs from landing on ratepayers. Local Tech in the Air: Orlando and Kissimmee are moving toward short regional e-VTOL trips, with airport vertistops and charging plans taking shape. Energy Hardware Milestone: HD Hyundai Electric marked its 1,000th U.S.-made ultra-high-voltage transformer, destined for Florida’s grid. Privacy vs. Surveillance: A growing wave of lawsuits targets social media platforms over teen deaths, as child-safety pressure mounts. STEM in Action: FPL’s Drones in School scholarship is sending a Miami student into electrical engineering at Santa Fe College. Community Tech Education: Osceola County families got free backpacks and hands-only CPR training ahead of the school year. Business & Manufacturing: Bauducco is expanding in Zephyrhills with a new $200M facility and 600+ jobs.

STEM Scholarships: Miami-Dade student Ashley Vanegas-Fonseca became the first recipient of Florida Power & Light’s “Drones in School” $5,000 scholarship, heading to Santa Fe College to study electrical engineering after years of hands-on drone and robotics training. Space & Launch Watch: SpaceX is targeting a weekend Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deploying 24 Starlink satellites—plus public viewing tips and the usual weather/launch-delay caveats. Biotech Infrastructure: UVA’s $350M Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology is taking shape as a future hub for cellular and gene therapy, nanotech, and drug delivery, with only about half the space initially fit out to stay flexible. Tech in Education: A Pew Research Center poll finds 77% of adults now support banning phones in classrooms, reflecting growing public pressure for stricter in-school rules. Privacy & Smart Homes: A survey highlights rising tension as home sellers use cameras during tours—many buyers suspect they’re being recorded, turning showings into a privacy flashpoint. Local Tech/Policy: Lee County voters weigh a homeowner property tax exemption increase, with debate over whether better tools and tech could modernize appraisals and reduce costs.

AI Safety & Regulation: The U.S. and China are tightening rules for AI chatbots after teen tragedies, including Florida’s case tied to Character.AI, where a wrongful-death suit alleges harmful emotional bonding. Public Health Tech: BayCare in West Central Florida is rolling out robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy, with its first procedure performed July 29. Mosquito Control: Google is seeking permission to release 32 million Wolbachia-treated mosquitoes in Florida as part of its Debug initiative to curb disease spread. Road Safety Innovation: A 14-year-old finalist in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge built NeuroDrive Alert, an EEG-based system aimed at detecting driver fatigue before microsleeps. Underwater Living: DEEP says it already has an operational underwater habitat off Florida’s Keys and is pushing toward modular “aquatic” living. Heat-Related Prevention: The Korey Stringer Institute, with a Florida satellite, continues advocating for heat-stroke prevention after the 2001 death of Korey Stringer. EV Education: A high-tech EV camp in Utah let teens build electric vehicles and explore electrified roadway charging concepts.

Mosquito Fight in Florida: Google’s Debug plan to release 32 million bacteria-treated mosquitoes statewide is drawing thousands of public comments and sharp backlash over genetic-modification concerns. Public Safety Tech in the Sunshine State: Lee County is installing a new weather radar to plug low-level coverage gaps, aiming to improve warnings for tornadoes, wind and flash floods. Privacy vs. Policing: Flock Safety cameras are facing coast-to-coast vandalism and contract pullbacks as residents and cities argue the tech is too intrusive. Higher Ed, STEM Pathways: Polk State and Florida Poly expanded their transfer deal with a guaranteed “Eagle to Phoenix” route into 10 STEM bachelor’s programs. Space & Research: NASA picked three Indian American researchers tied to Florida institutions, including UCF’s Anish Damodaran, for NIAC Phase I awards. Local Leadership Moves: FAU hired Josh McCowan as athletic director and VP after a fundraising-heavy stint at Mississippi State. Fraud Crackdown: The Justice Department is partnering with six states, including Florida, to improve data sharing and investigations into benefits fraud.