Decoding AI in the Central Valley

The local's guide to the startups, research labs, and people driving the next industrial revolution in our backyard.

Latest Local AI Updates

Stay informed on the AI developments shaping the valley's future.

Latest Jul 30, 2026

Cheaper AI is in, Fresno County's $308,854 call tool fits the shift

AP reports companies are backing off 'tokenmaxxing' and cutting AI costs. Fresno County's call-summarization buy shows how that math lands here.

UC Merced and Fresno State have AI guidelines and controlled-access tools for campus use. A single line in a Fresno County agenda told the story in dollars: up to $308,854 for software that turns long phone calls into short notes. The purchase covered August 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026, part of the county’s welfare call-center system, with the...

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Jul 30, 2026

EU commits $11.4B to seven AI 'gigafactories'; Valley buyers watch supply

Europe’s $11.4 billion AI push could ripple to Fresno and Kern County budgets by easing GPU wait times and stabilizing cloud costs.

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Jul 29, 2026

AI data center sues IID for 287M gallons; Valley growers eye 'buy and dry'

Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing wants Colorado River water to cool a 330 MW facility after cities refused wastewater. The case could shape whether on-farm allocations can shift to industry in Valley districts.

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Jul 29, 2026

New York school halts 'Sally' robot plan. Fresno Unified outlines limits

An upstate New York district paused a $60,000 humanoid robot after pushback. California guidance and Fresno Unified policy point toward human-led AI use, not robots in front of kids.

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