[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":405},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":32,"footer-cities":56,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security":237},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":26,"navigation":27,"path":28,"seo":29,"stem":30,"__hash__":31},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15,20],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{"label":21,"to":22,"icon":25},"Contact",{"path":23,"hash":24},"\u002F","#contact","mdi-email-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","CcnlvU-MIELm1QjRt6-8EIWzffq9TShbzfGuB7P8caE",{"id":33,"title":34,"body":35,"copyright":39,"description":10,"developedBy":40,"extension":13,"links":46,"meta":51,"navigation":27,"path":52,"seo":53,"stem":54,"__hash__":55},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":36,"toc":37},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":38},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":41,"link":42},"Developed by",{"label":43,"to":44,"target":45},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank",[47,48],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":49,"to":50},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","hsL9eJ4YEacLAdbs9C023GtZ9cLz07zVbmRn545fjvk",[57,87,125,156,183,210],{"id":58,"title":59,"body":60,"county":79,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":80,"meta":81,"navigation":27,"path":82,"seo":83,"stem":84,"tag":85,"__hash__":86},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":61,"toc":76},[62,67],[63,64,66],"h2",{"id":65},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[68,69,70,71,75],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[72,73,74],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":77},[78],{"id":65,"depth":11,"text":66},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":59,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":88,"title":89,"body":90,"county":117,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":118,"meta":119,"navigation":27,"path":120,"seo":121,"stem":122,"tag":123,"__hash__":124},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":91,"toc":114},[92,96,111],[63,93,95],{"id":94},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[68,97,98,99,102,103,106,107,110],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[72,100,101],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[72,104,105],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[72,108,109],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[68,112,113],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":115},[116],{"id":94,"depth":11,"text":95},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":89,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":126,"title":127,"body":128,"county":148,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":149,"meta":150,"navigation":27,"path":151,"seo":152,"stem":153,"tag":154,"__hash__":155},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":129,"toc":145},[130,134],[63,131,133],{"id":132},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[68,135,136,137,140,141,144],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[72,138,139],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[72,142,143],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":146},[147],{"id":132,"depth":11,"text":133},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":127,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":157,"title":158,"body":159,"county":175,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":176,"meta":177,"navigation":27,"path":178,"seo":179,"stem":180,"tag":181,"__hash__":182},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":160,"toc":172},[161,165],[63,162,164],{"id":163},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[68,166,167,168,171],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[72,169,170],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":173},[174],{"id":163,"depth":11,"text":164},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":158,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"county":202,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":203,"meta":204,"navigation":27,"path":205,"seo":206,"stem":207,"tag":208,"__hash__":209},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":187,"toc":199},[188,192],[63,189,191],{"id":190},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[68,193,194,195,198],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[72,196,197],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":200},[201],{"id":190,"depth":11,"text":191},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":185,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":211,"title":212,"body":213,"county":229,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":230,"meta":231,"navigation":27,"path":232,"seo":233,"stem":234,"tag":235,"__hash__":236},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":214,"toc":226},[215,219],[63,216,218],{"id":217},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[68,220,221,222,225],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[72,223,224],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":227},[228],{"id":217,"depth":11,"text":218},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":212,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":238,"title":239,"archived":240,"author":241,"body":242,"date":394,"dateModified":394,"description":395,"extension":13,"meta":396,"navigation":27,"path":397,"rawbody":398,"seo":399,"sitemap":400,"stem":401,"tags":402,"__hash__":404},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security.md","CSUB to host first Tech Expo exploring AI across education, business, and security",false,"CVAI Education Desk",{"type":7,"value":243,"toc":386},[244,248,252,270,273,277,299,306,310,317,323,327,337,340,344,351,358,373,376,380],[245,246,239],"h1",{"id":247},"csub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security",[63,249,251],{"id":250},"a-new-public-technology-event-in-bakersfield","A new public technology event in Bakersfield",[68,253,254,257,258,261,262,265,266,269],{},[72,255,256],{},"California State University, Bakersfield"," is preparing to launch its first ",[72,259,260],{},"AI Tech Expo",", an event intended to open a broader community conversation about how artificial intelligence is being used across major parts of everyday life and work. Branded as ",[72,263,264],{},"NextTech Kern 2025",", the expo is designed to bring together ",[72,267,268],{},"students, faculty, local businesses, and community members"," for a shared look at emerging technology and the practical questions that come with it.",[68,271,272],{},"The event reflects a growing effort by colleges and universities to move discussions about AI beyond specialist circles and into public forums where educators, employers, and residents can better understand both the opportunities and the risks of rapidly changing tools.",[63,274,276],{"id":275},"focus-on-education-business-ethics-and-security","Focus on education, business, ethics, and security",[68,278,279,280,283,284,287,288,287,291,294,295,298],{},"Organizers say the expo will be structured around ",[72,281,282],{},"four session tracks",", giving attendees a chance to explore AI from several different angles. Those tracks include ",[72,285,286],{},"education",", ",[72,289,290],{},"business applications",[72,292,293],{},"ethical use",", and ",[72,296,297],{},"cybersecurity",", suggesting that the event is meant to be both practical and forward-looking rather than purely academic.",[68,300,301,302,305],{},"That mix is significant because it places AI within the kinds of decisions that institutions and employers are already facing: how to use it in classrooms, how to apply it in professional settings, how to set limits around responsible use, and how to protect systems and information as digital tools become more powerful. By including both ",[72,303,304],{},"local and national vendors"," as well as subject-matter experts, the expo appears aimed at connecting broad technology trends with on-the-ground needs in Kern County.",[63,307,309],{"id":308},"leadership-and-community-participation","Leadership and community participation",[68,311,312,313,316],{},"A prominent part of the program will be a keynote address from ",[72,314,315],{},"Congressman Vince Fong",", adding a policy and public leadership dimension to the event. His involvement signals that conversations about AI are no longer confined to tech companies or university labs; they are increasingly part of civic, economic, and regulatory discussions as well.",[68,318,319,322],{},[72,320,321],{},"Dr. Jaimi Paschal",", CSUB’s director of academic technologies and grants, is identified as a key figure behind the effort. Her role underscores the university’s interest in positioning the expo as both an educational initiative and a bridge between campus innovation and the wider community.",[63,324,326],{"id":325},"why-it-matters-for-bakersfield-and-the-central-valley","Why it matters for Bakersfield and the Central Valley",[68,328,329,330,332,333,336],{},"For ",[72,331,59],{},", the expo highlights how technology issues that may once have seemed distant are becoming increasingly local. Schools, employers, public institutions, and small businesses in the ",[72,334,335],{},"Central Valley"," are all being pushed to think about how AI could reshape teaching, hiring, productivity, security, and access to information.",[68,338,339],{},"That makes the event more than a one-day technology showcase. It represents a local attempt to build familiarity with tools that are already influencing workforce development and decision-making. In a region where education, logistics, agriculture, energy, and public services all play major roles, discussions around AI adoption and safeguards could have long-term implications for how organizations train workers and modernize operations.",[63,341,343],{"id":342},"broader-significance-for-technology","Broader significance for technology",[68,345,346,347,350],{},"The expo also speaks to a larger trend in technology: ",[72,348,349],{},"AI is becoming an infrastructure issue",", not just a software trend. Institutions now have to think about implementation, ethics, governance, and digital safety at the same time. By creating a public event that addresses all of those themes together, CSUB is framing AI as something that communities should understand collectively rather than leave solely to technical specialists.",[68,352,353,354,357],{},"Because the event is ",[72,355,356],{},"free and open to the public",", it also lowers barriers to entry for people who may be curious about AI but do not work directly in the technology sector. That accessibility could help broaden participation in a conversation that is increasingly shaping education systems, business practices, and cybersecurity planning throughout the region.",[68,359,360],{},[361,362,363,364,366,367,372],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[72,365,241],{}," team and developed by ",[368,369,43],"a",{"href":44,"rel":370},[371],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[374,375],"hr",{},[63,377,379],{"id":378},"source","Source",[68,381,382],{},[368,383,384],{"href":384,"rel":385},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.turnto23.com\u002Fnews\u002Fin-your-neighborhood\u002Fbakersfield\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security",[371],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":387},[388,389,390,391,392,393],{"id":250,"depth":11,"text":251},{"id":275,"depth":11,"text":276},{"id":308,"depth":11,"text":309},{"id":325,"depth":11,"text":326},{"id":342,"depth":11,"text":343},{"id":378,"depth":11,"text":379},"2026-05-17","California State University, Bakersfield plans a free public technology expo focused on artificial intelligence, bringing together students, educators, businesses, and experts to discuss its uses in education, business, ethics, and cybersecurity.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security","---\ntitle: \"CSUB to host first Tech Expo exploring AI across education, business, and security\"\ndescription: \"California State University, Bakersfield plans a free public technology expo focused on artificial intelligence, bringing together students, educators, businesses, and experts to discuss its uses in education, business, ethics, and cybersecurity.\"\ndate: 2026-05-17\ntags:\n  - technology\n  - education\n  - bakersfield\nauthor: \"CVAI Education Desk\"\ndateModified: \"2026-05-17\"\n---\n\n# CSUB to host first Tech Expo exploring AI across education, business, and security\n\n## A new public technology event in Bakersfield\n\n**California State University, Bakersfield** is preparing to launch its first **AI Tech Expo**, an event intended to open a broader community conversation about how artificial intelligence is being used across major parts of everyday life and work. Branded as **NextTech Kern 2025**, the expo is designed to bring together **students, faculty, local businesses, and community members** for a shared look at emerging technology and the practical questions that come with it.\n\nThe event reflects a growing effort by colleges and universities to move discussions about AI beyond specialist circles and into public forums where educators, employers, and residents can better understand both the opportunities and the risks of rapidly changing tools.\n\n## Focus on education, business, ethics, and security\n\nOrganizers say the expo will be structured around **four session tracks**, giving attendees a chance to explore AI from several different angles. Those tracks include **education**, **business applications**, **ethical use**, and **cybersecurity**, suggesting that the event is meant to be both practical and forward-looking rather than purely academic.\n\nThat mix is significant because it places AI within the kinds of decisions that institutions and employers are already facing: how to use it in classrooms, how to apply it in professional settings, how to set limits around responsible use, and how to protect systems and information as digital tools become more powerful. By including both **local and national vendors** as well as subject-matter experts, the expo appears aimed at connecting broad technology trends with on-the-ground needs in Kern County.\n\n## Leadership and community participation\n\nA prominent part of the program will be a keynote address from **Congressman Vince Fong**, adding a policy and public leadership dimension to the event. His involvement signals that conversations about AI are no longer confined to tech companies or university labs; they are increasingly part of civic, economic, and regulatory discussions as well.\n\n**Dr. Jaimi Paschal**, CSUB’s director of academic technologies and grants, is identified as a key figure behind the effort. Her role underscores the university’s interest in positioning the expo as both an educational initiative and a bridge between campus innovation and the wider community.\n\n## Why it matters for Bakersfield and the Central Valley\n\nFor **Bakersfield**, the expo highlights how technology issues that may once have seemed distant are becoming increasingly local. Schools, employers, public institutions, and small businesses in the **Central Valley** are all being pushed to think about how AI could reshape teaching, hiring, productivity, security, and access to information.\n\nThat makes the event more than a one-day technology showcase. It represents a local attempt to build familiarity with tools that are already influencing workforce development and decision-making. In a region where education, logistics, agriculture, energy, and public services all play major roles, discussions around AI adoption and safeguards could have long-term implications for how organizations train workers and modernize operations.\n\n## Broader significance for technology\n\nThe expo also speaks to a larger trend in technology: **AI is becoming an infrastructure issue**, not just a software trend. Institutions now have to think about implementation, ethics, governance, and digital safety at the same time. By creating a public event that addresses all of those themes together, CSUB is framing AI as something that communities should understand collectively rather than leave solely to technical specialists.\n\nBecause the event is **free and open to the public**, it also lowers barriers to entry for people who may be curious about AI but do not work directly in the technology sector. That accessibility could help broaden participation in a conversation that is increasingly shaping education systems, business practices, and cybersecurity planning throughout the region.\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Education Desk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.turnto23.com\u002Fnews\u002Fin-your-neighborhood\u002Fbakersfield\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security\n",{"title":239,"description":395},{"loc":397},"news\u002Fcsub-to-host-first-tech-expo-exploring-ai-across-education-business-and-security",[403,286,85],"technology","snRd6oOEmvP60mBn15f-S6mh4-zURHf6ZYG_3ECKKSI",1779739125086]