The AI Roundup –
What’s New, What’s Useful, What’s Local in East TN
-
The Rise of “Personal Agents” Triggers Major AI Platform Bans
A popular new AI tool called OpenClaw is causing a stir in the tech world. While it promises to handle daily tasks like a personal assistant, major companies like Google and Anthropic are now banning users who connect it to their accounts…
-
Federal Conflict Erupts Over National Security AI
A standoff between the AI firm Anthropic and the Pentagon has led to a federal ban on the company’s tools, sparking a national debate on AI “red lines.”
-
Oak Ridge Launches New Institute to Solve AI Energy Crisis
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched the Next Generation Data Centers Institute (NGDCI) to prevent AI’s massive electricity needs from straining the U.S. power grid…
-
UT System Enacts Landmark Artificial Intelligence Policy
The University of Tennessee has officially implemented a system-wide AI policy to guide students and faculty on the ethical use of generative tools while protecting academic integrity and university data…
-
Global RAM Market Squeeze Hits Knoxville Tech Hardware
The massive demand for AI processing power is causing a global shortage of computer memory, leading to price spikes of up to 90% for local consumers and businesses…
-
UT Researchers Transform Data Use in East Tennessee Classrooms
University of Tennessee professor Joshua Rosenberg is using AI to help local educators turn classroom data into actionable insights for student success…
-
U.S. Department of Labor Releases New AI Workforce Literacy Framework
The U.S. Department of Labor has introduced a new framework to help workers and employers navigate the rise of AI, focusing on literacy, job quality, and ethical implementation in the modern workplace.
-
Tennessee Senate Moves to Expand State AI Advisory Council
New legislation in the Tennessee Senate seeks to grow the state’s AI Advisory Council to include more experts as the state moves from planning to action…
-
AI Adoption Reshapes U.S. Job Market with “Cognitive Automation”
A new report shows that AI is now driving both mass layoffs and a surge in high-paying job openings. While 50,000 roles were cut due to AI in 2025, job listings requiring AI skills are paying an average of $18,000 more per year…
-
UT Knoxville to Host 2026 Innovative Technologies Symposium
The University of Tennessee’s upcoming symposium will gather tech leaders and educators to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work and learning…
-
Kerry Hoerth Joins Judging Panel for National Presidential AI Competition
Kerry Hoerth, founder of EmberRidge AI, has been selected as a state-level & regional-level judge for the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge. This national competition was established to foster artificial intelligence literacy and innovation among K-12 students and educators. Across the nation, student-led teams are stepping up to submit AI solutions…
-
Federal Government Launches “U.S. Tech Force” to Fast-Track AI Talent
The federal government is launching a massive new initiative called the “U.S. Tech Force” to bring private-sector AI experts into public service. This program aims to rapidly modernize government agencies by hiring 1,500 specialized fellows by the end of 2026…
-
New in Knoxville: Affordable, In-Person AI Training for Parents and Professionals
Pellissippi State Community College and EmberRidge AI have announced the addition of two new in-person workshops to its Lifelong Learning program, scheduled to begin in February 2026. These two-hour sessions are designed to offer practical, hands-on AI training for specific needs: career advancement and parental education assistance.
-
UT Knoxville Hosts Global “Hack the Microscope” AI Event
UT Knoxville served as the global headquarters for a hybrid hackathon challenging participants to solve material science problems using AI and electron microscopy…
-
Senator Blackburn Introduces “TRUMP AMERICA AI Act”
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn has unveiled a new legislative framework aimed at establishing a national “rulebook” for artificial intelligence…
-
Inaugural AI Tennessee Summit Set for January in Nashville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and state partners will host the first-ever AI Tennessee Summit this January at the Country Music Hall of Fame, gathering leaders to shape the state’s future in artificial intelligence…
-
It’s Not Humans vs. Robots. It’s Humans Plus Robots!
The “Iceberg Index” shows that machines replacing people is just the tiny tip you can see above the water. The massive, hidden reality underneath is a total makeover of how everyone works. It’s about quickly learning new skills to use our special human talents—like creativity, understanding feelings, and making tough choices—to work along with AI…
-
Tennessee Sets Bold Course with First AI Action Plan
Tennessee releases its first comprehensive AI Action Plan, outlining a strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into state government while ensuring ethical oversight and workforce readiness…
-
White House Taps ORNL for “Genesis Mission” to Accelerate AI Science
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is set to be a central player in the newly announced “Genesis Mission,” a federal initiative comparing its urgency to the Manhattan Project. The mission aims to build an interconnected AI supercomputing platform to double the productivity of American research within a decade…
-
Safety Alert: AI Toys Bring Privacy Concerns and Inappropriate Conversations into Your Home
Just in time for the holiday season, a new consumer safety report warns that some AI-powered toys marketed to children are failing to protect kids, offering dangerous instructions, inappropriate conversations, and collecting sensitive personal data without proper safeguards…
-
Secure Your Secrets: Protecting Your Data & Privacy Across AI Platforms
Protecting your personal and business data on AI platforms requires active management, as most free services default to using your input for training. Learn the crucial steps for East Tennessee users—from small businesses to everyday learners—to secure their information against unintended retention and model training…
-
NotebookLM Supercharged: Deep Research and New File Types Transform AI Assistant
NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research assistant, received a major update over the past two weeks, introducing an automated Deep Research tool, expanding file support to include Sheets and images, and significantly boosting its core intelligence with the latest Gemini models…
-
Tennessee Joins Regional AI Policy Caucus to Harmonize State Laws and Economic Strategy
Tennessee has partnered with five other states—Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma—to establish the new Heartland AI Policy Caucus. This interstate initiative is designed to foster collaboration on state-level AI policies that will strategically drive economic growth and prepare the regional workforce…
-
Learn the Power of Mapping and AI at UTC’s GIS Day Workshop on Nov 19
The Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS) at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga (UTC) is hosting a free workshop on the occasion of GIS Day to introduce the power of geographic information systems (GIS). The workshop will take place on Nov. 19 from 9–11 a.m…
-
University Launches New AI Bachelor’s Degree, First in Tennessee
Tennessee Tech is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, beginning in Fall 2026. This marks the first undergraduate major in the field within the state of Tennessee. The program emerges from the university’s existing “data science and artificial intelligence” concentration within its computer science major, and has…
-
Tennessee AI Advisory Council Meeting on November 17
The Tennessee AI Advisory Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, November 17, from 2:30–4:30 p.m. CST at the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower in Nashville. The session will focus on advancing the state’s approach to using AI technologies in ways that are ethical, adaptable, and collaborative…
-
Tennessee Human–AI Readiness & Innovation “THRIVE 2025″ Call for Proposals
The College of Arts & Sciences at UT Knoxville has launched a new initiative called THRIVE: Tennessee Human–AI Readiness & Innovation – Ventures in Excellence 2025 aimed at UTK College of Arts & Sciences faculty, staff, or graduate research/teaching assistants with continuing appointments. THRIVE seeks to connect research, teaching and service by supporting projects…
-
DOE Seeks Business Partners for Nuclear-Powered AI Campuses in Tennessee
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at private companies to build AI-data centers on federal land in Tennessee, adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The move responds to – and operationalizes – a 2024 report by the DOE that warned hyperscale AI facilities increasingly…
-
Energy Department Unveils New Public-Private Model and Two Next-Gen Supercomputers
The DOE has unveiled a new partnership framework that allows combined investment from the government and private industry to deploy advanced computing systems more rapidly than traditional procurement. One of the first projects under this model is the “Lux AI” cluster at ORNL, slated to come online in early 2026…
-
Learning with Google’s NotebookLM
A Source-Based AI Companion for Study, Strategy, and Community Impact. NotebookLM is Google’s AI-powered research and synthesis tool designed to help you interact with your own materials—notes, articles, transcripts, websites, and more. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, NotebookLM is grounded in the sources you choose. You can upload documents, paste…
-
Nano Banana: The AI Tool That’s Turning Photos into Playgrounds of Possibility
It started with a figurine. A tiny, hyper-realistic 3D model of someone’s dog, complete with birthday packaging and a desk setting. Then came the selfies with Marilyn Monroe, the fantasy maps made from family portraits, and the tea party between a grown adult and their childhood self. The internet was…
-
4 Ways to Use AI for Homeschooling (and Homework Help)
Homeschooling families wear a lot of hats—educator, curriculum planner, tech support, snack distributor, emotional coach. And when the day’s lessons wrap, homework help often rolls right into dinner prep. That’s where AI can step in—not to replace your role, but to support it…
-
What Parents Should Know About AI Before Letting Their Kids Use It
A Guide for Families Navigating AI Together Artificial intelligence is already part of your child’s world—whether you realize it or not. From voice assistants and homework help to social media filters and recommendation engines, AI is woven into the apps and devices kids use every day. But before children…
-
The Prompt Playbook: Mastering AI with Google and OpenAI Techniques
A guide designed for educators, parents, innovators, lifelong learners, and community members who are eager to transform AI into a personal assistant. In this playbook, you will dive into practical examples and hands-on guidance. You will learn how to craft effective prompts that enhance your AI interactions…
-
How to Pick the Right AI Assistant for You
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, choosing the right AI assistant is more crucial than ever. With a plethora of options available, it’s not just about the features each tool offers, but how well it fits within your existing life and work practices…
-
How Parents Can Use AI to Help Kids Write Better Essays
A behind-the-scenes guide for caregivers who want to coach—not correct—their child’s writing. Helping your child write a strong essay isn’t about fixing every sentence or rewriting their ideas—it’s about guiding them toward clarity, confidence, and independence.
-
The AI Hype Cycle: What’s Peaking, What’s Plateauing, and What’s Just Hype
If you’ve felt overwhelmed by AI headlines lately, you’re not alone. From “autonomous agents” to “multimodal magic,” the tech world is buzzing. But how much of it is real? And how much is just… hype? Every year, Gartner releases its AI Hype Cycle, a visual map showing where emerging technologies…
-
Tennessee’s AI Status Report: What It Means for Our Communities
Earlier this year, Tennessee’s AI Advisory Council released its first major status report. It’s not just a technical update- it’s a wake-up call. The state is laying the groundwork for how artificial intelligence will be used, governed, and understood across every corner of Tennessee. And if you’re a city leader…
-
Your Ideas, Your Future: The First Presidential AI Challenge Is Here
Open to K–12 learners and educators nationwide, this White House initiative celebrates creativity, civic impact, and ethical AI leadership. Submissions due January 20, 2026. This fall, a bold invitation is landing in classrooms, community centers, and kitchen tables across the country: The Presidential AI Challenge is calling on K–12 students…
-
How Do AI Models Learn?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) models learn by finding patterns in data. Just like humans learn from experience, AI learns from examples—lots of them. The more data it sees, the better it gets at recognizing patterns and making predictions or generating content. Let’s break it down in plain terms…
-
Understanding AI Tradeoffs: What You Gain, What You Risk
AI tools promise speed, personalization, and creativity—but they always come with tradeoffs. Whether you’re using AI to write emails, plan lessons, manage finances, or explore new careers, understanding the hidden costs is key to using these tools wisely. Here we break down the most common tradeoffs in everyday AI…
-
Building Trust, Not Just Tech: TVA’s AI Strategy and What It Means for East Tennessee
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it’s becoming part of how public agencies operate, make decisions, and serve communities. That’s why the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has released its FY25 AI Compliance Plan, a detailed roadmap for how it will meet federal expectations under OMB Memorandum M-25-21: Accelerating…
-
From Manhattan Project to Machine Learning: Oak Ridge’s Next Chapter Begins
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that the Oak Ridge Reservation—spanning Roane and Anderson Counties—has been selected as one of just four federal sites for a groundbreaking initiative: the development of next-generation AI data centers paired with clean energy infrastructure. This marks a historic moment…