Welcome to the roundup of the latest from Baltimore's tech and entrepreneurship scene. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe for free.
Maryland high schoolers gain AI skills
Students are getting hands-on training focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science while conducting their own yearlong research projects and receiving certifications.
Tyese Johnson of Oakland Mills High School applied for the program because she knows AI can also be used in negative contexts — and she wants to avoid being susceptible.
“Being able to protect yourself from it, because you can understand what it does and what it’s there for, is very beneficial,” she told me.
➡️ Learn what the Howard County students are up to here
Curious GeorgePT wins anti-bias AI hackathon
A group of technologists and civic leaders designed the model at an event organized by Hacks/Hackers, the Real News Network and the Baltimore Beat. The focus involved finding ways to ensure circulating information and news is fair and trustworthy.
Developers behind the custom model, named Curious GeorgePT, said they aimed to remove ambiguity and allow for more targeted responses.
“It’s nothing revolutionary. We’re not trying to build the next ChatGPT, but we are trying to transform how it works and how it operates,” said Paige Moody, an engineering manager creating tools for reporters at the Washington Post. “Because this is disrupting … all of our industries.”
➡️ Learn more about the making of the custom model here
News Incubator: What else to know
• Voting is now open for our 2024 Technical.ly Awards! Every year, we recognize the region’s best people, products and programs. We have brand new categories this year, too. Learn about the finalists and make sure to cast your vote by Nov. 18. [Technical.ly]
• Residents in Baltimore County pushed back at a recent information session about the Piedmont Reliability Project, the 70-mile power transmission line proposed in an effort to reach the region’s growing energy demands. The route proposed by the lead on the project, Public Service Enterprise Group, was released in October. [WJZ]
• Maryland elected officials are still hopeful infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, could still be funded under the next Trump administration. [Baltimore Sun]
• Technical.ly CEO Christopher Wink spoke with a few entrepreneurship leaders to get their perspectives on how a second Trump presidency will affect local ecosystems. [Technical.ly]
• Students at Loyola University can now get a “stackable” MBA, in which pupils opt for individual certificates that can stand alone or be incorporated into a full degree. [Loyola]
• Bowery, a New York agricultural technology startup, closed its farm in Baltimore County and laid off 83 of its workers. [Baltimore Business Journal]
What will Baltimore look like in 250 years?
As we get ready to celebrate the United States semiquincentennial, let’s look ahead another quarter millennium. Technical.ly’s editorial calendar theme for December will see us exploring optimistic visions for our cities and regions 250 years from now.
It’s guaranteed to be a fascinating and intense discussion, and if you want your company or brand in the mix, now’s the time to think about underwriting this work. Reach up to 75k+ social followers, 45k newsletter subscribers and upwards of 5k+ pageviews with your logo and message — while showing your support for local news.
➡️ Message sales@technical.ly or just book online
🗓️ On the Calendar
• Nov. 14: The Baltimore BASE Network (Business Assistance and Support for Equity) is hosting an event to go over resources for small business owners as part of the Baltimore Together Summit. [Details here]
• Nov. 16: Johns Hopkins biomedical engineering professor Dr. Kunal Parikh will be honored for his innovative work in eye care, at the university and through his two tech companies, during a gala hosted by the nonprofit KeraLink International. [Details here]
• Nov. 19: Learn about ways to contract with the state of Maryland at the Governor’s Minority & Small Business Outreach Summit. [Details here]
• Nov. 20: Meet fellow Baltimore technologists at a Baltimore Tech Meetup featuring a happy hour and trivia. [Details here]
Before you go...
Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.
Join our growing Slack community
Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!
