Since 2016, California has enacted more regulations on artificial intelligence than any other state. President Donald Trump’s new order against such laws worries California officials.
Tech
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local fintech company’s latest acquisition; startup pitches surf helmet on ‘Shark Tank’
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Paystand expanding payments to include some types of cryptocurrencies, previews a local startup’s appearance on “Shark Tank” and notes the debut of the Lookout List.
His students suddenly started getting A’s. Did a Google AI tool go too far?
Some teachers say that artificial intelligence tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning.
Why a new California law could change the way all Americans browse the internet
Legislation recently enacted in California will make it easier for consumers nationwide to protect their data.
With Pie Fi, Pleasure Pizza owners seek to build local hub for AI development
Having navigated the restaurant business after buying Pleasure Pizza in 2023, Sol and Erica Lipman opened Pie Fi around the corner in downtown Santa Cruz, a physical location for working, learning and meeting, a digital platform for building artificial intelligence projects and an accelerator program all in one.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Pie Fi aims to be local AI accelerator; Cruzio completes high-speed internet project
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on an artificial intelligence incubator the owners of downtown Santa Cruz’s Pleasure Pizza are cooking up, an internet accessibility milestone for Cruzio, September’s hotel occupancy numbers and more.
Cruzio completes high-speed internet expansion project
Local internet provider Cruzio has finished its “Equal Access Summits to the Sea” project, expanding affordable high-speed internet to thousands of residents from Half Moon Bay to Salinas.
How a UCSC student-built website helps undergrads go from career questions to options
UC Santa Cruz computer science major William Zhao built a web tool to help his fellow undergraduates chart their careers from entry-level positions to the C-suite.
Monterey Bay Economic Partnership launches new survey on digital inclusion
The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership has launched a survey on digital inclusion that will gather information on internet access, affordability and digital skills from residents across the region to better understand where residents need the most assistance.
Tech prophet Jaron Lanier, now a Santa Cruz local, returns to a primary passion – music
Jaron Lanier is known for both his accomplishments in high tech and his criticisms of its effects. But he also maintained a rigorous career as a musician. Back in Santa Cruz, he’s returning to his musical roots with a show at Kuumbwa and a new composition to be performed by the Santa Cruz Symphony.

