AGP Executive Report

Design & Health Research: Fieldwork named Dr. Cleo Valentine as advisor to study how designed environments affect neurophysiology and human health, bridging neuroscience with design practice. Climate Watch: NOAA says El Niño is strengthening and could become “very strong,” with some models hinting at a rare “super” event that could reshape winter weather. Local Data Center Governance: A Rotary talk in Madison County urged Georgia communities to set zoning and development standards before data center proposals arrive, citing water, power, noise, and siting concerns. Court-Ordered Service Scrutiny: A UGA study finds community service often misses its goals, shifting burdens to nonprofits and struggling with real-life barriers like transport and childcare. Drone Delivery in the Air: DoorDash received FAA Part 135 certification for DoorDash Air, but the FAA says operations can’t start yet until aircraft and plans are approved. AI & Energy Debate: A University of Waterloo and Georgia Tech study argues AI’s overall impact on U.S. energy use and carbon emissions may be smaller than feared. Public Safety Tech Under Fire: Reports detail alleged misuse of Flock license plate reader systems across multiple states, reigniting privacy and oversight concerns. Georgia Education Policy: Effingham County expanded a bell-to-bell cell phone ban to high school students under new state law. Sports Safety: GHSA now requires protective headgear for girls flag football statewide, using Virginia Tech Helmet Lab ratings. Health & Access: Publix pharmacies joined the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program to help eligible patients fill weight-management prescriptions. Public Health Funding: Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust approved up to $150,000 for Emory University public health training, despite lawmakers’ concerns. Space Tech Funding: NASA awarded 18 early-stage NIAC concept grants totaling $3.2 million, from Moon lava-tube ideas to Saturn ring concepts.

UNESCO Spotlight on Georgia Nature: Okefenokee Swamp officially joins UNESCO’s World Heritage List, putting the peat-rich wetland on the same global roster as the Grand Canyon and raising the stakes for long-term protection. Public Health & Hospitals: A CDC study estimates invasive mold disease may be far more common than thought, with Atlanta-area hospital cases (2020–2024) showing high ICU use and about one-third in-hospital deaths. Georgia Healthcare Education: UGA’s new School of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 64 students, with a statewide orientation tour aimed at addressing physician shortages and care gaps. Schools and Tech Rules: Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools is banning personal electronic devices district-wide as it moves ahead of Georgia’s distraction-free timeline, requiring locked storage or signal-blocking pouches. Surveillance Cameras Debate: Macon-Bibb’s Flock camera program faces renewed local pushback from Democratic Socialists, while officials stress limits like 30-day storage and rules for access. Extreme Heat Work Risks: Georgia is preparing for more frequent, hotter heat waves that could raise health risks for outdoor and indoor workers alike. Safety Tech in Action: A multi-agency search using license plate readers helped locate a missing 1-year-old abducted across state lines, ending with the child found safe in Cartersville.

Election Tech Overhaul: Georgia officials are weighing whether to replace touchscreen voting machines with hand-marked paper ballots, with a new Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee set to shape the 2028 system and warn that the choice could lock in infrastructure for a decade. School Safety Tech: Schools in Georgia and two other states are testing Mithril Defense drones that use pepper spray, strobe lights, and sirens to locate and stop an active shooter within seconds. Privacy vs Surveillance: Atlanta-area coverage keeps spotlighting Flock camera backlash, including claims of wrongful stops and disputes over whether the tech violates constitutional rights. Public Health Pressure: Sen. Raphael Warnock calls on RFK Jr. to resign as measles cases hit a 30-year high, with most cases tied to unvaccinated people. AI in the Lab (and the Wild): Emory and Georgia Tech researchers unveiled CapuchinAI, an open-source, battery-powered system that automates cognitive testing of wild capuchins using facial recognition and touchscreen tasks. Consumer Scam Watch: Georgia shoppers are warned about a tap-to-pay scam that can trick people into approving larger charges than intended. Housing Bottleneck: A lender survey finds the biggest drag on homebuying is too few affordable starter homes, not mortgage rates. Disability Rights: Disability advocates criticize a DOJ notice saying the Olmstead integration mandate is “not enforceable.” Local Tech & Jobs: Uber Freight names Amir Pelleg chief product officer, betting on AI to make logistics decisions faster.

Public Safety Tech: Norcross plans a $24M public safety facility this fall with a real-time crime center using citywide camera feeds, aiming to cut response times toward 59 seconds after 911 calls. Correctional Healthcare: Armor Health won Newton County’s jail healthcare contract, rolling out a data-driven clinical model and analytics platform starting Aug. 1. Aquaculture Biosecurity: FAO trained Georgia-linked aquaculture officials in fish disease surveillance and traceability, using digital systems for monitoring, sample handling, and outbreak response. AI Research & Hardware: Duke leads four DOE Genesis Mission AI projects, including neuromorphic AI-robot hardware work that involves Georgia Tech and Brookhaven. Education & Workforce: UGA School of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 64 students, with most Georgia residents and an orientation tour focused on statewide health disparities. Data Centers & Local Impact: Maysville residents grilled data center developers over water use, noise, and environmental concerns as plans move forward. Privacy & Surveillance: Flock’s LPR tech helped police arrest a multi-state fugitive in Michigan, highlighting how connected camera systems are spreading. Environment & Climate Storytelling: A Hurricane Helene graphic novel project uses survivor accounts and climate modeling to explain why extreme storms are becoming more likely.

AI in Medicine: A new report says more than 80% of U.S. physicians now use AI, but researchers warn it may quietly weaken critical thinking and creativity over time. School Safety Tech: Pilot programs in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado are testing pepper-gel drones that can be triggered by teachers to disrupt an attacker before police arrive. Cybersecurity Education: NSF announced the first CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service awards, expanding cybersecurity training to cover AI-enabled threats and building resilient AI systems. Data Centers & Chips: Core Scientific signed a major AMD-backed deal for 529 MW (with options up to ~2.5 GW) to support AI deployments starting in 2027, including work tied to AMD Instinct and EPYC/ROCm. Georgia Health & Nutrition: Augusta University researchers report that a daily multivitamin improved older adults’ functional health after three years. Public Health: Georgia is among states tracking a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak, while a separate Salmonella egg recall has pulled more than 19 million eggs nationwide. Environment & Conservation: The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was approved as a UNESCO World Heritage site after decades of effort. Local Impact: UGA welcomed its first medical school class of 64 students, with most seats going to Georgia residents. Privacy & Surveillance: West Virginia lawmakers are pushing to ban AI-powered Flock surveillance cameras statewide over Fourth Amendment concerns. Crime & Courts (Georgia): Colt Gray was sentenced to life without parole for the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting.

AI & Data Centers in Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp called AI “scary” but said Georgia should welcome data centers, pushing back on calls for a blanket moratorium and arguing communities should decide where projects go. Cybersecurity & Research Ops: Microsoft launched an internal multi-agent cyber stack (FORGE) led by Georgia Tech professor Taesoo Kim, aiming to automate parts of security operations using threat intelligence and playbooks. Privacy vs Public Safety (ALPR/Flock): Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and others raised alarms about Flock Safety/ALPR camera rollouts, warning the tech has outpaced privacy rules and could enable mass surveillance; lawmakers are also moving to restrict federal funding. Local Health Tech & Infrastructure: Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton opened a 180,000-square-foot expanded emergency department to double capacity and add trauma, CT, operating rooms, and a helipad. Food Safety & Markets: USDA and Georgia finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement to let state-inspected meat processors ship across state lines. STEM in the Classroom: Students used a low-cost Bay Observation Box to support oyster aquaculture and explore Chesapeake Bay restoration, earning national recognition. Public Finance Learning: A UGA study found investing podcasts can improve retail traders’ results after earnings discussions, suggesting the information is more than hype.

Georgia Tech Sustainability: Georgia Tech won a national APPA Sustainability Innovation Award for its in-vessel composting program, aimed at cutting campus waste and emissions. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: The Flock license-plate reader debate keeps spreading: Knox County leaders in Tennessee are pushing back on Flock, while Aspen, Colo., is ending its contract after community concerns. Metro Atlanta Mobility Tech: A Waymo self-driving car crashed and caught fire in Atlanta’s Morningside-Lenox Park; Waymo says there were no passengers and points to broader safety stats. Cybersecurity in Healthcare: AnMed (SC/NE Georgia) reported a malware cyberattack that forced closures at more than 80 facilities while emergency services stayed open. AI/Android Security Court Fight: GrapheneOS developer says its data-wiping protections are legal after an Atlanta activist’s “duress” password wiped a phone during a border search, raising constitutional questions. Health & Data Centers: WalletHub ranked Georgia among the worst states for healthcare affordability/access/outcomes, while reporting also highlights how data centers are expanding and straining policy and water rules. Local Community Tech: DeKalb County expanded a community-centered policing partnership using security robots to support investigations. NIH/Fauci Emails: Emails claim NIH-funded scientists nominated Anthony Fauci for prizes during COVID, reigniting scrutiny over foreign-gift rules and disclosures. Research & Aging: A Georgia-linked study reports daily multivitamins improved older adults’ functional health after three years. Georgia Crime Tech: Flock camera misuse claims and policy fights continue to dominate headlines across states.

UNESCO & Georgia Economy: The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge became Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, a 44-year push that now shifts focus to delivering the promised regional growth. Education & Tech Use: Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act is getting support from parents arguing that limiting classroom phone time can improve focus and grades. Privacy at the Border: A federal case targets Atlanta resident Sam Tunick over an alleged “duress” password on a GrapheneOS phone that wiped data during a CBP search—raising fresh questions about device searches and encrypted phones. Cybersecurity: Atlanta-based MCBS says a September 2025 breach affected 1.26 million people, with attackers claiming large-scale theft of patient and business records. Surveillance Backlash: Lawmakers are escalating fights over Flock-style license plate readers, including proposals to cut federal funding to local police using mass surveillance tech. Georgia Tech Research: Researchers at Georgia Tech unveiled a fracture-testing platform aimed at checking whether recycled materials actually last in real-world conditions. Robotics & Manufacturing: Hyundai says it will deploy Boston Dynamics’ Atlas first at its Georgia Metaplant America site, while building a broader US robot production push. Crypto Policy Watch: Ripple leaders are urging Senate action on the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act as negotiations drag toward the August recess.

Georgia Tech Materials Research: Researchers at Georgia Tech unveiled a new fracture-testing platform meant to show when recycled plastics and other recycled materials stop performing in real-world conditions, aiming to answer the practical question of whether they’ll actually last. GDOT Freight Innovation: Georgia released the timeline for I-75 Commercial Vehicle Lanes—41 miles of toll-free, truck-only lanes planned to start construction in 2027 and finish by the end of 2032, with two barrier-separated lanes northbound. Surveillance Policy Fight: U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett introduced federal legislation to block federal funding for automated mass surveillance tech, including license plate readers like Flock; the move follows ongoing public backlash and misuse allegations tied to Flock systems. Privacy in the Courts: A case in federal court in Georgia centers on an Atlanta activist accused of wiping a phone using a duress password during a border search, raising questions about whether deleting data to avoid warrantless access is criminal. Wildlife & Heritage: Okefenokee Swamp was officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming Georgia’s first site and highlighting its biodiversity and climate research value. Public Health & Learning: A University of Georgia study links frequent social media use in early adolescence with worse reading and vocabulary development over time.

Grid Expansion & Eminent Domain: Georgia Power is advancing a major transmission buildout tied to new AI data center demand, proposing 1,000+ miles of lines and new generation that could displace hundreds of property owners, including residents facing potential eminent domain. UNESCO, Georgia Nature: The Okefenokee Swamp was officially added as Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its peatland record and biodiversity, though some locals worry about increased oversight. AI Data Centers, Local Backlash: The week’s coverage keeps circling the same fight—data center growth versus community impacts—highlighting how grid upgrades and new facilities are driving political and regulatory pressure across the state. Privacy vs. Enforcement Tech: A legal dispute in Georgia centers on whether a “duress” phone wipe used during a border search can be treated as a crime, underscoring the growing tension between device security and government searches. Education & Tech Policy Signals: Georgia-related items include school uniform pricing approvals and a University of Georgia study linking heavier social media use in early adolescence to weaker reading and vocabulary development over time. Energy Storage Momentum: National reporting notes record U.S. battery storage additions in 2025 and early 2026, a backdrop for why grid capacity is becoming a central tech and policy issue.

UNESCO Recognition for Georgia’s Nature: Okefenokee Swamp has officially been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming Georgia’s first site and joining global natural icons; UNESCO highlights its peat record and biodiversity, while some locals previously worried about outside management. Privacy vs. Border Searches: A Georgia case is testing whether using a phone “duress” wipe to avoid warrantless access is a crime, after federal agents allegedly wiped an activist’s phone at Hartsfield-Jackson. UGA Research on Kids’ Brains: A University of Georgia study links frequent social media use in early adolescence to weaker reading and vocabulary development over time. Robots and Work: IEEE’s Humanoids 2026 frames humanoid robotics as a “future of work” issue, pointing to real deployments that shift the debate from engineering to jobs and economics. Energy Storage Boom: New reporting says U.S. battery storage hit record growth in 2025 and surged again in early 2026, signaling fast-moving grid and power infrastructure change. AI Surveillance Backlash: A report describes how school bus stop-arm camera systems could expand into broader license-plate tracking, raising concerns about a nationwide surveillance network.

Georgia Tech Sustainability: Georgia Tech launched its first Sustainable Lab Certification, giving campus labs bronze/silver/gold tiers for cutting lab energy and water use, including freezer setpoint tweaks that can cut device energy by ~30%. AI Data Centers & Local Politics: A proposed Georgia AI data center (“Project Ruby”) sparked a Columbus-area rally after residents said they weren’t heard, while across the country lawmakers push for moratoriums and tighter rules as power and water demands rise. OpenAI in Georgia: OpenAI’s planned 3.2-gigawatt Project Camellia data center is slated for Rincon near Savannah, adding to the state’s fast-growing AI infrastructure. Surveillance Backlash in Georgia: Georgia continues to see fallout from Flock license-plate camera misuse, with multiple arrests and calls for stricter oversight. Public Health: CDC/FDA report Cyclospora linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce is more widespread than first thought, with cases across multiple states including Georgia. Cyber/Workforce Signal: LinkedIn named Augusta No. 1 “City on the Rise,” citing momentum in cybersecurity and data-center-linked job growth.

AI & Policy: States are rushing to regulate AI chatbots, with dozens of bills targeting disclosure, age controls, data protection, and liability—showing how fast rules are moving ahead of consistent standards. Public Safety Tech: Atlanta’s metro districts are adding drones, tactical teams, and weapons-detection systems as school starts near, while the broader Flock camera debate keeps spreading into local oversight fights. Georgia Tech & Industry: Coca-Cola closed a $31.3M land deal with Georgia Tech to expand campus space, a direct boost for research and enrollment growth. Health & Research: Georgia State researchers report an oral antiviral that blocked measles-like virus spread in ferrets via both contact and air, pointing to faster outbreak control. Environment & Agriculture: Georgia and South Carolina are moving to contain an invasive yellow-legged hornet that preys on honeybees. Data Privacy & Courts: A federal case in Georgia alleges a “duress” phone passcode wiped data at the border, raising new questions about rights and evidence handling. Education Workforce: Georgia’s teacher shortage continues to worsen despite efforts to recruit and retain educators.

Privacy & Health Tech: Wellstar agreed to pay $4.25 million in a class action over claims it used Google and Meta tracking tools on its website and MyChart portal, exposing about 870,000 people’s protected health information. AI Infrastructure in Georgia: OpenAI held a public open house in Effingham County for its proposed $20B “Project Camellia” data center campus, with questions raised about oversight and who will run promised independent audits. Surveillance Policy: Conyers police supervisor Paige Forte was arrested for alleged misuse of Flock license plate reader data for non-law-enforcement purposes; separately, Macon County voted to bar Flock camera funding. Workforce & Research: NSF-backed awards will fund AI, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing training, with UGA among partners; plus, Georgia’s first Superfund research center launch drew attention to environmental science capacity. Public Health & Food Safety: The cyclospora outbreak fallout continues as FDA and reporting revisit what went wrong with lettuce testing and risk assessment. STEM Education: RMG announced its 2026 scholars, selecting 25 students after interviews and academic review. Health & Community: A UGA study found food access gaps can show up in higher-income metro areas, not just low-income neighborhoods.

AI Data Centers in Georgia: OpenAI’s planned “Project Camellia” data center in Rincon (Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub) is back in the spotlight as opponents warn about water and power impacts while the company says it will cover infrastructure and electric-service costs. Public Safety Tech Under Scrutiny: Chatham County launched a transparency portal for its Flock license plate reader use, while Conyers police say a Real-Time Crime Center supervisor was arrested for allegedly misusing Flock to track her domestic partner’s vehicle—another reminder that oversight is becoming a Georgia-wide issue. Local Data-Center Moratoriums: Cherokee County approved a 30-day data center pause to draft rules, joining other metro efforts to slow approvals and tighten governance. Health Policy & Research: A Senate committee delayed a vote on whether to advance the Atlanta-based CDC director nominee, Dr. Erica Schwartz, as the nomination faces political pressure questions. Climate & Risk: Georgia Tech researchers discussed a heat-dome pattern driving extreme heat and humidity across the state, raising danger for long outdoor exposure. Education for Neurodivergent Students: Atlanta’s Howard School marked 75 years with new arts-based pilot programs designed for neurodivergent learners. Cyber/Defense Talent Growth: LinkedIn ranked Augusta No. 1 for “Cities on the Rise,” citing cybersecurity and defense momentum around Fort Gordon.

Data Centers & Power Crunch: A BloombergNEF projection says AI-driven computing campuses could push U.S. data center demand to 194 gigawatts by 2035, with data centers reaching about 20% of U.S. electricity—far beyond today’s 5.9%. Local Tech Governance: Georgia’s data-center debate keeps heating up: Chamblee approved a 180-day moratorium on new data center development, while Bulloch County moved to strip permissive zoning language for data centers and crypto mining. Surveillance Tech Backlash: Flock Safety’s license-plate cameras remain controversial—Costa Mesa voted to keep its contract but renegotiate terms, and Auburn residents packed council comments largely opposing the system. AI in Courts: A Georgia appeals panel vacated parts of a Henry County Schools discrimination ruling after the trial order relied on fabricated legal citations generated by AI. Cyber & Privacy: 23andMe agreed to pay Georgia after a breach exposed genetic data of 171,125 Georgians. STEM Education: Every Learner Everywhere launched a calculus redesign program with 12 public colleges to reduce the Calculus I bottleneck using department-wide course redesign and performance feedback. Public Safety Tech: Atlanta leaders said FIFA World Cup public safety and transit operations were a success, citing coordination across 200 agencies and a measurable drop in entertainment-district crime.