SWFL Tech continues to focus on uniting and promoting the tech ecosystem throughout Southwest Florida. One way we do this is by highlighting opportunities for growth across the region. We would be remiss if we did not highlight the potential impact of AI and those doing great work in this space along the way!
From rural manufacturing hubs to coastal tech corridors, artificial intelligence is no longer a distant promise—it’s the engine reshaping regional economies. Nationally we’re seeing AI-powered chatbots cut small-business support costs in Ohio, predictive-maintenance systems slash downtime in Georgia’s logistics parks, and computer-vision farms boost Iowa’s yields. Southwest Florida is part of that story, and our own data show the pace is quickening.
In the 2024 Lee County Executive Business Climate Survey, only 31 percent of firms were using AI and nearly two-thirds were holding back over data-security worries and learning curves. One year later, usage has soared to 56 percent. Among adopters, chatbots reign (56 percent) and AI note-takers follow (40 percent). Early returns are promising: 20 percent already credit AI with major productivity gains and 17 percent report new revenue, yet only 25 percent have offered formal staff training and fewer than one in ten non-users expect to invest this year—even though 38 percent see AI spend within five.
SWFL Tech exists to turn possibility into practice. We will continue to spotlight real-world AI deployments and promote the opportunities available to build the skills our people and industries need to stay competitive. Check out this month’s SWFL Tech Spotlight below for more info!
We hope you find this newsletter valuable. Did we miss something? Let us know by sending an email to: community@swfl-tech.org.
Want to stay engaged? Individuals are encouraged to follow us on social media and invite their networks to subscribe to our free newsletter. Companies/organizations are invited to join us as members. We remain a volunteer-run non-profit and cannot operate without regional support. We are all #SWFLTech!
Read the full edition HERE
Join SWFL Tech today and help shape the future of innovation in Southwest Florida!
Thank you