Is AI unfairly denying insurance claims in Florida?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries—from enhancing photo filters to powering self-driving cars. Now, it’s reshaping how insurance claims are processed, especially in storm-prone states like Florida. But as AI speeds up decisions, some worry it may be unfairly denying coverage to homeowners who need it most. In Florida, where homeowners already pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, insurers are increasingly relying on AI to handle claims after major storms. More from WPEC.
Tampa Bay and Polk water agencies clash over Alafia River
Tampa Bay Water — which provides water for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties and St. Petersburg and Tampa — recently received a modification to an existing permit to increase the amount of water it can remove from the Alafia River. But a petition filed on Oct. 15 with the state Division of Administrative Hearings by the Polk Regional Water Cooperative said TBW’s increased allowance prohibits their agency from being able to rely on the Alafia River as a future water source. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Air taxis, facial scans and parking: Orlando airport plans for future
Orlando International Airport’s vision for the future includes zipping passengers past traffic jams on Jetsons-like air taxis, replacing paper boarding passes with facial-recognition technology and alleviating parking headaches with thousands of new spaces. Those features are part of a $6 billion plan that will guide the airport’s development over the next decade, transforming everything from how Central Florida residents get to their plane to how they order a pre-flight meal. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Google invests $2 million on AI readiness at Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College and Google on Tuesday announced a $2 million investment from the tech giant to expand a program to prepare the institution’s students for artificial intelligence careers. The funding will benefit students by strengthening a program to train educators, enhance digital infrastructure and develop AI-centered curriculum resources for college and K–12 faculty, according to MDC representatives. More from Refresh Miami.
Tariffs hit Port Canaveral for more than $800K
Port Canaveral officials celebrated record revenue Wednesday after running through its fiscal year numbers, but tariffs cost the port more than $800,000 that wasn’t in the planned budget. The port’s new mobile harbor crane, as well as a passenger boarding bridge, were among 2025’s capital projects that cost the port more nearly $10 million combined, which then were subject to a 10% tariff. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Miami Beach’s unique new attraction: A traffic jam, underwater, of concrete cars
A nearly life-size car made of concrete weighing over 14 tons was slowly lowered to the ocean floor on Monday, just a short swim from the sands of Miami Beach. It’s the first of a small fleet of similar cars — 22 in all — that make up the initial installation of an ambitious 11-phase project called REEFLINE, which eventually aims to create an underwater sculpture trail along the entire seven-mile length of Miami Beach. The project is designed as a unique blend of art, tourism and climate resilience.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Heavy hitter
American businesswoman, political activist and self-made billionaire Diane Marie Hendricks has joined Inspired Communities of Florida and EJ Smith Enterprises as co-owner and co-developer of the $200-million Reverb Hard Rock Hotel complex in downtown Pensacola's Community Maritime Park. The proposed project, now under the name of ICF-Smith, will include a 15-story apartment building and a 10-story, 125-room Hard Rock Hotel overlooking the Pensacola Bay waterfront and Blue Wahoos Stadium.
» Read more from Florida Trend.