Jacksonville artificial intelligence takes on new uses
Key points:
- • The University of Florida’s $300 million Jacksonville campus is expanding local training in cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics as employers compete for digital talent.
- • U.S. information security analyst jobs are projected to grow 21% through 2035, reinforcing demand for skills that span cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and data systems.
- • Jacksonville leaders across finance, healthcare, and education are pairing AI adoption with tighter fraud controls, privacy protections, employee training, and research partnerships.
September 2026 — Jacksonville artificial intelligence adoption is creating new opportunities across the economy while also raising cybersecurity, privacy, and fraud risks. Financial institutions are strengthening fraud detection, healthcare organizations are protecting increasingly digital patient information, and employers are looking for talent that can keep pace with a changing threat landscape.
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The demand for digitally literate talent is also reshaping Jacksonville’s education and workforce ecosystem. The University of Florida’s new Jacksonville campus represents a $300 million investment to date and offers graduate programs in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. The investment brings those areas of study closer to a business community that already includes major employers across financial services, healthcare, and defense.
FIS, Northrop Grumman, and Mayo Clinic are among Jacksonville organizations hiring cybersecurity professionals across financial services, defense, and healthcare. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for information security analysts to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, with a median annual wage of $129,180 as of May 2025. The numbers reinforce the workforce side of the cybersecurity equation, with employers seeking professionals who can manage systems, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to evolving threats.
Across Jacksonville, employers and educational institutions are adapting to AI, cybersecurity, and broader digital risks through talent development, fraud prevention, employee training, research partnerships, and investments in digital systems. Invest: Jacksonville spoke with leaders across education, financial services, and healthcare about how cybersecurity and AI are changing their organizations.
Saby Mitra, Dean of Business and Management, University of Florida, Warrington College of Business
Another exciting area is building research partnerships. We have faculty with expertise in AI and analytics, but what they do not always have is the data. Companies, especially small and medium-sized companies, have the data and can benefit from our expertise. Our faculty benefit from access to data for their research, and companies benefit from the insights generated.
We also do similar work with student projects. Students are given an AI- or analytics-related problem, access to the data, and then they work on it for a semester before presenting their findings. That has been another successful model of interaction with companies.
Brent Lister, President & CEO, First Florida Credit Union
We continue to implement additional fraud parameters, but we do not want to restrict credit or account access for our members. We have to protect our members’ information.
Artificial intelligence is another factor. AI can be used by fraudsters, but our fraud detection platforms also use AI to help prevent fraud. Fraudsters may be ahead of the digital curve, but hopefully, we have sped up our learning curve so we are not too far behind.
Samuel Inman, President & CEO, Community First Credit Union of Florida
We have worked to better educate our team members so they can help members recognize suspicious activity and scams.
We have also put tools in place that help deter or prevent fraud before members are victimized.
AI is also changing the fraud landscape. As people and organizations become more visible, there are more opportunities for bad actors to use AI and social media to target them. That means we have to continue training our team members and improving our tools.
Katie Gibbs, CEO, Kindred Hospital North Florida
We are looking at how new tools can help shape our capabilities. We already use several platforms to collect, review, and share data, including success stories.
Patient privacy is important. We maintain a secure network and use it to support communication and review patient charts. AI capabilities can provide physicians with an additional resource, while also helping them communicate with one another more effectively.
Want more? Read the Invest: Jacksonville report.
