Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:

Now on to today’s briefing.

-Emily, [email protected]

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A Victoria software company has released an AI platform designed to operate entirely offline, addressing privacy concerns that have slowed AI adoption among individuals and organizations handling sensitive information. Synsira Software launched Kind Local Pro on July 28, offering a desktop application that processes files locally without connecting to cloud servers or external data centres.

Kind Local Pro allows users to build collections of documents, research papers, audio, video, images, and email, then ask natural-language questions across that material. Answers are generated only from the user's own files, and the platform is designed to acknowledge when it doesn't have enough information to answer a question rather than generate a response.

The product is aimed at professionals in data-sensitive fields. Lawyers can analyze client files without that material leaving their machine; researchers can search years of unpublished work without risk of it being used to train external models; and brand or communications teams can organize proprietary assets without exposing them to third-party providers.

"People want AI to be useful, but they also want to know where their data is going," said Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer, Synsira's founder. "Kind Local Pro was built for users who want AI on their own terms: private, local and grounded in their own information."

🤖 Roll with it: Victoria's Open Ocean Robotics shared a demonstration of its DataXplorer uncrewed vessel's patented self-righting system, which allows the craft to recover from a capsize and continue its mission without interruption.

🦈 Da dum: Victoria's Ocean Diagnostics supplied the environmental DNA surface sampling technology used in a Stanford University study that detected white shark presence at unexpected California coastal sites, adding to understanding of the species' behaviour patterns.

🏠 We built this city: TELUS Living opened a 195-unit purpose-built rental community in downtown Nanaimo, converting a former telecommunications property into smart, sustainable housing designed to zero carbon standards.

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August 11 | iWIST presents Geeky Girls Patio Party 2026

The annual Geeky Girls’ Patio Party brings the community together to connect, share summer adventures, and discuss fall plans. This year iWIST will announce recipients of three scholarships for women in STEM.

August 22 | Cursor Codechella

​This is a one-day hackathon for 150 to 200 builders, creatives, or thinkers who want to finally ship that project they've always wanted to exist. This is not a demo day hackathon.

September 21-25 | Victoria Tech Week 2026

Unlike traditional single-venue conferences, Victoria Tech Week empowers local businesses to open their doors and welcome attendees inside, offering an authentic behind-the-scenes look at Victoria's thriving tech ecosystem. From startup workshops in James Bay to AI panels in downtown office towers and networking sessions in Saanich tech hubs, participants will experience the full breadth of Vancouver Island’s innovation landscape.

Have something or someone we should know about?

Reply or email [email protected] so we can work together to spotlight the lesser-known stories of Victoria's tech ecosystem.