Latimer, named after African-American inventor Lewis Latimer, is a new platform trying to make generative AI more inclusive. The new large language model (LLM) is built to reflect the experience, culture, and history of Black and brown people more accurately. The platform recently announced new partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to help bring the inclusive tool to students, agencies, brands, and the general public. Tackling racial bias and erasure Many generative AI models amplify the bias, inaccuracy, and erasure of Black and brown cultural data. A Bloomberg
Hispanic and Latine tech workers comprise a small percentage of the workforce, According to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, only 8% of tech workers are Hispanic or Latine despite making up 18.7% of the US population. The percentage is even smaller for women, with Hispanic or Latina women only holding 1% of tech roles. We recently rounded up communities and organizations for Latine tech professionals; here’s an updated list of available resources. Resources For Tech Professionals 1. Techqueria Techqueria, a nonprofit founded in 2015, serves tech’s most extensive global
Black-owned beauty-tech company Myavana is using AI to provide personalized insights and hair regimens that work for women of color. Myavana is the brainchild of computer scientist Candace Mitchell Harris. Her natural hair journey led her to seek data-driven, intelligent hair care solutions everywhere, from the lab to the Metaverse. The Science of Hair Data reveals that Black consumers drive the global hair-care market, spending nine times more on hair-care products than other racial groups. Black women, in particular, spend about $1.7 billion annually on hair-care products. While studying computer
Google has announced an additional $2 million investment in Morehouse College and Hampton University as part of an ongoing collaboration with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). According to UNCF, Google has invested over $50 million over a number of years to elevate talent and innovation at Historically Black Universities (HBCUs). Supporting students to pursue tech careers Morehouse College and Hampton University will receive $1 million each to invest in technical infrastructure aimed to support in-class and remote learning. The universities will also develop curriculum and career support programs for
YouTube has launched its Inclusive Media Initative, allowing creators to self-identify in ways that capture their multiple identities and allow advertisers to target their advertising better. The initiative is in partnership with Pixability, the leader in brand suitability and contextual targeting solutions for advertisers on YouTube. The Inclusive Media Initative For the first time, YouTubers can self-select how they identify regarding their race, sexuality, and other factors. Previously, creators on the platform had to rely on party ad vendors to choose the identity labels presented to advertisers, which often limits
Black-owned tech startup Slinger has raised £500,000 ($600,000) in pre-seed funding to shake up the hospitality industry’s hiring process. Brexit and COVID-19 have left the UK’s hospitality industry struggling with staff vacancies – industry vacancies are still 72% higher than pre-pandemic levels. As a result, the industry is having to turn away £25 billion ($30.3 billion) worth of business in the UK. Slinger aims to change this. Group Chat To Google-backed Founded by Theo-Lee Houston, Slinger aims to make hospitality hiring processes easier and fairer, connecting talent with businesses in
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has announced the launch of the Venture Access Alliance. Comprising over 70 investors, the Alliance aims to build a more inclusive tech startup ecosystem in New York City. A more inclusive startup ecosystem New York City is the second largest tech ecosystem in the world. Over 30% of businesses in the city are minority-owned, and there has been a noticeable surge in Black-owned businesses. The Alliance is part of NYCEDC’s broader Venture Access NYC program, which aims to increase diversity in the city’s startup
A new report by the Kapor Foundation has highlighted the challenges faced by Native communities in computer science education and within the US tech ecosystem. The State of Tech Diversity: The Native Tech Ecosystem report was published in collaboration with AISES, a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing Indigenous people in STEM. “The findings of this report underscore the pressing need to eliminate these disparities through continued awareness and advocacy, educational resources, and professional development tailored to our communities,” said Dr. Kathy DeerinWater, VP of Programs and Research at AISES, in
Originally published by Esuvat Bomani on Medium. Over the years, I have attended numerous career fairs. Some on campus, others further out (as part of conferences), and a few virtually. As we approach the Fall conference such as ACM’s Richard Tapia Conference, I thought it would be great to compile a short guide for first timers and other inquisitive folks full of tips I have accumulated over the years. Before the conference: Go through a list of all the companies/universities attending it. From this, put a star on all of
Michigan Central and Newlab have announced the Founder Fellowship, a Detroit-based program supporting a cohort of five climate tech founders from underrepresented backgrounds. A New Mobility Innovation District Michigan Central is Ford Motor Company’s new $1 billion mobility innovation district in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood. The hub is part of Ford Motor Company’s vision to reshape the future of global mobility, working with key partners and suppliers and connecting to a broader network of city and regional assets and testing. Newlab, is a tech incubator founded to address societal needs
