Gossip personality Tasha K will pay rapper Cardi B nearly $1.2 million over the next five years and refrain from making disparaging remarks about Cardi B or her family, The Rolling Stone reports. Cardi B sued Tasha K, the blogger behind UnWinewithTashaK, for defamation in 2019. A federal jury ruled in Cardi’s favor in 2022, awarding her $4 million over false claims made on YouTube and other platforms. Tasha K filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023, and judge approved the bankruptcy repayment plan on Monday. How much will Tasha
Microsoft has announced its plans to train one million people in digital skills through an Artificial Intelligence skilling initiative in South Africa. The initiative will give South Africans insight into the strategic aspects of AI whilst empowering leaders with the necessary tools and knowledge required to navigate the advancing AI landscape. “Harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic vision, but a tangible reality for organisations seeking to achieve exponential growth and optimisation,” Lillian Barnard, President for Microsoft Africa, said in a press release. What
Techish is back! This week, Abadesi and Michael kick off the episode with the backlash over Stormzy’s McDonald’s collaboration. They also break down Meta’s latest layoffs and how performance reviews play into the mix. Then, they take a look at the rising cost of concert tickets—why are prices for artists like Beyoncé skyrocketing? Finally, they discuss the future of DEI in corporate America and what these shifts mean for the people driving the work forward. Chapters 00:25 Stormzy’s McDonald’s Collaboration Sparks Backlash09:49 Meta Lays Off “Low Performers”16:03 Cowboy Carter Tour:
Tech workers union Prospect is asking UK lawmakers to examine the diversity efforts of US multinational companies operating in the UK to ensure they comply with UK regulations and values. It has written to Parliament’s Women and Equalities, asking them to review American businesses rolling back DEI efforts. “Prospect represents thousands of UK tech workers, including in companies like Meta, and we have been alarmed to see how these companies have acted since Donald Trump’s inauguration as President,” the letter stated. It added “Not only have the CEOs of many
Hoan Ton-That, the CEO of Clearview AI, has decided to step down from his position, as reported by Forbes. The controversial facial recognition company received criticism in 2020 after gathering billions of images from social media without users’ consent to create a global facial recognition database. With Trump allies now leading Clearview, concerns are growing that a potential Trump administration could expand biometric surveillance, increasing risks for Black and immigrant communities. Clearview AI’s change in leadership Ton-That stepped down as CEO in December, becoming president before later announcing his full
Actress Kerry Washington joined Equip Health, a startup that supports people with eating disorders, as an investor and advisor, Fortune reports. Equip Health has raised $110 million from other angel investors, including Katie Couric and soccer celeb Alex Morgan. Equip provides users with virtual appointments with experts, including therapists, doctors, dietitians, family, and peer mentors. Washington opened up about her eating disorder in her memoir Thicker Than Water. She spoke about her struggles with binge eating and severe food restriction, often not consuming food for several days or obsessively exercising.
MANSA, a global fintech innovator in trans-regional payments, announced its recent $10 million funding round. It raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Tether and co-headed by Polymorphic Capital with the help of other significant investors like Faculty Group, Octerra Capital, and Thrive Digital. They secured a further $7 million in liquidity funding from corporate investors, quantitative funds, and alternative investment firms. “This funding accelerates our global expansion, enabling us to empower payment companies with seamless, real-time settlement infrastructure and drive the future of payments,” Mouloukou Sanoh, CEO and
Former Obama administration advisor DeJuana L. Thompson joins Akina Technologies PBC as its co-founder, alongside Lisa Green and Dr. Nashlie Sephus, according to a press release. The innovative platform gives users transformative AI solutions, resources, and a space for community. This new leadership appointment will allow Akina Technologies to expand and continue to change millions of lives while transforming the future of connection, visibility, and opportunity. What is Akina Technologies PBC? Akina Technologies PBC helps create the future of culturally competent generative AI solutions for underrepresented communities. Its two main products,
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown announced his latest initiative, Oakland XChange, which will support underrepresented business owners and creators in Oakland. This initiative follows the success of his nonprofit Boston XChange (BXC), where he also created similar opportunities for underrepresented business owners, according to Boston Celtics. What is Oakland XChange? Similar to his first nonprofit, Oakland XChange will provide underrepresented creators in Oakland with $100,000 in grant funding, workspaces, and business services valued at more than $150,000. The entrepreneurs will also be offered three years of coaching and receive assistance
Stacy Brown-Philpot, TaskRabbit’s former chief executive officer, secured $172 million for her new venture fund, Cherryrock Capital. The fund focuses on investing at the Series A and B stages in companies led by underinvested entrepreneurs. Cherryrock Capital’s investors included JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc, as well as Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Ariel Investments’ Mellody Hobson, and former Meta Platforms Inc. chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, according to Bloomberg. The fund’s launch comes at a time when several companies are scaling back their
