Dozens of AI “nudify” apps remain available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store, even as concerns mount over tools that can generate nonconsensual sexualized images, according to a new report by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP). A breakdown in platform moderation TTP identified 55 nudify apps on Google Play and 47 on Apple’s App Store, many of which can remove clothing from images of women or depict them as partially or fully nude. The report estimates these apps have been downloaded more than 705 million times and generated around
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is bringing his education technology startup, Lumi, into K–12 classrooms through a new partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). The collaboration launches a phased district pilot that introduces students to AI-powered storytelling tools designed to support literacy, creativity, and responsible technology use. Kaepernick’s AI Storytelling Platform Founded by Kaepernick in 2024, Lumi Story AI emerged from stealth with $4 million in seed funding led by Alexis Ohanian’s venture firm, Seven Seven Six. The platform is built to position AI as a creative assistant, helping
The CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Apple have spoken out against violence involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen, in Minneapolis last weekend. Their comments come as more than 450 workers from companies including Google, Amazon, Meta, Salesforce, and OpenAI signed an open letter urging their CEOs to pressure the White House to “demand that ICE leave our cities.” The petition also calls for the immediate cancellation of all company contracts with ICE, arguing that the tech industry’s tools
Howard University will launch an “Intro to Artificial Intelligence” course in spring 2026, partnering with CodePath and with financial support from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, according to a press release shared with AfroTech. Howard faculty and CodePath’s faculty network will jointly teach instruction spanning data structures, AI literacy, and agentic workflows, the release said. The program positions applied AI-assisted software development inside a core academic setting rather than treating it as an extracurricular credential. “Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for
Crystal Brown has no background in biology. She studied political science and women’s studies at the University of Michigan. Yet she has raised $3.3 million for CircNova, her AI-powered biotechnology company developing new therapies using circular RNA. Since securing the seed funding earlier this year, the Detroit entrepreneur has split her time between Michigan and Boston, building partnerships with biotech heavyweights as she scales the company. An Unlikely Journey To Biotech Brown’s path to biotech began in Michigan’s automotive industry, where she was climbing toward an executive role. A friend’s introduction to a life
Emma Grede, founding partner of $5 billion shapewear brand SKIMS, has said workers have “no choice but to AI-proof our careers” at Axios’s BFD dealmaking summit in New York last week. The British-born entrepreneur has an estimated net worth of $405 million and has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s richest self-made women for four years running. AI: It’s Do Or Die Grede, who also serves as SKIMs’ chief product officer and is the CEO and co-founder of Good American, says she sets aside time in her schedule to focus on AI. “I have what
Former Harvard students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio have raised a $6.6 million seed round led by General Catalyst to develop Mira: audio-first smart glasses that “remember everything.” Described as a “second brain,” Mira designed to learn throughout your daily life and provide personalized, private insights. The Viral Moment That Started It All Nguyen and Ardayfio first drew widespread attention in September 2024 after an X video demonstrating their hacked Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses went viral. In the demo, the pair used facial recognition tools and public data sources to
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the nation’s first civil rights law organization, has appointed Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and author of national bestseller Unmasking AI, to its Board of Directors. As AI tools proliferate across policing, hiring, lending, education, and healthcare, civil rights advocates warn that their built-in biases could disproportionately harm Black communities. LDF says Buolamwini’s expertise in algorithmic accountability will be key to guiding the organization’s response to these emerging tech-driven civil rights challenges. A Leading Voice on Algorithmic Justice Buolamwini founded the
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is taking legal action against companies and individuals who have replicated his iconic voice and likeness without his permission. His stance comes amid growing concerns in Hollywood over the use of AI to create deepfakes and synthetic replications without consent or compensation. Morgan Takes Legal Action Against Unauthorized AI In a recent interview with The Guardian, Freeman made his position clear: “I’m a little PO’d, you know. I’m like any other actor: don’t mimic me with falseness. I don’t appreciate it, and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you’re gonna do it without me, you’re robbing
Space Continuum, a Black-owned design and innovation firm, is partnering with German robotics leader NEURA Robotics. The partnership aims to bring next-generation humanoid robots to North America to help tackle workforce shortages. Founded by industry veteran John Johnson, Space Continuum is best known for blending physical space design with emerging technologies. The firm’s portfolio includes projects at Rush University Medical Center, the University of Chicago, and the Barack Obama Presidential Library. Robots designed to collaborate with humans With this new partnership, Space Continuum aims to tackle workforce shortages and operational
