The NAACP and other civil rights groups have filed an appeal against a permit that would allow Elon Musk’s xAI to use gas turbines to power its massive data center. The complaint was filed by The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on behalf of the NAACP and the youth-led group Young, Gifted & Green. The NAACP appealing a permit against xAI After xAI began operating in Memphis in 2024, the startup stated that the turbines at the data center were temporary and small enough not to require permits. But, residents living near
The Defense Department has announced that it will be deploying Grok in its operations, a week after it sent out antisemitic tweets. The xAI announcement was accompanied by the launch of Grok for Government, a suite that enables agencies and federal offices to utilize its chatbots for their specific purposes. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has pushed for faster adoption of artificial intelligence tools. The Defense Department using Grok On Monday, xAI shared that its products will be “available to purchase via the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule,” meaning
Howard University and Google Research have released a dataset comprising over 600 hours of AAE dialects from 32 states to enhance AI’s recognition of diverse Black dialects. As part of Project Elevate Black Voices, researchers traveled across the US to capture commonly used speech patterns in Black communities that AI systems often overlook. The project aims to enhance the way Black people interact with technology. Black dialects being ignored by artificial intelligence African American English (AAE)—also known as African American Vernacular, Black English, or Black talk—is widely spoken in Black
Torch, a leadership and coaching enterprise, has acquired Praxis Labs, an immersive learning platform that uses AI to build inclusive workplace cultures, for an undisclosed amount. As part of the acquisition, the entire Praxis Labs team will join Torch. Praxis Labs’ co-founders, Elise Smith and Heather Shen, will join Torch as Head of AI Growth and Head of AI Product, respectively. About Praxis Labs Founded in 2019, Praxis Labs is an AI platform that builds critical human skills with research-backed practice simulations, AI coaching, and skills assessments. The startup has
The UN has created two AI avatars in a bid to help more people learn about the realities faced by those fleeing war. The first is Amina, a character playing the role of a woman living in a refugee camp in Chad after she escaped violence in Sudan. Then, there’s a soldier persona called Abdalla, a character built with the behavior and decision-making patterns of an actual combatant. Both avatars were created by the United Nations University Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), a research institution connected to the United Nations,
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. In this episode of Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi dive into the wild story of the tech con artist who is fooling Silicon Valley startups, exposing some big cracks in how the industry hires. They also break down the rise of AI addictions, the emotional pull of chatbots, and round off with Grammarly’s acquisition of Superhuman. 00:25 The Tech Swindler: The Greatest Catfish of a Generation? 12:37 AI Addiction and Chatbot Dependency 26:23 Grammarly Buys Superhuman – Little Tech vs. Big
Agbo Obinnaya and his co-founder, Ngwu Anthony Mark, are helping Nigerians learn about the law through their AI platform, Case Radar. Founded in September 2024, it’s helped 1,400 users receive legal advice and find lawyers for their cases. While its platform is similar to that of ChatGPT, both founders believe its knowledge of legal advice is limited to what is widely available online. In contrast, Casa Radar operates on digitized Nigerian court documents that were previously unavailable on the internet, according to TechPoint. Using AI to teach Nigerians about the
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. In this episode of Techish, Abadesi chats with Bridget Todd (There Are No Girls on the Internet and IRL) about how AI is changing our lives, especially when it comes to companionship and relationships. They dive into the convenience economy, the responsibilities of tech companies and users, and why real community still matters in an increasingly AI-driven world. Follow Bridget Todd on Instagram @bridgetmarieindc Check out Bridget’s There Are No Girls On The Internet podcast and the IRL podcast Chapters 02:35 AI Lovers?!10:47 Convenience vs Community 23:18
Black Girls Code and haircare brand The Doux have partnered to launch a competition for girls and young women to use AI to create original videos that reflect their self-perception. The Black Beauty AI Challenge is the first of its kind, and competition entries will help shape how AI understands the nuances of Black identity. Teaching AI about Black beauty Participants as young as 13 will have the opportunity to win up to $1,500 in cash prizes, with submissions evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges. “At Black Girls Code,
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. This week on Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi chat about the solo “vibe coder” who sold to Wix for $80M, the Social Network sequel, the Microsoft–OpenAI drama, and why working a “low-status” job might help you be a better person. 00:28 Six-Month Vibe Coder Gets $80M 09:00 The Social Network Is Getting a Sequel 17:59 Microsoft vs. OpenAI Feud Heats Up 32:14 ‘Fascism Starts From the Standing Desk’ [Patreon-Only] Take TripleTen’s career quiz to get a free personalized career consultation! Listen To
