The estate of Donna Summer, the legendary Queen of Disco, has accused rapper Kanye “Ye” West of copyright infringement amid AI concerns. Allegations Against West This accusation centers around a song from West’s recent collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, “Vultures 1.” The estate claims that West sought permission to use Summer’s iconic track “I Feel Love” but was denied. Despite this, the album’s song “Good (Don’t Die)” features lyrics and melodies eerily reminiscent of Summer’s classic. The song includes the lyric, “Oh, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive, oh,” along with
Black-owned AI ed-tech company Skilldora has joined forces with African American billionaire Dr. Michael V. Roberts to offer its platform and AI Instructor-led courses to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Roberts is the founder of Roberts Innovation Group, which aims to break barriers and pave the way for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities to succeed in the tech industry. Skilldora Skilldora, founded by DeMario and Dawn Nicole McIlwain, is an African-American-owned accredited e-learning provider known for its innovative platform and app. The platform aims to
MeVitae, a UK-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) startup, has successfully secured a $1.8 million (€1.7 million) seed round spearheaded by Apex Black. MeVitae Founded by Oxford University alumni, Neuroscientist Riham Satti and Computer Scientist Vivek Doraiswamy, MeVitae specializes in offering a comprehensive DEI ecosystem of HR tools. These tools, developed from a blend of AI ethics and neuroscience perspectives, are designed to detect and mitigate biases, to enhance smarter, faster, and fairer hiring decisions. “Growing up, I never considered that my gender or skin color might impede opportunities. It
In celebration of Black History Month 2024, themed “African Americans and the Arts,” we wanted to focus on the Afrofuturism and it’s evolution and influence over the years. Afrofuturism is a movement that merges science fiction, tech, history, and African diaspora culture. Origins And Evolution Afrofuturism, a term coined by Mark Dery in 1993, has roots that trace back even before it was named. It represents a cultural, aesthetic, and philosophical movement encompassing science, technology, and the history of the African diaspora. As author and filmmaker Ytasha L. Womack described,
Brennan Nevada Inc., reportedly New York’s only Black woman-owned PR and media agency for tech companies, has partnered with SoLo, the US’s largest Black-owned personal finance company. Building Brennan Nevada Inc Founded by Brennan Nevada Johnson in 2021, the agency has quickly established itself as a formidable force in the industry. Johnson, a descendant of Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Black History Month, channels her heritage into her work, emphasizing the promotion of Black and BIPOC stories in the tech world. Johnson’s background in journalism and experience in a
Ethiopia has announced plans to ban the importation of fuel-powered vehicles, shifting its focus exclusively to electric vehicles (EVs). Alemu Sime, the Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, announced the bold move as part of the country’s comprehensive green mobility strategy. Electric Vehicles Only According to Sime, Ethiopia spent €6 billion ($7.6 billion) on petrol and diesel imports in 2023. Additionally, pollution levels in city centers due to cars are reportedly off the charts. Now, the government has decided to allow only EVs into the country by banning gasoline and diesel-powered
An Atlanta-area Black-owned tech company founded by Derek Bailey hopes to change the delivery industry with the Exceeder app. Atlanta’s All-Electric Vehicle Delivery Service Exceeder is an all-electric vehicle delivery service offering sustainable electric SUVs, pickup trucks, and scooters for rent. At the heart of its innovation is the Proteus Generator, a patented gas-to-electric-circulation generator that transforms fuel into low-carbon electricity, redefining recharging for electric vehicles. “The Proteus generator basically puts the power plant onboard the vehicle, eliminating the need to plug into an external power source,” Bailey told Digital
Amazon-owned Ring will stop allowing police departments to request user doorbell camera footage without a warrant or subpoena following concerns over privacy and racial profiling. Ring’s police partnerships The Ring Doorbell Cam is a wire-free video doorbell that can be installed into people’s front doors and homes. Amazon acquired Ring in 2015 for a reported $1 billion. In 2019, Amazon Ring partnered with police departments nationwide through their Neighbors app. Police could access Ring’s Law Enforcement Neighborhood Portal, which allowed them to view a map of the cameras’ locations and directly
Two computer science majors, Leslie Jones-Dove and Devshi Mehrotra from the University of Chicago, have raised $3 million for their AI platform, JusticeText. Making the criminal justice system fairer Jones-Dove and Mehrotra developed their idea during a class project that they both worked on during their university years. Following protests after the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, the duo decided to interlink their interest in technology and the criminal justice system. “Across the country, there are a number of public defender’s offices where they’re underpaid and overworked,” James-Dove told AfroTech. “It means that they have a
Mastercard has purchased a minority stake in mobile operator MTN Group’s fintech business. MTN is Africa’s largest mobile network operator, sharing the benefits of a modern connected life with 272 million customers in 19 markets across Africa and the Middle East. Established in 1994 in South Africa, the company provides voice, data, fintech, digital, enterprise, wholesale, and API services. Mastercard’s Minority Stake In MTN Last year, in 2023, Mastercard announced it would purchase a minority stake in the MTN, and now, six months later, they have. In a statement, MTN said it had
