A new book that highlights how Black mid-career technology professionals are being pushed out of the job market has recently been published. The author, veteran career strategist and corporate executive Byron K. Veasey, argues that Black professionals are navigating a hiring market with several structural barriers. The Triple Barrier Locked Out: Proven Strategies to Navigate ATS Filters, Overcome Workplace Bias, and Win Senior-Level Roles in a Shifting Job Market for Black Professionals highlights what Veasay calls the Triple Barrier: a combination of algorithmic filtering, human bias, and the systematic dismantling
Byron Allen has become the majority owner of Buzzfeed after finally closing the acquisition of the digital media brand. Allen will take over as CEO of the company, with former CEO Jonah Peretti serving as “president of BuzzFeed AI.” In this role peretti “will bring his strategic focus to applied AI research, product innovation and the development of new technology-driven media formats,” according to Variety. BuzzFeed’s transaction with Allen Family Digital was closed on Wednesday, 27 May, with Allen Family Digital acquiring 40 million shares of BuzzFeed common stock. Buzzfeed
Kevin Hart shared that his confirmed Hartbeat has downsized, but it is here to stay. When asked whether Hartbeat is still operating on The Breakfast Club, Hart said, “Hartbeat is never going anywhere.” This came after reports from employees who told Bloomberg that Hart was absent from his company, leaving employees worried after layoffs. Hart has also changed his phone number since the layoffs that eliminated almost 25% of his workforce. The current status of Hartbeat Hart told The Breakfast Club that his company did downsize, saying, “My executive team is still
Kevin Hart has been absent from his company, Hartbreak, for weeks, leaving employees worried after layoffs, according to Bloomberg. Hart has also changed his phone number since the layoffs that eliminated almost 25% of his workforce. Layoffs at Hartbeat Studios In January 2025, Hart became the CEO of his entertainment company, Hartbeat Productions. Two CEOs left the company within 15 months, while nearly 20 employees were dismissed during the same period. The CEO’s exits were due to differences of opinion over the company’s strategic direction. However, they left the company
Byron Allen is buying a controlling stake in BuzzFeed and becoming its chief executive, taking over from BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti, according to The New York Times. The announcement came on Monday, 11 May, when it was also shared that Allen will pay $120 million for a 52 percent stake in BuzzFeed. Bryon Allen purchasing a stake in Buzzfeed Allen shared in the announcement that he will focus on increasing free-streaming video, audio, and user-generated content. “Byron’s vision, operational experience and long-term commitment to premium content makes him exceptionally well-positioned to lead
Natasha Sideris, the restaurateur behind Tashas Group, and DJ Black Coffee are teaming up to create a premium agave spirit label in South Africa, according to Bloomberg. The label, Leonista, is set to launch at the end of the year. Sideris and Maphumul will source agave from the Karoo, a semi-arid region known for its premium lamb products. Black Coffee launching a spirit brand Leonista will be similar to tequila, meaning that it is distilled from the same plant genus. But tequila can only be made in specific regions of Mexico
will.i.am has completed his first semester teaching agentic AI at Arizona State University, as reported by Fox 11. The course is a credit-bearing, 15-week class open to all students; a second semester is in the works for later this year. will.i.am teaching an AI course During the course, students created their own personal companion called an agent. They presented their AI projects at the end of the course, with one student using his work to support veterans. Another student wrote a song related to the healthcare journey. “This professorship marks
Social network platform Series has raised a $5.1 million in a pre-seed round, according to TechCrunch. The round included investors such as Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. Founders Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow met at Yale after both joining the university’s Society for Aspiring Entrepreneurs. About Series Users on Series can request support from other network users, such as an entrepreneur seeking help writing a business plan. The request is made to an AI-powered agent, which Series calls the agent your “AI friend.”
Audible has announced a new Audible Original from Kevin Hart, called Kids Make Me Angry, releasing on June 4. The audible is a partial memoir of Hart’s experiences as a father, but will also serve as a survival guide for parents. “I had no blueprint for being a dad, so I had to figure it out on my own,” Hart said in a press release. “And let me tell you, I wasn’t always perfect, but I showed up 100% of the time. In this Audible Original, I am getting real
White Influencer Lauren Blake Boultier used AI to place her face on a photo of Black influencer Tatiana Elizabeth, according to People Magazine. The image was a 2-year-old photo of Elizabeth at the US Open. Boultier shared the image to her 1.6 million followers last month, leading them to believe she attended the Miami Open. Social media users started to notice that the image belonged to Elizabeth. On March 30, Elizabeth posted a screenshot of Bouliter’s photo next to her original on threads. The image showed that Boultier was wearing the
