A deepfake video portraying Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. endorsing former president Donald Trump has drawn widespread criticism, particularly from King’s daughter, Bernice King. Posted on Sunday night by the pro-Trump X account “MAGA Resource,” the AI-generated video falsely shows King urging Black Americans to support Trump, claiming he did “more for the Black community than any other president.” By late Monday, the controversial clip had gained over 10 million views, sparking outrage. Bernice King Denounces Deepfake as “Vile” Bernice King took to X on Monday, condemning the video as
This week on Techish, Michael and Abadesi tackle UK and US politics—covering Kemi Badenoch, budget hits for small businesses, and tax headaches for high earners. They also chat about Big Tech’s stance on the US elections, the tech industry’s broken promises, and wrap up with a look at catfishing in online dating. Kemi Badenoch Is Now the UK Conservative Party Leader (00:20) Is the New UK Budget Anti-Business? (04:55) 6-Figure Salaries, Childcare, and the Tax Debate (09:37) US Elections and Big Tech (16:40) Sweet Bobby and Catfishing (26:22) Listen to
Dr Paul Stephenson, a key figure in the British civil rights movement and leader of the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, has died at age 87. Stephenson, who fought for racial equality and against workplace discrimination, passed away on Saturday after battling Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Leading the Bristol Bus Boycott Dr Stephenson’s work gained national attention when he led the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963. The boycott was sparked when the Bristol Omnibus Company refused to hire Black and Asian drivers. This 60-day protest led to the company lifting its
AI-driven hiring tools overwhelmingly prefer resumes with names associated with white men, a new University of Washington (UW) study has found. Resumes with white male names were selected 85% of the time, while those with female-associated names were chosen only 11% of the time. By contrast, resumes with names associated with Black men fared the worst, with models passing them over in favor of other groups in nearly 100% of cases. Biases in AI Resume Screening AI-powered tools are becoming staples in the hiring process. For example, large language model
Former NASA aerospace engineer and future Blue Origin astronaut Aisha Bowe has raised $2.5 million for LINGO, her EdTech company focused on enhancing STEM education. This funding round, led by Pinnacle Private Ventures LLC, is a step towards a venture capital aimed at supporting women and minority-led startups. Expanding Access to STEM Education LINGO offers project-based coding kits and curricula designed for students aged 13 and up, covering subjects such as artificial intelligence, space systems, and environmental monitoring. The funding will enable LINGO to expand its reach, scaling programs that
Boeing Co. has disbanded its global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, signaling a shift in corporate strategy under new CEO Kelly Ortberg, according to Bloomberg. This decision aligns with Ortberg’s broader effort to revamp Boeing’s workforce as the company deals with financial setbacks and pressure from conservative critics. Strategic Workforce Cuts and Leadership Changes The dismantling of Boeing’s DEI department comes as Ortberg oversees a large restructuring plan aimed at stabilizing the aerospace giant’s finances. The company, which plans to cut 10% of its workforce, has been focused on
Black Tech Saturdays (BTS), an initiative propelling Detroit’s Black tech entrepreneurs, has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation. This two-year funding will enable BTS to widen its scope of support through increased access to mentorship, capital, and essential resources for local innovators who participate in its workshops. Investing in Detroit’s Black Tech Community Founded in April 2023 by husband-and-wife team Johnnie and Alexa Turnage, BTS has quickly become a hub for budding entrepreneurs, drawing hundreds each week to its Saturday events. This grant will be
Khaby Lame, the wordless comedian known for his witty, reaction-based TikTok videos, remains the platform’s most-followed creator with an impressive 163 million fans. As he continues to entertain and connect with audiences globally, Lame’s massive influence is now a powerful force in the creator economy—a sector worth $250 billion and expected to nearly double to $500 billion by 2027. TikTok’s Top Creator Holds Strong Amid Growing Competition Despite intense competition, Lame has maintained his position at the top, a feat that speaks to the universal appeal of his content. While
BBG Ventures, the New York-based venture capital firm known for supporting female founders, has raised a new $60 million fund. Co-founders Susan Lyne and Nisha Dua, who launched BBG Ventures in 2014 with a vision of investing in women-led startups, announced that the fund’s focus now includes founders from diverse backgrounds across race, income, and age. Meeting Market Needs in a Challenging Economy Amid a significant decline in venture funding for underrepresented groups, BBG Ventures’ decision to diversify its founder support comes at a critical time. In the first half
Female Founders Fund (FFF), an early-stage investment firm focused on female-founded startups, has successfully returned its first fund, a $5.85 million investment launched in 2014. This milestone positions FFF as one of the few diversity-focused funds to achieve full returns on an inaugural fund. FFF’s Early Vision Yields Strong Returns Founded by Anu Duggal, Female Founders Fund’s initial mission was clear: support female founders at a time when few investors prioritized women-led businesses. FFF’s portfolio includes investments in now-prominent companies like Maven, a healthcare unicorn focused on women’s and family
