Global Tech Advocates (GTA) Black Women in Tech has partnered with UN Women to release the world’s first interactive historical map illustrating Black women’s untold stories and impact worldwide. GTA Black Women GTA Black Women in Tech is a not-for-profit global organization based in London, UK. They are dedicated to building bridges of opportunities in tech by enabling Black women to excel and companies to have access to Black women of talent. They recently released The Voices in the Shadow, Volume 3 – a book showcasing the journeys of more
A survey by the Black Innovation Alliance reveals that Black entrepreneurs are creating more wealth through digital businesses, closing the gap usually faced. Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) reported that the survey findings breathe new life into their belief that the digital economy could serve as a leveler for the Black community. Black people receive approximately 1% of venture capital funding, although they comprise 13% of the US population. However, the findings show that emerging technologies will create new wealth and digital worlds for the Black community. Black Liberation and the
Clean energy company Husk Power Systems has raised $103 million in equity and debt to launch over 1,000 new solar minigrids, electrifying rural Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia communities. Solar mini-grids Husk Power Systems Husk Power is the leading rural energy services company in weak-grid and off-grid communities in Africa and Asia. The company was founded in 2008 to provide reliable power to rural communities and businesses from renewable energy sources at affordable prices. The company does this through solar minigrids – a set of small-scale electricity generators and energy
Some of the most high-profile AI chatbots generate responses that perpetuate false or debunked medical information about Black people, a new study has found. While large language models (LLMs) are being integrated into healthcare systems, these models may advance harmful, inaccurate race-based medicine. Perpetuating debunked race myths A study by some Stanford School of Medicine doctors assessed whether four AI chatbots responded with race-based medicine or misconceptions around race. They looked at OpenAI’s ChatGPT, OpenAI’s GPT-4, Google’s Bard, and Anthropic’s Claude. All four models used debunked race-based information when asked
Microsoft and the Harlem Globetrotters have unveiled the Harlem CODEtrotters, a new platform to bridge the educational gap within Black and Brown communities. The web-based platform and coding curriculum fuses basketball-themed programming with cutting-edge technology to teach Black and Latinx teenagers key skills in a culturally relevant way. The Harlem Globetrotters Goodwill Ambassador Initiative Their aim includes advancing excellence in tech education while empowering Black and Brown youth communities. In August 2023, The Harlem Globetrotters launched its corporate social responsibility arm, the Harlem Globetrotters Goodwill Ambassador Initiative. The initiative aims
Black founders raised only 0.13% of all capital allocated to US startups in Q3 of this year, Crunchbase has reported. A decline in funding Only 0.13% of venture dollars allocated between July and September went to Black founders. This equates to about $39.7 million of the total $29.9 billion allocated, a massive year-over-year drop for Black founders. In Q3 2022, Black founders raised $1 billion out of around $81.7 billion in venture dollars, approximately 1.2%. TechCrunch also reported a massive quarter-over-quarter drop as in Q2 of 2023, Black founders raised
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments have seen a downward trend from its high point in 2020. New data from ROI communications has shed light on the state of DEI-related budgets, diversity officer roles, and predictions for the future of corporate DEI. A Decline From 2020’s high point Roles for DEI first increased following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, with tech companies, in particular, pledging to boost their diversity efforts. A global leadership consulting firm, DDI found that many companies are regressing their DEI programs. According to Bloomberg,
Latimer, named after African-American inventor Lewis Latimer, is a new platform trying to make generative AI more inclusive. The new large language model (LLM) is built to reflect the experience, culture, and history of Black and brown people more accurately. The platform recently announced new partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to help bring the inclusive tool to students, agencies, brands, and the general public. Tackling racial bias and erasure Many generative AI models amplify the bias, inaccuracy, and erasure of Black and brown cultural data. A Bloomberg
Google has announced an additional $2 million investment in Morehouse College and Hampton University as part of an ongoing collaboration with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). According to UNCF, Google has invested over $50 million over a number of years to elevate talent and innovation at Historically Black Universities (HBCUs). Supporting students to pursue tech careers Morehouse College and Hampton University will receive $1 million each to invest in technical infrastructure aimed to support in-class and remote learning. The universities will also develop curriculum and career support programs for
Michigan Central and Newlab have announced the Founder Fellowship, a Detroit-based program supporting a cohort of five climate tech founders from underrepresented backgrounds. A New Mobility Innovation District Michigan Central is Ford Motor Company’s new $1 billion mobility innovation district in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood. The hub is part of Ford Motor Company’s vision to reshape the future of global mobility, working with key partners and suppliers and connecting to a broader network of city and regional assets and testing. Newlab, is a tech incubator founded to address societal needs
