Kenyan logistics startup Leta has secured $5 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform, which helps businesses move goods more efficiently across Africa, TechCrunch reports. The round was led by European venture capital firm Speedinvest, with backing from Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Africa-focused climate tech fund Equator. Streamling Logistics with AI Founded in 2021 by Nick Joshi, Leta is tackling Africa’s logistics challenges by streamlining supply chains, reducing inefficiencies, and helping businesses save time and money. Its platform integrates with businesses’ sales and ordering systems, pulling real-time data
Megan Garcia is seeking to hold Google and AI firm Character.AI responsible for the death of her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III. Character.AI, an interactive chatbot platform, lets users design or select lifelike personas with which to communicate. Sewell developed a deep attachment to a chatbot he named “Dany,” inspired by Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. His mother alleges that his obsessive use of the chatbot, along with the platform’s addictive design, worsened his mental health and led to his suicide in February 2024. “The inventors and the companies, the corporations that
DEI Under Fire is our monthly series that keeps you up-to-date on the latest DEI announcements and changes from the nation’s leading companies. This month, Reuters reported that some retailers, including Target, Amazon, and Tractor Supply, have ended their DEI initiatives in writing but are quietly maintaining select efforts, like funding LGBTQ+ Pride and anti-racism events and backing resource groups for underrepresented staff workers. Here are some of the latest changes we think you should know about. Remember to revisit this page throughout March for updates. Companies are listed in
Michael and Abadesi are back for this week’s Techish! Abadesi shares the highs and lows of writing and producing her first play, including crowdfunding on Kickstarter. They also chat about Google’s push for 60-hour workweeks in the race to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), why entrepreneurship is now all about distribution, and how social media is shaping the publishing industry. Chapters00:00 Fundraising on Kickstarter03:48 Google Pushes 60-Hour Workweeks In AI Race09:51 Corporate Bosses Hate Their Home Lives?15:48 Vibe Coding And Why Audience Wins in Business19:53 Social Media Has Changed The Publishing
Apple Maps will rename The Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America to adhere to executive orders made by President Donald Trump, as stated by Bloomberg. The company will also introduce the name change to all users globally. This change was part of a series of over 100 directives and executive actions signed on Inauguration Day. One of these orders included renaming the Gulf of Mexico, which is made up of the US, Cuba, and Mexico, the Gulf of America. This came after Google made similar changes. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had
DEI Under Fire is our monthly series that keeps you up-to-date on the latest DEI announcements and changes from the nation’s leading companies. The landscape of DEI has changed significantly over the past couple of months in the US. Some companies have succumbed to political pressure to roll back their DEI initiatives, while others stand firm in their diversity and inclusion stances. With so many changes to DEI in a short matter of time, it isn’t easy to keep up with where companies stand with DEI. This is why POCIT
Google has become the latest tech giant to cut back its DEI efforts after sharing that it would end its goal of employing more candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The company also said it would reevaluate some of its DEI programs, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal. In an email to employees, Google revealed that it would abolish the hiring targets created to improve representation in its labor force. In 2020, during the resurgence of The Black Lives Matter movement, Google set out to expand the proportion of
This year, we’ve witnessed the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions with mounting conservative pressure against DEI initiatives across industries—from retail and banking to venture capital and nonprofits. Amid these challenges, the stories that resonated most with you this year were those of resistance and resilience: stories about Black women securing capital, launching funds, and building unicorn companies. You loved the stories about employees holding their employers to account—in words and deeds—and the investors, influencers, and innovators raising the bar in their respective
Google has joined a $90 million equity investment round in Cassava Technologies, signaling a significant step in supporting Africa’s digital infrastructure. The funding round also includes contributions from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Finnish development firm Finnfund, among others. Bolstering Africa’s Connectivity This investment aligns with Google’s broader efforts in Africa, including the Equiano subsea cable and the new Umoja fiber-optic cable connecting Africa and Australia. Cassava has already established itself as a leader in Africa’s tech ecosystem, offering solutions in data centers, cloud services, and renewable
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has made history by securing a $1 million grant from Google to establish the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research. HBCU Makes History This marks the first artificial intelligence-focused institute at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). “This is a huge day,” said Durham Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton, according to CBS17. The institute will prioritize workforce development and promote equity in AI, ensuring students are well-prepared to lead in a rapidly advancing field. Preparing Students for the Future of AI Scheduled to
