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As data remains the backbone of digital advertising and regulatory scrutiny continues to grow, technologists are uniquely positioned to influence the industry’s future. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Juliette Stancil, senior assistant general counsel of data privacy at Intuit Inc. — the parent company of TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Credit Karma — led a workshop tackling the intersection of digital advertising and data privacy. Stancil unpacked current challenges, evolving platform rules, and privacy-first innovations — equipping attendees with the insights needed to navigate and influence a rapidly shifting landscape. “I would encourage anyone to really read through privacy settings and the privacy policy of any of the places you tend to visit or where you ingest content,” Stancil shared early in the session. “And you might be surprised at the number of capabilities you have to set permissions around what gets collected and what gets used, particularly for marketing and advertising...
Russell Westbrook has launched an AI startup inspired by the loss of a dear friend. Eazewell According to a news release shared with AFROTECH™, the Denver Nuggets guard joins Donnell Beverly Jr., a former NCAA National Champion at the University of Connecticut, and Kemba Walker, an NBA All-Star, as co-founders of Eazewell, an AI-enabled funeral planning platform. Westbrook’s inspiration for the company was the loss of Khelcey Barrs III, his best friend who died at 16. Beverly Jr., who had also been a friend of Barrs as well as experienced the loss of both parents, shared that through these difficult times he gained insight into the challenges families face with funeral planning and accessing resources. Eazewell is now working to close this gap through its platform, which leverages 24/7 autonomous AI agents and offers users personalized funeral home-matching based on quotes, location, and individual needs. The platform also automates paperwork for filing death certificates and...
Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), once known primarily for powering video games, have evolved into the backbone of today’s most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Seyi (Shay) Ogebule, Ph.D., product lead at Intel and a seasoned expert in IoT and tech manufacturing, took the Cybersecurity Stage to share how GPUs are revolutionizing edge AI. “What powers AI? How does AI work? What’s behind the scenes?” Dr. Ogebule asked the audience. “So, I spent a lot of my career and my work over a decade-plus behind the scenes trying to create those specialized chips so that you can enjoy the benefits of AI.” Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now! During the panel, viewers learned about the latest breakthroughs in GPU technology, which is used to process massive volumes of data, and how such advancements are making general computing and AI more efficient, accessible, and impactful. As Ogebule explained, the growing demand for real-time, intelligent...
Pharrell Williams is taking significant steps to address the equity gap in entrepreneurship through his initiative, Black Ambition. According to an April 14, 2025, news release, the nonprofit is launching the Fundable Founders Learning Lab, a comprehensive 10-week virtual program designed to support entrepreneurs across Florida, with an emphasis on those from underrepresented communities . With a $1 million investment from an anonymous donor, the initiative is part of a two-year effort to counter dwindling resources for small business owners by providing 500 Florida-based entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, expert training, and a robust network. “Entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented challenges—from shrinking access to capital to dwindling community resources,” said Black Ambition CEO Felecia Hatcher. “This $1 million donation is more than just funding—it’s fuel for a new generation of fundable founders building bold, innovative solutions right here in Florida.”...
President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders that will impact education. Historically Black Colleges And Universities According to a press release, an executive order by Trump establishes a White House Initiative on HBCUs and seeks to enhance the quality of education at these universities through private-sector partnerships, as well as institutional and workforce development in industries such as technology, health care, manufacturing, and finance. The initiative will also work to ensure federal and state grant dollars are more accessible and plans to launch a yearly White House Summit geared toward HBCUs to determine goals and establish partnerships. At the same time, the order establishes the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, which will exist under the Department of Education and include changemakers in philanthropy, education , business, finance, entrepreneurship , innovation, private foundations, and HBCU presidents. “HBCUs are essential to fostering...
MYAVANA is making its haircare technology accessible to the next generation of cosmetologists. According to The Georgia Sun, MYAVANA Certified Education — a beauty technology virtual course — is making its way to the Atlanta Barber Institute with the help of Groove Global and the City of Atlanta. Students will gain insights into diverse hair types using data-driven science and technology along with tools like the MYAVANA HairScope, an artificial intelligence (AI) -powered device that analyzes clients’ hair strands and creates personalized hair care plans. The purpose of the course is to increase opportunities for careers in beauty technology — from high school students seeking an entry point to seasoned professionals looking to innovate their services. This will be accomplished through course materials, training, and a focus on teaching STEM concepts. “We are thrilled to partner with Atlanta Barber Institute to innovate and elevate the client experience by empowering barber and...
There’s no need to walk into interviews blindly anymore. There are many AI tools designed for interview prep, offering features ranging from mock interviews to personalized feedback. These platforms allow users to receive guidance from knowledgeable AI and even connect with other real people for more realistic practice. Some of these platforms are specifically designed to aid interview candidates in certain fields, like tech, but others provide personalized practice for a variety of fields . With stiff competition in a job market that’s already hard to break into, using AI for prep can help take some of the stress out of interviewing. Let’s explore 10 AI tools designed for interview prep, what they do, and which interview candidates can benefit from them the most. Interviewing.io This resource is best for those pursuing technical roles, especially software engineering . Interviewing.io offers anonymous mock interviews with engineers from top tech companies that provide detailed...
Time management has always been a critical skill, but as workloads increase and efficiency becomes more valuable, artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool for optimizing schedules, automating tasks and improving productivity. AI-driven solutions help individuals allocate their time more effectively, eliminating repetitive work and streamlining decision-making. Unlike traditional time management methods that rely on manual input, A I leverages data and automation to create more efficient workflows , ensuring that time is spent where it matters most. The analytics that come from consistent use of tools like Gemini and ChatGPT provide a clear picture of how time is being spent across projects and teams, enabling businesses to streamline operations and eliminate unnecessary meetings. Predictive AI technology anticipates peak work periods and adjusts schedules accordingly, helping professionals prepare for heavy workloads in advance. This is especially useful in industries...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. President Donald Trump has gone all in on his tariff crusade, announcing last week a 10% tariff on almost every country with even higher tariffs on specific countries. From beauty and food to car automation , every industry is currently reeling with the stock market dovetailing, and the potential negative aftereffects will be felt for decades to come. However, the now billion-dollar AI industry is at risk of being decimated thanks to Trump’s tariffs. Pro-crypto and pro-AI fanatics have curried a lot of favor with the president, so much so that many of them have been appointed as high government officials to advance America’s standing in the global AI race. Even though Trump has reversed his initial thoughts towards technology, his insistence on tariffs may hurt the AI industry after all. According to Time, AI companies, along with several other industries, lost billions of dollars when the tariffs...
Yale University students Nathaneo Johnson And Sean Hargrow have launched what they call “the first AI social network.” Business Insider reports that the duo was inspired to found Series because vanity metrics, such as likes and follower counts, were becoming a barrier to connection on platforms such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. “I see it within our generation, the FOMO, the ‘I’m not good enough, I won’t reach out to that person, he’s better than me,'” Hargrow told Business Insider. “Forget your likes, forget your followers, let’s focus on who you are and what you can bring to the table and what you need, and what somebody else can bring to your table if it makes sense.” In 2024, Series was founded with a focus on student entrepreneurs . The platform allows people to chat with an “AI Friend,” whether they’re using an iPhone or Android, to gauge what kind of connections they’re looking for. From there, the AI agent matches them with another Series user who fits...
Growth Warrior Capital has raised new funding to support enterprise companies being fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). The operator-led venture firm, which invests in early-stage Enterprise AI companies, was created by Promise Phelon, a former Silicon Valley tech CEO with more than 15 years of experience as an angel investor. According to a news release shared with AFROTECH™, her career trajectory has led to an expansive network , some of whom have now invested in Growth Warrior Capital’s first fund, which totals $26 million. Limited partners include Ho Nam and Han Kim (Altos VC) and well as Seth Levine and Brad Feld (Foundry). Amazon Catalytic Capital, Bank of America, Bessemer Venture Partners, Pivotal Ventures, and more are also listed as limited partners. “My goal is to be the first VC fund of significant scale run by a woman of color,” Phelon, founder and managing partner, said in a news release. “We have the backing of VC industry legends, and their support is proof of...
By now you’re surely aware of generative AI software , since the newly-developed tech has become the hottest craze on the internet in recent years. One of the leading services in this niche, OpenAI’s ChatGPT , has been utilized by millions to create stylized images, videos and text from brief descriptive prompts. Though this technology is quite impressive, it has drawn heavy criticism from those who share concerns about AI’s impact on the environment , its effect on artists and the frequently incorrect information it delivers as fact. Now, OpenAI has released the latest model for their GPT software, titled GPT-4o. The 4o iteration allows GPT users to generate uncanny recreations of specific art styles, including those in the image of a Studio Ghibli film. As you can imagine, this new OS has wrought tons of use from curious users all over the world, and drawn criticism from fans of the Ghibli franchise. If you’re at all active on social media, you’ve no doubt encountered a sudden...
Timnit Gebru is shaping the future of tomorrow. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Non-Linear Career Journey Gebru has always loved math, science , and music. She attended Stanford University from 2008 to 2017, earning a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in electrical engineering—the same field her father worked in. She combined her interests to launch her career at Apple, first as an audio hardware intern in 2004. A year later, she was hired as an audio systems engineer and worked part-time as an audio engineer from 2007 until her departure four years later. Gebru’s professional journey has not been linear. In 2011, she co-founded Motion Think, a company that leveraged design thinking to create solutions for small businesses. While pursuing her Ph.D. at Stanford, she co-founded and became president of Black in AI after attending one of the largest academic conferences in 2016. At that time, she realized that Black professionals were significantly...
The tech industry faces uncertainty and fear due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, leading companies to advise employees on visas not to leave the United States because they might not be allowed to return. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the denial rates for high-skilled visas increased to 15%. Law firms have warned that a similar upward trend is possible during his current presidency , according to The Washington Post. “What we’re seeing right now is just a lot of worry and panic,” said Principal Attorney Malcolm Goeschl of Goeschl Law, a San Francisco, CA, firm specializing in business immigration for the tech industry . “It seems like [the administration is] just getting more and more momentum, and we don’t know what’s around the corner.” Silicon Valley , Northern California’s global hub for technological innovation, is known for housing many of the world’s largest tech companies and producing groundbreaking inventions. Tech giants in the...
The 18th annual Disney Dreamer’s Academy is underway. It will bring together a diverse group of high school students from across the country for a transformational mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, “Abbott Elementary” star Tyler James Williams — joining the fun as this year’s “DREAMbassador” — helped welcome 100 high school students who are shaping the future in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to Orlando, FL. The day featured a parade at Magic Kingdom, where Williams served as the honorary grand marshal. After the parade, Williams shared that he was particularly excited to attend storytelling sessions, noting that he’s a storyteller “first and foremost.” When asked by AFROTECH™ about the impact of AI-generated content and streaming platforms on the future of storytelling, Williams said he believes technology will always play a significant role. “I think technology will always play a role,” Williams told...