Technology has undeniably transformed the world as we know it. However, rapper-turned-entrepreneur, filmmaker, comedian, and more, Clifford “Tip” Harris, emphasizes that no matter how far innovation advances, it can never replace the human emotions that ignite creativity. During the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference, Harris took the Innovation Stage to discuss technological advancements and how he has remained authentic to himself and the community he has served for over two decades. When he first arrived on the scene in 1996, he befriended fellow Atlanta rapper Big Kuntry King, selling mixtapes out of the trunk of their cars in hopes of making it big. Initially, he was known to the world as Tip before changing his stage name to T.I. Today, aside from music, his portfolio includes filmmaking, restaurateur, and more. As one of the trailblazers of trap music, he is also the founder of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum, an interactive cultural space that celebrates the history, evolution, and impact...

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during a preseason game ahead of the 2016 NFL season, the world ran with narratives about his decision. Today, he has a platform that is helping people who look like him share their stories. Taking the stage at the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference on Nov. 14, in Houston, TX, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback beamed with pride as he spoke to eager attendees about his platform Lumi, which uses artificial intelligence to provide marginalized creators with opportunities for independence so they can share the stories that oftentimes live in their heads with no place to go. Photo Credit: Benjamin Esakof “I’ve done the graphic novel. I’ve done a couple of children’s books, and typically, those processes from when a contract is signed to when it is released, is over two years,” Kaepernick told Brian Dixon, managing partner of Kapor Capital, during a fireside chat titled “AI’s Role in Revolutionizing the Future of Storytelling.” “Those projects need...

Amazon has come under harsh scrutiny for its treatment of employees in recent years, from accusations of systemically shortchanging paychecks to driving employee injuries by urging them to focus more on speed than safety. It might not be a dream career path for the average American, but for consumers, the multi-purpose company is driven by efficient customer service. They’ve mastered the art of promptly bringing packages to your door, but now, Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is revolutionizing the shopping world . Its capabilities are undeniably impressive, although not everyone is ready for the takeover of artificial intelligence. What Is Just Walk Out Technology? The first store to offer the Just Walk Out experience was an Amazon Go convenience store in Seattle in 2018; now, over 100 third-party retailers across the country allow people to grab their items and leave without waiting in a line or partaking in a transaction. “ They hated standing in lines in 1924, they hate...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for tech lovers – Google’s annual I/O summit. CEO Sundar Pichai, who’s been heading the company since 2015, gave a two-hour keynote speech which predominately focused on how his teams will be keeping up with the growing demand for Artificial Intelligence . Already, plenty of buzz is generating around Google Veo – their “most capable” video generator yet. It’s comparable to Open AI’s Sora, which only launched three months ago but has been revolutionary for experimental creatives. The program isn’t ready for the general public just yet, but what was shown by Pichai and his collaborators looks promising. Here’s everything you need to know about Google Veo: What Is Google Veo? Past attempts at developing AI video generators have produced lackluster results – Google’s Phenaki and Imagen Video both created distorted and sometimes crude clips. In January 2024, they unveiled Lumiere, a massive step up from past attempts, though Sora didn’t take long...

We’ve seen the jarring impacts that Artificial Intelligence can have on the music industry in recent years, but that doesn’t mean technology is all evil . On Tuesday, March 14th, Google CEO Sundar Pichai gave his two-hour keynote speech at the annual I/O Developer’s conference, where AI was mentioned over 100 times. The tech giant has some exciting things in the works, from more intuitive photo libraries to new programs that are sure to make videography a breeze. Elsewhere, Google’s teams have been crafting their version of Marvel’s J.A.R.V.I.S. system, famously introduced in Iron Man . Rollout details remain sparse for now, but while we wait for updates, here’s everything you need to know about Project Astra. What Is Project Astra? As Croma puts it, Project Astra is “ a new multimodal AI agent, capable of answering real-time questions, fed to it through text, video, and images and speech.” It simultaneously accesses information from the web and your surroundings using either your...

Ghana is stepping up to the plate to be a part of Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) movement. Wahu Mobility seems up for the challenge as it has opened Ghana’s first EV assembly plant that has the capacity to build about 200 e-bikes per month, CNN reports. The e-mobility brand was founded to create a more sustainable last-mile delivery option.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Valerie Labi (@valerielabi) “It really kind of struck me that I didn’t want the mobility to be fulfilled by petrol motorbikes,” Wahu Mobility Co-Founder and CEO Valerie Labi told CNN. “By 2030, there will be 30 million delivery riders across Africa and it just made me think, as a continent, we are more conscious around becoming sustainable and moving to net zero.” Labi added, “And transport was just a huge opportunity to make a difference in that way.” According to the outlet, Wahu Mobility’s e-bikes take around four hours to charge. Labi also noted that the e-bikes were designed to suit Ghana’s...