The Tesla Cybertruck was designed to turn heads. With its rugged, stainless-steel body and futuristic, almost sci-fi design, it looks more like something out of a movie than your typical pickup truck. It wasn’t made to blend in, nor was Elon Musk. Like the Cybertruck, Elon Musk has become impossible to ignore, inserting himself into the political and economic framework of the nation with the same brash insistence that has defined his business empire. Now, with Tesla recalling over 46,000 Cybertrucks—nearly every unit on the road—Musk faces something he has long evaded: accountability, based on a Reuters report. The trucks’ stainless-steel trim panels are coming off, a fitting metaphor for a company whose once-unquestioned dominance in the EV sector is beginning to show fractures​. This recall is more than a mechanical failure. It is a referendum on Musk’s leadership, shifting allegiances, and unrelenting attempt to weld his corporate interests to the machinery of American politics....

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from the 2025 AFROTECH™ Conference. Returning Oct. 27-31, 2025 , to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, for its second year, the conferences promises to deliver endless networking opportunities at what has become the largest gathering for Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and disruptors in technology. Be prepared to see top industry leaders grace the stage to share insights on what’s next in culture and technology as well as find empowerment through various workshops.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) There will be something for everyone, from students and mid-level professionals eager to level up in their industries to founders staying ahead of the curve and C-suite executives driving innovation. Here’s a preview of the upcoming stages to keep on your radar. Innovation/Main Stage The Innovation and Main Stage will highlight dynamic conversations centering leadership, innovation for...

A lawsuit stating Google favored white and Asian workers has been settled. According to CNN, Ana Cantu, a former Google employee who identifies as Mexican and racially Indigenous, brought forward a lawsuit that claimed the tech giant offered lower salaries and job levels to those of Hispanic, Latino, Native American, Indigenous, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Alaska Native employees at Google. It was filed in 2021. In the lawsuit, Cantu said that during her seven-year tenure working in Google’s people operations and cloud departments, she was not given a promotion or salary increase. She alleged that white and Asian workers with the same work performance were promoted and received raises, while other workers who complained about the treatment had these opportunities withheld. Cantu left the company in September 2021, claiming Google did not adhere to the California Equal Pay Act. Additionally, leaked documents showed about 6,632 diverse employees reported...

Kevin Hart is aligning himself with an initiative to support Black founders using artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Illumination Grant has been launched by the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a nonprofit advocacy organization founded by Aurora James. The initiative challenges retailers and corporations to allocate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, 29 retailers have committed to this pledge, benefiting 800 Black-owned brands . The Fifteen Percent Pledge is scaling its efforts to support Black entrepreneurs with the aid of Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz’s (A16z) Cultural Leadership Fund. Eligible members of the Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Business Equity Community are invited to apply for a chance to gain insights on leveraging AI and compete for a share of a $35,000 grant pool—$20,000 for the winner and $15,000 for the runner-up. “It is specifically focused on ensuring that the Black founders that are a part of the 15%...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The tech industry has faced a wave of shutdowns and layoffs over the past three years, but there may finally be some hope on the horizon. Recently, there’s been an upward trend in companies announcing M&A activity and plans to go public. These announcements not only matter to those who work at or invest in these companies, but they also create opportunities for those looking to break into the tech world—whether as employees or founders. While these signals point to progress, we must not lose sight of the challenges the industry has faced over the past four years—challenges that make even the smallest signs of change feel significant. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, venture capital-backed startups experienced a surge in activity. Historically low interest rates made capital easy to borrow and invest, leading to increased funding for early-stage startups from venture capital firms. Crunchbase...

Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, is leveraging technology to improve the health and wellness of its players. The 3-on-3 league founded in 2023 by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart has been backed by Samsung, its official technology and presenting partner. According to a press release, Samsung is providing the league with technologies such as its Galaxy S Series, Z Series smartphones, headphones (Galaxy Buds), tablets featuring Galaxy AI, monitors, and wearables (Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring). “We’re a new league,” Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell told AFROTECH™ . “There’s a lot of innovation involved. There’s a lot of unknowns involved, and we’re trying to kind of push the envelope forward and having Samsung be a part of that innovation with what they’re already doing. Obviously, it’s a pretty seamless partnership for us.” Collier’s Most-Used Technology As An Athlete Collier — who was named Unrivaled’s first MVP — said she mostly utilizes the Galaxy Ring,...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During his second term, Donald Trump has continued to change how the United States operates with its allies. Recently, Trump and JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to ease tensions with the current administration and finalize a mineral deal intended to be celebrated following their televised meeting. However, the way Zelenskyy was treated during the exchange was a shocking break from modern diplomatic norms. This incident is just one example of a broader shift—one that becomes clearer as the Trump administration continues to signal a closer alignment with Russia, making its willingness to bully allies increasingly apparent. Previously, Donald Trump claimed that tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be paused before they were set to go into effect earlier this year. CNN reported that he kept to his word and imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports...

Researchers have developed algorithms that accurately depict coily Black hair in computer graphics — a historic advancement for Black characters in media. According to The Guardian, AM Darke, an associate professor in the department of performance, play, and design at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Theodore Kim, a professor of computer science at the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, co-authored the study. Despite increased representation and numerous papers published on computer graphics algorithms over the past 50 years — particularly regarding hair — Kim noted that representations of Black hair have remained relatively unchanged. Due to a lack of appropriate formulas, animators have struggled to accurately depict textures like type 4C hair , characterized by tightly coiled curls. “There’s only one or two hairstyles that people gravitate towards because they find that it’s culturally approved,” Kim said. “The vast diversity of type four hair is then...

Flo Rida made history when he purchased a shopping plaza to champion local businesses. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Flo Rida—born Tramar Lacel Dillard—purchased the Cloverleaf Plaza shopping center in Miami Gardens in 2023 alongside his business manager, Lee “Freezy” Prince. The fully leased property was secured in a $10 million deal . This investment came on the heels of Flo Rida’s legal victory against Celsius over a breach of contract, which resulted in an $82.6 million award, per CBS News. “You might own a house and things like that, but growing up just looking at highrises and things like that, the first thing is not to think that you can own it,” Flo Rida told the Miami Herald. “Maybe you have a spot there, but you won’t really own it. So to actually own our own plaza is just phenomenal.” The plaza is home to several businesses, including Cloverleaf Beauty Supply, Creole Kitchen, Boost Mobile, Top Notch Cigars & Smoke Shop, and Flowers by Grace, a staple for three decades...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During Donald Trump’s second presidential campaign, his relationship with the tech industry was highlighted due to his budding relationship with Elon Musk , who spent $288 million to help elect Trump. While many people in tech believe this is when the federal government started to embrace the tech industry, the relationship with the federal government was started by former President Barack Obama during his campaign and subsequently expanded while he was in office. Obama first supported technology via social media on the presidential campaign trail in 2008. Facebook had been founded on Harvard University’s campus four years before his campaign, and due to its connection with the younger electorate, he leveraged it in a way not seen before, though it has been seen since with Donald Trump’s embrace of X. Obama’s campaign used Facebook to target younger voters, empower grassroots organizations, and...

Calaxy wants creators to become more independent. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Calaxy is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Solo Ceesay and NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. It serves as a social marketplace where users can create more meaningful experiences to engage their fans. With the added benefit of direct-to-consumer monetization, Calaxy eliminates the need to rely solely on brand and advertising deals. In 2022, Calaxy raised $26 million in a funding round led by The HBAR Foundation and Animoca Brands, with participation from Polygon. A portion of the funding was dedicated to expanding into the Web3 space. Calaxy has since developed “Worlds, ” allowing creators on the decentralized social marketplace to customize no-code apps. These apps enable creators to set up shops to sell subscriptions and digital experiences directly to fans and customers, otherwise known as the “population.” Additionally, creators can access wallets that store cryptocurrencies and NFTs, according to...

New AI tools pop up constantly, promising to make work easier and more efficient. But with so many options, the real question isn’t which AI is the best—it’s which fits your workflow. To help navigate this evolving landscape, we looked closely at two significant platforms, ChatGPT’s Custom GPTs and Google’s Gemini. The goal? To see how they handle real-world tasks and which delivers the best experience. Custom GPTs: Smarter AI, Less Effort According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, Custom GPTs are tailored versions of ChatGPT designed for specific tasks. Instead of repeatedly typing the same prompts, users can set up a Custom GPT once and let it do the heavy lifting. Whether drafting emails, generating research summaries, or assisting with customer support, these AI assistants streamline workflows by eliminating redundancy. The right setup lets users focus on results instead of processes, making work more efficient. Gemini: Google’s Integrated AI Assistant According to its website,...

Global Day of Unplugging was March 7-8, 2025, and Verizon has been doing its part to address the growing challenge of managing screen time and its effects on overall well-being. According to Verizon, the average Verizon home internet household connects 18 devices and the number is rising. On March 6, 2025, at the inaugural Digital Wellness Summit hosted by actress and TV host Drew Barrymore, the company introduced several initiatives to promote healthy digital habits for families. Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer, oversees the company’s vast network, which serves millions of consumers across America with wireless devices and home internet. In a recent discussion with AFROTECH™ about digital wellness , Sampath highlighted the challenges of underserved communities, particularly regarding access to technology and knowledge, as well as the need to advocate for increased awareness and greater accessibility. “Which is why Verizon is getting involved in this,” he said. “You...

Google is doubling down on its move away from DEI goals. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, a shift away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have been occurring across the nation. This has been seen in the venture capital space, with funding for Black-owned businesses being challenged in court. At the federal level, when he took office President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle DEI-related “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities” in the federal government, Business Insider notes. These changes, combined with political and legal pressures, have driven major companies to rethink their DEI initiatives. Some big tech companies, such as Meta, Amazon, and Google, have retracted their DEI commitments. “We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year, we’ve been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there,” a Google spokesperson told Business Insider in...

For a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries in space exploration , SpaceX just hit another major roadblock—literally. The highly anticipated test flight of its Starship mega rocket ended in disaster (again) after controllers lost contact with the upper-stage vehicle just minutes into the launch. This marks Starship’s second consecutive failure, raising serious questions: What’s causing these explosions? Has this happened before? And what is SpaceX doing to fix it? Let’s break it all down. Why Did This Happen? According to an NBC News report, the launch kicked off with promise. Near Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET, Starship blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase for its eighth test, soaring toward the skies with the power and spectacle you’d expect from the world’s most advanced rocket. But then—like déjà vu—disaster struck just over eight minutes in. Live video showed the upper-stage vehicle spinning uncontrollably, and within seconds,...