Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. While President Donald Trump has delayed the tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another month, tariffs have already been imposed on China. Tariffs on China include a 10% tax, along with closing a loophole that helped boost China-owned brands like Temu and Shein. When a foreign shipment arrives, it goes through customs and gets inspected, and the importer has to pay an import tax depending on the size of the shipment. For almost a century, there’s been a loophole where small packages under a certain value would be exempt from that tax, called “de minimis.” Ten years ago, Congress expanded the exemption to include packages worth under $800. Stores like Temu, Shein, and Chinese drop shippers that sell on Amazon and the TikTok Shop have used the loophole to their advantage. The majority of retailers ship products in bulk to U.S. warehouses as they go through the traditional customs process. Shein and...

Amazon has updated its company policy and a section of its website that provides employment information, removing language that ensures protection for Black and LGBTQ+ employees. In late December 2024, the company removed statements supporting and advocating for transgender rights protections as well as expressing “solidarity” with Black employees and customers, according to The Washington Post. Amazon also removed language supporting laws to address misconduct and racial bias in policing, initiatives to protect and expand voting rights , and efforts to promote better health and educational opportunities for Black people. The sections titled “Equity for Black People” and “LGBTQ+ Rights” no longer exist in the company’s policy, along with all references to the term “transgender.” The “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” section now states that “inequitable treatment of anyone — including Black people, LGBTQ+ people, Asians, women, and others — is unacceptable.” A page once titled...

As a Black woman tech executive at Amazon, Mamar Gelaye is on a mission to diversify the industry. Gelaye, an Ethiopia native, has a decades-long career spanning more than 20 years that dates back to her time as a management consultant at Accenture. Her interest in technology was evident while attending the University of Tennessee, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She even worked on a hybrid electric vehicle project during this time. Belief In Technology Her faith in the advancements of technology remained strong, and following her time at Accenture, she pursued roles that reflected this. “I just really understood that technology was going to transform a great deal. I just understood that software was gonna control the machine,” she explained. “So when I left management consulting, I went into large industrial companies that were kind of big manufacturing, but manufacturing through automation, through kind of transformational engineering.” In...

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...

Ring, the home security company acquired by Amazon in 2018, will no longer allow police departments to request private user footage through its Neighbors app.

A long while back, there was a cartoon about a family that lived far into the future. They had robots, flying cars, and all sorts of technology that many people could not conceive at the time. Although “The Jetsons” only lasted for three seasons, it foretold some things to come. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) was built into the show’s fabric. And while some of the ideas in “The Jetsons” have yet to come to fruition, society is currently inundated with AI’s power and evolving possibilities. For many people and organizations, AI is a lifesaver. With ChatGPT helping folks save time with emails to platforms that serve as resume-writing assistants, AI is here to stay. However, with such strong possibilities comes the growing fear of human replacements in the workplace. While this fear may have some rational context, the future will likely be less about an AI takeover and more about the collaborative intelligence between AI and human capacity, with the goal of improving work...

Amazon is looking to further support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students for their future careers.

For years, Xzibit transformed whips for lucky fans across the nation. However, this time, he is honoring one die-hard football fan with the ultimate fan cave and even tapped artificial intelligence to do so. The musician, who served as the face of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” is a fan of the way technology has evolved, allowing entertainers to have a personal experience with fans across the globe.