Business & Innovation

As Black users, aka Black Twitter, flee X in unprecedented numbers, a grassroots developer is building what many see as the future of Black social media culture. His platform, Blacksky, gained over 750,000 users in months without venture funding or promotion, operating as an open-source project on the decentralized Bluesky social network. "I've never built something that hit this scale before," says Rudy Fraser, the Brooklyn-based developer behind Blacksky. "Day […]

TIME Magazine's 2024 TIME100 AI list, an annual compilation showcasing the 100 most influential figures in artificial intelligence, has once again highlighted a pressing issue in the tech industry: the lack of diversity, particularly Black representation. Only seven of the 100 individuals recognized for their contributions to AI are Black. This stark underrepresentation is not just a numbers game; it reflects a broader, systemic issue within the AI industry and […]

On August 20, 2024, music icon and tech innovator will.i.am unveiled RAiDiO.FYI, an AI radio platform set to transform traditional broadcasting. This AI-driven radio service aims to redefine listener engagement in the digital age. According to a press release, RAiDiO.FYI offers an "interactive, conversational media platform." This AI radio service is accessible through the FYI AI app, which is free for iPhone and Android smartphones.will.i.am, founder and CEO of FYI, […]

Founder image photographed by Mason Poole. Bottle in hand image photographed by Julian Dakdouk. Beyonce is now getting into the whisky business. The multiple award-winning artist has partnered with Moët Hennessy, a division of LVMH, to launch SirDavis, a new American whisky brand. This collaboration marks a significant venture for both parties, combining Knowles-Carter's cultural influence with Moët Hennessy's expertise in luxury beverages.The whisky, SirDavis, draws inspiration from Knowles-Carter's family […]

Colin Kaepernick, former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist, has launched Lumi, a new platform for independent creators. The company recently raised $4 million in seed funding led by Seven Seven Six, with additional backing from Kapor Capital, Impellent Ventures, and various angel investors. Lumi aims to provide creators with tools to independently produce, publish, and merchandise their stories in digital and physical formats. The platform intends to leverage artificial […]