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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...
Will.i.am believes creatives will continue to stand the test of times in the midst of artificial intelligence (AI). One Step Ahead In Technology The rapper and singer-songwriter has been ahead of the curve of technology for quite some time. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was an early investor in Beats Electronics and even incorporated their technology in the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” music video 15 years ago. He reportedly made a fortune from the investment when Apple acquired Beats Electronics and Beats Music for an amount nearing $3 billion. Will.i.am’s interests in technology have only widened since then. He invested in machine learning startup Inflection AI, and through a private investment group he has invested in additional companies empowered by AI such as: Udio Anthropic OpenAi Runaway FYI (Focus Your Ideas) He is also leading change through his own company FYI (Focus Your Ideas). As AFROTECH™ previously reported it is an AI-driven collaboration platform created...
Colorado is taking a stand to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. On May 8, 2024, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 24-205 (SB205), Forbes reports. In the bill’s summary, it wrote that it “requires a developer of a high-risk artificial intelligence system (high-risk system) to use reasonable care to avoid algorithmic discrimination in the high-risk system.” Moreover, the bill described high-risk artificial intelligence systems as any machine-based system that plays a role in consequential decisions being made in education enrollment and education opportunities, employment and employment opportunities, financial and lending services, essential government services, healthcare services, housing, insurance, or legal services. According to Forbes, the bill marks Colorado as the first U.S. state to establish a comprehensive law that not only addresses utilizing AI in employment but also in other critical sectors. On May 17, Governor of Colorado Jared...
When the algorithm runs everything around you, it’s important that the people behind it reflect you. Matthew Finney is a guru when it comes to all things surrounding the process or set of rules that calculate how humans navigate the world through technology. As a data scientist and strategy consultant at Harvard, he is responsible for developing AI decision systems that help large organizations make noise when it comes to some of their most challenging business and mission problems. He joined AfroTech’s Will Lucas to discuss how there is still bias when it comes to the algorithm and how having more people who look like us in the data science industry can move mountains for us in the long run.
Throughout history of mainstream culture in the United States, Eurocentric features have been deemed as the “beauty standard” and Olay’s latest initiative aims to combat this narrative. In partnership with Algorithmic Justice League founder Joy Buolamwini, Olay has launched #DecodeTheBias. According to Adweek , the initiative is “a platform that aims to double the number of women entering STEM fields and challenge the bias that digitally boxes women of color out of everyday beauty searches.” “We are excited to work with Black Girls CODE to provide that spark and encouragement to enter the field,” Olay’s Vice President Stephanie Headley said in a statement. “This is one step to bringing greater equity and inclusion to our online spaces that will also get us closer to achieving Olay’s goal to triple the number of women of color in STEM fields by 2030.” The inclusive beauty brand continues to make strides in not only bringing more women into science-related fields , but also in...
Moderating online content is important, especially in a political climate where acts of violence are explicitly linked to hate speech online. Unfortunately, recent studies have found that leading algorithms responsible for detecting hate speech harbor biases of their own. Researchers at the University of Washington conducted a study titled “The Risk of Racial Bias in Hate Speech Detection.” The researchers decided to focus on Twitter because it is a “particularly important space for Black activism.” The study found that tweets by Black people were 1.5 times more likely to be flagged as “offensive.” If a tweet was written using African American English (AAE), then they were 2.2 more times likely to be flagged . This research is backed up by an additional study that found racial bias against Black speech in five academic datasets used for studying hate speech. In their conclusion, the researchers wrote: “We find evidence of substantial racial bias in all of the datasets tested. This...
The Advanced Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Color of Change, MoveOn and 115 other groups signed a statement of concern about the use of pretrial “risk assessment” algorithms to determine bail . The amount of state and local governments turning to algorithms to determine pretrial flight and criminal recidivism risks. The algorithm was intended to remove bias from pretrial hearings to reduce jail overcrowding, etc. But i n the statement, the groups explain that our justice system is still disproportionately impacting communities of color. Because of this, the data entered reflects those flaws. This makes what might be intended to be objective or neutral actually biased tools that will continue to add to the discrepancies in the justice system. The organizations are also calling for the government to follow principles, including the following: If in use, a pretrial risk assessment instrument must be designed and...
Instagram recently changed its feed-generating algorithm, and it threw users off. Now, Vice President of Product at Instagram Kevin Weil announced further changes to the platform’s algorithm meant to make the app easier to use. We're working every day to improve your Instagram feed—with your feedback top of mind! We want to start talking more about what we're changing and why. Today is our first step, focused on making the feed fresher, with newer posts closer to the top. https://t.co/EqoBiszIde — Kevin Weil 🇺🇸 (@kevinweil) March 22, 2018 One big change that’s just been rolled out: Instagram will no longer automatically refresh users’ timelines. “We’ve heard it can feel unexpected when your feed refreshes and automatically bumps you to the top. So today we’re testing a ‘New Posts’ button that lets you choose when you want to refresh, rather than it happening automatically,” Weil said in a statement. “Tap the button and you’ll be taken to new posts at the top of feed — don’t tap, and...
Jackie And Denis Asamoah are conquering the world of business hand in hand. Inception The married couple are the co-founders of FORVR Mood, a shared passion project that birthed a brand. Their company launched with distinctive candles and later expanded into a fragrance collection that includes I Am Her, You Remind Me, Hard To Get, and NDA, all intentional priced at $79. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORVR MOOD (@forvrmood) For Jackie, it was a full-circle moment to enter an industry she believes has long been gatekept from Black founders and Black creators, she shared in an interview on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast. She remembered the first beauty product she could afford was perfume — a purchase that not only helped her bond with her mother but also proved useful in managing the hyperhidrosis (a condition that causes excessive sweating unrelated to heat or exercise) she developed at age 10. “I tie it back to bonding with my mom and also attributing it to the...
A new version of TikTok is expected to launch in the United States on Sept. 5, 2025, according to The Verge. TikTok’s staff is reportedly working on the separate app, internally dubbed “M2,” which succeeds the current version known as “M.” The original TikTok app will be removed from app stores once M2 launches, and it is expected to stop functioning entirely by March 2026. Reports of the new TikTok app comes days after President Donald Trump said the U.S. “pretty much has a deal” for an American company to acquire TikTok, The New York Times reported. “We’re going to start Monday or Tuesday talking to China,” Trump told reporters traveling on Air Force One on Friday, July 4. “We think we probably have to get it approved by China. Not definitely, but probably.” He added, “I think the deal is good for China, and it’s good for us. It’s money, it’s a lot of money.” Though no company has been named, Trump mentioned, per The Verve, that it would be a group of “Non-Chinese” investors with...
Workday is at the center of a collective action lawsuit that alleges its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered hiring tools discriminate against applicants over 40 years old, violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. Derek Mobley, a Black, disabled man in his 40s, filed a lawsuit in February 2023, claiming he applied for over 100 jobs without success, according to ITPro. “Despite his qualifications, Mobley was allegedly denied employment for every one of the 100-plus applications that he submitted to companies using Workday’s platform,” the lawsuit states . Workday provides cloud-based software to support businesses’ financial management as well as the hiring process for new employees. Workday’s initial motion to dismiss the case was granted, allowing for amendments to be made. However, the judge later denied its attempt to dismiss the newly amended complaint. A judge ruled on May 16 that Mobley’s age discrimination claims could proceed as a collective action...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a wave of transformation, reshaping how organizations adapt and compete — making it essential to foster a culture of innovation and adaptability to navigate disruption and ensure long-term success. At AFROTECH™ 2024, Temi Soleye, the senior director of learning & performance at Merlin Labs, and Ashley Gatewood, the change & transformation leader at Google, came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents for businesses, how to lead effective transformations and what it takes to build a future-ready workforce. When it comes to AI and transformation, Soleye noted that AI has productivity tools, such as support for coding and coders — but its challenges and opportunities go hand in hand. “High performance culture depends on the people, but it also depends on the processes and the systems,” Soleye said. Adding that, to streamline workflow, people should consider what the person currently does and how artificial intelligence...
Artificial intelligence (AI) now touches nearly every aspect of life — from health care and national security to smartphones and entertainment. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , Tanneasha Gordon , U.S. data and digital trust principal at Deloitte & Touche, joined Jarell Oshodi, privacy executive and counsel, to explore balancing AI innovation with protecting sensitive information and maintaining trust in a data-driven world. Diving deep into ethical frameworks, Gordon described AI as a “broad field of computer science, really focused on designing and deploying systems that mimic human intelligence,” viewing it through three paradigms: Our five senses, creativity, and consciousness. Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now! View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) When asked about AI’s benefits, Gordon pointed to increased productivity, efficiency, and cost savings across individuals and enterprises. However, she highlighted five key risks: Deepfakes and...
Was Verizon honest about its commitment to upholding DEI? Back in March 2025, AFROTECH™ reported that the company had not aligned itself with the White House or conservative pressure to retract diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. At the time, Verizon emphasized the importance of nurturing an inclusive environment and reaffirmed its support for diversity across the board. “We care about diversity in both our employees and our suppliers. Diversity and inclusion is how we achieve success,” a statement on the company website had previously read. “By celebrating diversity across all spectrums, including but not limited to race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran/military status, and age, we are a stronger company and culture. “We take pride in our talented and diverse team of people who focus on our customers, every day. Their combined intelligence, spirit and creativity make Verizon a great place to work, learn and...