A major technology foundation is distributing funding to nonprofit organizations across the United States this year. According to a press release, the OpenAI Foundation announced $40.5 million in unrestricted grants to 208 nonprofits across the country. The awards support organizations working in AI literacy and public understanding, community innovation, and economic opportunity. Some of the grantees include STEM From Dance, which partners with schools, community centers, and youth programs to integrate dance and AI education for young girls of color across several states. Digital NEST in California is a workforce development nonprofit helping youth in agricultural communities gain career skills, mentorship, training, and paid work experience to thrive in the digital economy. 3 Dots Downtown, a community arts center in Pennsylvania, offers programs and workshops focused on AI literacy, art, and professional development. And Amigos Together for Kids in Florida supports parents and...

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest HR organization, has been hit with an $11.5 million ruling after a former employee accused the group of racial discrimination and retaliation. A Colorado jury found SHRM liable on Dec. 5, 2025, and awarded $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages to Rehab Mohamed, Business Insider (BI) reports . “We are very happy that the jury spent a week listening very closely to the evidence and that they decided, as a result, to hold SHRM accountable,” said Mohamed’s attorney, Ariel DeFazio, per BI. The verdict will “send a message to workplaces in the entire country,” she added. The Reason Behind SHRM’s Employee Lawsuit Mohamed, who worked as an instructional designer from 2016 to 2020, filed her lawsuit against SHRM in 2022. She accused a white supervisor of racial discrimination and claimed SHRM retaliated after she reported the behavior, per BI. Mohamed said she repeatedly raised concerns...

As AI continues to spread across the United States and its influence shows no signs of fading, several Democratic lawmakers reintroduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Civil Rights Act on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) first introduced the AI Civil Rights Act in 2024 to “establish protections for individual rights with respect to computational algorithms, and for other purposes,” The Grio reports . On Dec. 2, the progressive senator explained that AI tools are “biased against marginalized communities,” per the outlet. “We must address AI-powered bias and discrimination in the AI age,” Markey said in a news release shared on Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s website. “Under the AI Civil Rights Act, America would show leadership in AI — not just technological leadership, but moral leadership ,” he continued . “We cannot abandon our principles in reckless pursuit of technological superiority. Otherwise, we risk building a future where innovation races ahead,...

The New York Times reported on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, that it has filed a lawsuit against AI start-up Perplexity for alleged copyright infringement. According to the media company, Perplexity continues to use its content despite multiple requests over the past 18 months to stop until an agreement can be reached. Founded in 2022 by former OpenAI engineer Aravind Srinivas and other entrepreneurs, Perplexity is a free AI-powered answer engine that aims to provide “accurate, trusted, and real-time answers to any question,” according to its website. Filed in a New York federal court, the suit claims Perplexity’s search engine pulls large portions of information from The Times’ website or database to generate responses for users, which goes beyond fair use by offering content that directly competes with the newspaper. “Perplexity provides commercial products to its own users that substitute for The Times, without permission or remuneration,” the suit said, per The Times. The Times also...

A new cohort of small businesses has received a financial boost to power their business with AI. The C oramino Fund Through The Coramino Fund, the investment arm of Kevin Hart and Juan Domingo Beckmann’s tequila company Gran Coramino, $10,000 grants have been allocated to small business owners over the past three years so they can utilize AI training provided by 1st Street Partnerships to improve their operations. The program was launched in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) and is part of a $1.5 million commitment to support more than 150 under-resourced entrepreneurs across the U.S. and Mexico as they compete with larger companies, according to information provided to AFROTECH™. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, and nearly 50% fail by their fifth year. The most successful entrepreneurs — locally and nationally — are the ones that have support, whether from their networks, communities,...

Beyoncé’s partnership with Levi’s is delivering strong returns. “Cowboy Carter,” the eighth studio album from the Houston-born singer, was released on March 29, 2024. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 , and Beyoncé won Best Country Album and Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards, according to The New York Times. Among the tracks listed on the album is “Levii’s Jeans” featuring Post Malone. Six months after the single’s release, a global partnership between iconic denim brand Levi’s and Beyoncé was announced and has been faring well. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the company’s stock rose by 20% one week after “Levii’s Jeans” was released, leading to a surge in sales of its denim skirts and pants. “One of the things that really is significant about the Levi’s brand, and we place a lot of emphasis and investment, is making sure that Levi’s brand remains in the center of culture,” Levi Strauss CEO Michelle Gass previously shared with CBS News. “And I don’t think there’s...

Multiple financial developments have occurred across Africa’s tech ecosystem as 2025 comes to a close. Two African fintech startups, Optasia in South Africa and Cash Plus in Morocco, completed initial public offerings (IPOs) in November 2025, according to Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, co-founder of Africa: The Big Deal. In a Substack post, he further noted that these were the first major technology listings on the continent since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Business Insider Africa, Optasia was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Nov. 4, raising $345 million and reaching a $1.4 billion valuation. The company, as its website states, offers AI-driven financial services delivered through mobile networks and digital channels across several markets: Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Three weeks later, on Nov. 25, Morocco’s Cash Plus went public on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The company, as Giacomelli noted, raised $82.5 million in its...

Free agent Odell Beckham Jr. is speaking out after comments he made about managing a five-year, $100 million NFL contract ignited conversation online. The wide-ranging discussion began in October during an episode of “The Pivot Podcast,” where Beckham outlined why a contract of that size may not last as long as it appears once expenses are taken into account. The wide receiver, who was drafted No. 12 overall by the New York Giants in 2014, went on to play for the Cleveland Browns and Las Angeles Rams. Beckham last played for the Miami Dolphins before he became a free agent in 2024. According to Spotrac, his total career earnings sit at $102 million. His podcast remarks resurfaced this week and drew reactions from fans, commentators, and former players. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Beckham posted a response to the attention on X. “Boy u can’t say nothin in this world nowadays, that’s why I been in my own lane my own world n put the way,” he wrote. “People love to take Shxt completely outta...

Former Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem is looking to put an FTX-related lawsuit behind him. Lawsuit Explained According to Yahoo! Sports, an $11 billion class action lawsuit was filed in Florida in November 2022 against FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried and a handful of celebrities, including Haslem, Stephen Curry, Naomi Osaka, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady, and others who had promoted the cryptocurrency exchange company in ads and other marketing. Earlier that November, FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and went defunct. Claims in the lawsuit said the defendants were promoting the exchange in a “fraudulent scheme” that was “designed to take advantage of unsophisticated investors from across the country, who utilize mobile apps to make their investments,” per AFROTECH™. O’Neal settled for $1.8 million without admitting wrongdoing back in June 2025. “We are pleased to have this matter behind us,” counsel for O’Neal said in a statement, according to CNBC. Haslem Reportedly...

Amazon employees are pushing back against the company’s AI-heavy pivot, accusing leadership of prioritizing AI investments over climate commitments and the human workforce. Thousands have signed an open letter to CEO Andy Jassy and senior leadership. The letter, published last week, has drawn more than 1,000 signatures from Amazon employees — who can sign anonymously while listing their roles — and over 2,000 people outside the company. “We, the undersigned Amazon employees, have serious concerns about this aggressive rollout during the global rise of authoritarianism and our most important years to reverse the climate crisis. We believe that the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth,” the letter states. “We’re the workers who develop, train, and use AI, so we have a responsibility to intervene.” In the letter, employees accused Amazon of “casting aside its climate goals to build AI,” noting...

The Prada Group finalized its $1.38 billion cash acquisition of Milan luxury fashion rival Versace on Dec. 2, 2025, after securing all regulatory approvals, The Associated Press (AP) reports . Prada — known for its minimalist aesthetic and use of unconventional materials — said the 47-year-old Versace label, famed for its maximalist aesthetic and sensual silhouettes, holds “significant untapped growth potential,” per AP. Donatella Versace, the brand’s artistic director and co-owner, celebrated the deal in an Instagram post that also honored her late brother, company founder Gianni Versace, on his birthday. “Today is your day and the day Versace joins the Prada family. I am thinking of the smile you would have had on your face,” Versace wrote.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Donatella Versace (@donatella_versace) First announced in April 2025, the highly anticipated deal is expected to help relaunch Versace’s fortunes. Capri Holdings, which also owns Michael Kors and...

Tracy Morgan finds fulfillment in his charity work. The actor and comedian recently told PEOPLE that through his partnership with the Edison, NJ–based Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, he has donated more than $200,000 to provide food and support to 19,000 families. According to the foundation’s website, it raises funds for programs and services across the Hackensack Meridian Health network, helping modernize facilities, advance treatments, support research, train future physicians, and strengthen healthcare delivery in local communities. “It’s fun to get the love and support, but it’s better when you give it back,” Morgan said, according to PEOPLE. “That’s what I want to teach my children. More than a great education, I just want [Maven] and her brothers to be empathic.” Morgan, 57, told the outlet that his personal experiences, including a serious car crash in 2014, shaped his outlook on life. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was among several people injured in a...

Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man in the world, is looking to expand his business into India. In a recent conversation with Business Today’s Riddhima Bhatnagar, Dangote, the Nigerian billionaire industrialist, founder, and president of Dangote Group, explained why India has become a crucial partner in powering the next generation of large-scale projects for his company. Dangote’s Long Bet On India In the interview, Dangote discussed his relationship with India spans two decades, underpinning many of his most significant industrial ventures. “Our dealings with Indian companies actually go back to 2003,” he said, recalling the early expansion of his cement business. That partnership evolved into today’s megaprojects, including his refinery and petrochemical operations. He noted that companies such as Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) have been central to that growth. “We used EIL … and they did a very very great job,” he said. Dangote added that his refinery sourced over $2.5 billion...

It’s a family affair over at the Shaq Brand. Walking Away From Reebok As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Shaquille O’Neal had a multi-million-dollar shoe deal on the table from Reebok. However, he walked away from the deal in 1998 to launch an affordable shoe line in partnership with Walmart. This was prompted after a mother told him that his younger fans couldn’t afford his shoes being sold by Reebok . O’Neal recounts on “The Big Podcast” that he went to his mom in hopes she would counter what the woman had said. However, his mother not only agreed but she also reminded him about his hometown of Newark, NJ. “She’s like, ‘Remember, you ain’t never had no shoes that cost more than $40.’ So, I said to myself, ‘All right, I’m gonna start my own line.’ I called Reebok and said, ‘Hey, we’re not going to renew.’ I had like $50 million on the table. I had no idea what I was going to do. So, I was thinking about where do my people go. Walmart. Walmart is the best distribution in the world....

What began as unfamiliar territory for Haley Bryant has become her mission — to democratize access to venture capital through her work at Hustle Fund. The Boston native comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her father worked at Bank of America in London and later launched an investment business and then a consultancy. She was inspired to bet on herself throughout her career by observing her father’s blueprint as well as that of other family members. Her mother owns a public policy consultancy, and her sister is a leader of Sick Sad Girlz Club, a community of more than 30,000 women with chronic illness. Bryant initially planned to become a journalist and attended the University of Virginia, earning a degree in media studies and communications by 2010. However, she was always drawn to technology, she says, which led her to Apple and its retail stores after college. She onboarded as an associate and, within four years, rose to senior manager, leading stores that were earning millions...