Tools & Platforms
NVIDIA Partners with Black Tech Street to Bring AI Revolution to Tulsa, Home of $10,000 Remote Worker Grants
NVIDIA has formed a major partnership with Black Tech Street to develop Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District into a national artificial intelligence center, marking a significant economic development initiative for the area once known as Black Wall Street.
Partnership Overview and Goals
The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to train up to 10,000 people in AI technologies while supporting local startups and positioning Tulsa as a leader in artificial intelligence innovation. The initiative centers on creating the Greenwood AI Center of Excellence within the district that was devastated by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
“This is going to have an incredible impact on Tulsa,” said Terrance Billingsley II, CEO of Black Tech Street. “NVIDIA is the most valuable company in the world, leading the most important technological revolution in human history.”
The partnership leverages Tulsa’s recent designation as a federal Tech Hub, which awarded the city $51 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Of that funding, $10.6 million will specifically support the AI center development.
Comprehensive Training and Education Program
The initiative’s training component will reach across multiple educational institutions and community organizations. Partners include Langston University, Tulsa Community College, and Oklahoma State University, creating a comprehensive educational ecosystem for AI development.
Educators will receive certification through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program, providing access to cloud-based tools powered by NVIDIA GPUs. This infrastructure aims to ensure high-quality, standardized training across participating institutions.
The 10,000-person training target represents an ambitious scale that could significantly impact Tulsa’s workforce development. The program plans to serve students, workers, and entrepreneurs throughout the region, creating multiple pathways for AI skill development.
Economic Development and Startup Support
Beyond education, the partnership includes substantial business development components. NVIDIA will provide local startups access to its Inception program, which offers early-stage companies technology support and networking opportunities crucial for growth in competitive tech markets.
The collaboration also includes access to advanced computing resources, including GPUs and cloud platforms essential for AI development projects. These resources typically require significant capital investment, making the partnership valuable for local entrepreneurs and researchers.
Billingsley emphasized the local economic focus: “The next step is getting NVIDIA integrated into the community, getting certain programs up and running for people to take advantage of, hosting different events, and trying to architect what the big play that is going to transform our local economy is going to be.”
Strategic Location and Historical Significance
The choice of Greenwood District for this initiative carries particular historical weight. The area was once known as Black Wall Street, representing one of the most prosperous Black communities in early 20th-century America before its destruction in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
This partnership positions AI development within a community that has symbolic importance for Black economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to create high-paying tech jobs and drive entrepreneurship in an area working to rebuild its economic foundation.
Political and Community Support
The partnership has garnered support from political leaders across party lines. U.S. Senator James Lankford highlighted Oklahoma’s growing technology profile: “Oklahoma is fast becoming a national leader in next-generation innovation, from AI to aerospace and beyond. Whether it is in Tulsa or across the state, Oklahoma is proving that you do not have to be on the coasts to be on the cutting edge.”
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols expressed enthusiasm for the economic opportunities: “NVIDIA and Black Tech Street are setting the stage for new jobs for Tulsans, and I am eager to see how this investment in innovation will open more doors of opportunity for our community.”
Building on Tulsa’s Remote Work Success
This AI initiative builds upon Tulsa’s proven track record in attracting talent through innovative programs. The city’s Tulsa Remote program, which offers $10,000 grants to remote workers who relocate to the city, has successfully attracted approximately 3,500 participants since 2018.
Recent economic analysis found that Tulsa Remote generates more than $4 in community benefits for every $1 spent, demonstrating the city’s ability to create successful workforce attraction programs. Participants have collectively generated $622 million in direct employment income, with 70% remaining in the city after completing the program.
Industry Partnership Framework
Louis Stewart, NVIDIA’s head of ecosystem development, emphasized the collaborative approach: “Our collaboration with Black Tech Street and the larger Tulsa ecosystem is helping prepare and equip all segments of the workforce to operate and sustain transformative technology that is building America’s future.”
The partnership extends beyond NVIDIA and Black Tech Street to include Tulsa Innovation Labs, Microsoft, Langston University, and the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation. This multi-stakeholder approach aims to create a comprehensive support system for AI development and adoption.
Future Expansion Potential
The agreement establishes a foundation for potential expansion across Oklahoma, suggesting the initiative could serve as a model for other communities seeking to develop AI capabilities. The collaborative framework developed in Tulsa could be replicated in other regions working to participate in the artificial intelligence economy.
The partnership represents a significant investment in both Tulsa’s economic future and the broader democratization of AI education and development opportunities beyond traditional tech centers.
Tools & Platforms
Is AI Threatening Your Job Security? Tips to Safeguard Your Career in the Age of Automation
Key Takeaways
- AI is rapidly automating roles in customer service, data entry, programming, content creation, and analysis-heavy jobs across finance, law, and medicine.
- The most at-risk jobs are those with repetitive, rules-based, or entry-level tasks.
- Human-centric skills like judgment, empathy, and creativity remain in demand.
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the workplace faster than most people realize. What started with automating back-office tasks and customer service roles has now expanded into programming, legal research, financial analysis, and even creative fields such as writing and design. Experts predict that by 2030, up to 30% of U.S. jobs could be automated, with as many as 300 million jobs globally at risk because of AI and related technologies.
As AI tools become smarter and more accessible, the line between human and machine work is blurring—and the pressure to adapt is mounting. If you’ve noticed your workflow getting “smarter” or your company talking more about efficiency than expertise, you’re not imagining things. The age of AI-driven disruption has arrived, and it’s rewriting the rules of the workplace worldwide.
Which Jobs Are Most At Risk from AI?
The first wave of AI automation swept through customer service, data entry, and routine administrative work, said Dima Gutzeit, CEO of LeapXpert, a New York-based tech vendor that provides modern business communication tools with AI capabilities.
Now, he said, even roles in software development, content creation, finance, law, and medicine are being reshaped by code-writing engines, AI copywriters, and data-crunching models. Entry-level and repetitive positions are especially vulnerable, as AI excels at handling foundational tasks that once helped early-career professionals gain a foothold.
A June 2025 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas argued that most claims for what AI will do are “speculative” at this point. Indeed, many—including the World Economic Forum—have argued that the jobs AI produces will far outnumber those it renders redundant—170 million versus 90 million, respectively.
Nevertheless, the jobs most at risk from language-modeling AI include clerks, administrative assistants, and certain teaching positions. The telltale signs your job could be next? Your daily workflow starts to feel more software-driven, tools gain “AI-powered” features, and management talks about “co-pilots” and “automated insights.” If your responsibilities are becoming more about overseeing software than applying your unique skills, it’s time to take action.
While AI is rapidly transforming the workplace, experts agree that the best way to stay relevant is to focus on the qualities that make us uniquely human.
Here are some strategies to avoid being replaced by AI:
1. Demonstrate Your Humanity
AI can process data, but it can’t replicate judgment, empathy, or ethical decision-making. “What sets you apart isn’t your ability to process data—it’s your ability to interpret it, communicate it, and act on it,” Gutzeit told Investopedia. Employers are increasingly valuing creativity and abilities that remain stubbornly human, like relationship-building and nuanced communication.
2. Become an AI Power User
Don’t just fear the new tools, master them. Learn how to use AI platforms relevant to your field, from prompt engineering in content creation to AI-driven analytics in finance. The fastest learners today will be tomorrow’s leaders. Experiment with AI, critique its output, and figure out how to make it work for you.
3. Automate the Repetitive, Focus on the Unique
Identify the mechanical parts of your job and automate them, freeing up time for higher-value work.
“Strip the mechanical from your day so you can invest in the interpersonal-relationships, storytelling, negotiation,” Gutzeit said. The more you focus on tasks AI can’t do, the more secure your position becomes.
4. Upskill Continuously
Stay ahead by regularly updating your technical and soft skills. Pair AI literacy with human-centric strengths: Combine analytics with storytelling, or prompt engineering with leadership. The best opportunities will go to those who can bridge the gap between algorithmic speed and human nuance.
5. Watch Industry Trends and Pivot Early
Monitor which roles and industries are being automated, and be proactive about moving into areas where human expertise is still essential. Look for companies that use AI to amplify, and not replace, human value.
“Professionals who understand that partnership create more value than either humans or machines can deliver alone,” Gutzeit said.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t just coming for your job; it’s already transforming the workforce. But the future belongs to those who adapt early, master new tools, and double down on the skills that make us human. It’s important to stay curious, proactive, and relentlessly focused on value. You can turn the AI revolution into an opportunity instead of a threat.
Coming to light after operating secretly since 2024, the company raised $30 million in a Series A round led by Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Gil’s Gil Capital, with backing from prominent investors like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Stripe founder Patrick Collison and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Brain Co. aims to bridge the gap between large language models like GPT-5 and their practical application in organizations.
The venture began in February 2024 when Kushner, Gil, and former Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray met to address challenges large organizations face in integrating AI tools. Kushner, seeking to expand Affinity’s AI investments, connected with Gil, a former Google and Twitter executive turned venture capitalist, through his brother, Josh Kushner.
Videgaray, who met Kushner during Trump’s 2016 campaign, also joined. Brain Co. has secured deals with major clients like Sotheby’s, owned by Israeli-French businessman Patrick Drahi and Warburg Pincus, alongside government agencies, energy firms, healthcare systems and hospitality chains.
With 40 employees, Brain Co. collaborates with OpenAI to develop tailored applications. A recent MIT study cited by Forbes found that 95% of generative AI pilot programs failed in surveyed organizations, highlighting the gap Brain Co. targets.
CEO Clemens Mewald, a former AI expert at Google and Databricks, explained, “So far, we haven’t seen a reason to only double down on one sector. Actually, it turns out that at the technology level and the AI capability level, a lot of the use cases look very similar.”
He noted similarities between processing building permits and insurance claims, both requiring document analysis and rule-based recommendations, areas where Brain Co. is active.
Kushner, who founded Affinity Partners after leaving the White House, said, We’re living through a once-in-a-generation platform shift,” Kushner said in a press release. “After speaking with Elad, we realized we could build a bridge between Silicon Valley’s best AI talent and the world’s most important institutions to drive global impact.”
Affinity manages over $4.8 billion, primarily from Saudi, Qatari and UAE funds. In September 2024, Brain Co. acquired Serene AI, bringing in experienced founders. While Kushner will serve as an active board member, Gil said he will primarily operate through Affinity.
A technical innovation has allowed Alibaba Group Holding, one of the leading players in China’s artificial intelligence boom, to develop a new generation of foundation models that match the strong performance of larger predecessors while being significantly smaller and more cost efficient.
Alibaba Cloud, the AI and cloud computing division of Alibaba, unveiled on Friday a new generation of large language models that it said heralded “the future of efficient LLMs”. The new models are nearly 13 times smaller than the company’s largest AI model, released just a week earlier.
Despite its compact size, Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is among Alibaba’s best models to date, according to developers. The key lies in its efficiency: the model is said to perform 10 times faster in some tasks than the preceding Qwen3-32B released in April, while achieving a 90 per cent reduction in training costs.
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Emad Mostaque, co-founder of the UK-based start-up Stability AI, said on X that Alibaba’s new model outperformed “pretty much any model from last year” despite an estimated training cost of less than US$500,000.
For comparison, training Google’s Gemini Ultra, released in February 2024, cost an estimated US$191 million, according to Stanford University’s AI Index.
Alibaba says its new generation of AI foundation models heralds the “the future of efficient LLMs”. Photo: Handout alt=Alibaba says its new generation of AI foundation models heralds the “the future of efficient LLMs”. Photo: Handout>
Artificial Analysis, a leading AI benchmarking firm, said Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B surpassed the latest versions of both DeepSeek R1 and Alibaba-backed start-up Moonshot AI’s Kimi-K2. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Several AI researchers attributed the success of Alibaba’s new model to a relatively new technique called “hybrid attention”.
Existing models face diminishing returns on efficiency as input lengths increase because of the way AI models determine which inputs are the most relevant. This “attention” mechanism involves trade-offs: better attention accuracy leads to higher computational expenses.
Those costs compound when models handle long context inputs, making it expensive to train sophisticated AI agents that autonomously execute tasks for users.
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