How Tulsa’s Tech Hub is unlocking equitable AI in the heart of Black Wall Street

This blog is the fourth in a series featuring seven component projects outlined in the Tulsa Hub for Equitable and Trustworthy Autonomy’s (THETA) phase 2 application for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program in which Tech Hub designees are eligible to apply for up to $70 million in implementation funding.

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In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a speculative concept to an indispensable part of our daily lives. The rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has made AI capabilities accessible to a broader audience, allowing them to generate text, images and other media with simple prompts.

However, AI encompasses much more than just generative tools – it underpins everything from personalized recommendations on streaming platforms to autonomous vehicles, business process optimization, predictive maintenance and general autonomy.

Innovations in autonomous technologies are critical to the future of U.S. economic and national security, and the development of autonomous systems (AS) is an across-the-board federal government priority.

Our region has already shown its commitment to leveraging these technologies to establish Tulsa as a nationwide leader in equitable economic development through startup creation, rebuilding "Black Wall Street" as a hub for Black tech talent, expanding economic opportunity for Tribal citizens, diversifying the region's economy to insulate it from "boom-and-bust" cycles, drawing on our legacy manufacturing industry to build future technologies, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs with equitable and accessible pathways to employment.

While current AI systems hold immense promise, there are risks that need to be addressed:

1. AI systems may perpetuate biases due to a lack of diverse inputs, leading to outcomes that are neither trustworthy nor equitable.
2. Underrepresented individuals might not have the resources to effectively deploy AI technologies for autonomous systems use cases.

Addressing these risks is the driving force behind the Tulsa Hub for Equitable and Trustworthy Autonomy (THETA)'s Greenwood AI/AS Center of Excellence (G-ACE) project.

Located in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District at the site of the Historic Moton Hospital building – which played a pivotal role in serving victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – G-ACE will be operated by Black Tech Street, an organization focused on rebirthing Black Wall Street through technology.

At the heart of G-ACE is the ASPIRE program, which aims to bridge the gap between THETA and underserved communities in the region. ASPIRE will actively engage with the Greenwood community, providing compute infrastructure, events and training to enhance their participation and fluency in AI/AS. It will also serve as a feedback loop to the broader THETA ecosystem while enhancing local AI capabilities. Plans are in progress to establish an AI/AS Co-Innovation Lab at the Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton (GEM). This center of excellence will offer companies, startups, individuals, public sector agencies and other THETA projects access to leading AI technologies and expert support. The focus is on nurturing the development, commercialization and scaling AI solutions.

By fostering collaboration between industry leaders, community stakeholders and underrepresented groups, G-ACE aims to create a future where AI transcends biases and barriers, unlocking economic opportunities and technological advancements for all. As Tulsa cements its position as a hub for trustworthy autonomy, G-ACE's initiatives will pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous society, driven by the responsible deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions.

‍Tulsa was one of 31 regions designated a “Tech Hub” in phase 1 of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program in October 2023.  The EDA is expected to announce the phase 2 winners this summer.

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