HOUSTON – On November 5, an intersection of Black faith leaders, technologists, organizers, and funders, gathered at AfroTech to discuss Artificial Intelligence, ethics, and morality. The event was organized by LIVEFREE USA, AfroTech, and the Kapor Foundation. Attendees discussed and adopted a covenant agreement, or a living set of commitments, written by the people in the room and carried by Black churches into the age of AI. Houston was the first place the covenant agreements were signed by faith leaders, technologists and organizers.
“AI is moving faster than our conscience,” said Pastor Michael McBride, Executive Director of LIVEFREE USA. “The rules for how we engage, manage, and utilize it have not kept up, nor has there been dedicated space for faith leaders to engage with tech companies around the tool. The rules for how artificial intelligence engage ordinary people are being written right now, mostly in rooms which we have never been invited.”
“The country has often looked to the Black church to find its moral courage,” McBride said. “It’s appropriate that during AfroTech’s 10th year celebration, with tens of thousands of Black technologists in Houston, AfroTech and LIVEFREE USA came together to set the table for discussions around AI, ethics and Black faith communities.”
“We were excited to welcome Pastor Mike and LIVEFREE USA to Afro Tech’s 10th Year Conference,” said Aaron Samuel, Co-Founder, Blavity & AfroTech. “There is much work to do as we continue to build the muscle of innovation in Black communities in the age of AI.”
In addition to Pastor McBride, speakers included Steve Pargett, who co-hosted and produced the Houston event. Pargett is also the founder of Future Culture, co-founder of Dream Machine Innovation Lab and creator of the AI x Library Project; Diya Wynn, Responsible AI Lead at Amazon Web Services; X. Eyeé, CEO of Offline Research and Malo Santo; and Nichol Bradford, Founder & CEO, Human+Tech Week; Executive-in-Residence for AI + Human Intelligence, SHRM; Co-Founder and Partner, Collective
Additional information is accessible here: https://luma.com/gy2jfwij
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