Writer Dr. Loretta H. Cheeks, Ph.D.
In April 2025, the film Sinners captivated audiences worldwide, earning widespread acclaim for its fearless genre-blending and celebration of Black artistry. More than entertainment, the film offered a powerful counter-narrative to the growing dominance of Artificial Intelligence in creative industries. While studios increasingly rely on AI-generated scripts and digital actors, Sinners centered human creativity and nuanced storytelling, showcasing the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through a distinctly African cultural lens.
Yet a sobering reality persists: less than 5% of African Americans are represented in science and technology workforces. Only 2.4% of Black students gain entry into accelerated programs and just 1.5% earn Master’s degrees and PhDs in Computer Science and related disciplines—fields critical for innovation in AI. Black-owned businesses, despite their significant presence in the technology sector—with 58,974 businesses employing 481,930 workers nationwide—received only 0.4% of prime contracts and 1.6% of subcontracts. Philanthropic investments to close these gaps remain below 1%. These statistics are particularly alarming given AI’s transformative potential—a technology projected to disrupt every aspect of our lives, generate trillions in annual revenue, and define the next half-century of human existence.
The time for our communities to engage, invest, and innovate in AI has never been more critical. Artificial Intelligence is not merely a collection of algorithms or generative models like ChatGPT. It encompasses comprehension (logic, reasoning, planning, and deep learning), sight and recognition (pattern recognition, computer vision, and machine learning), speech and language (natural language processing and speech recognition), and movement (robotics, softbots, and drones). AI is perfecting the things humans can do. In just the last five years, AI has evolved from narrow, task-specific systems to increasingly general forms approaching human-like capabilities. This leap toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is reshaping what it means to be human and raising profound questions about the future of consciousness.
The concept of artificial beings dates back to ancient times. As early as 400 BCE, philosophers imagined automatons—mechanical beings capable of independent action. The term “Artificial Intelligence” was coined in 1955, and the first chatbot, ELIZA, was created in 1965. These developments occurred while we were fighting for civil rights and basic freedoms.
Today, the U.S., China, and the European Union compete to dominate AI development, with the U.S. leading in private investment, China excelling in patents, and the EU focusing on ethical frameworks. AI is projected to reach a market value of $4.8 trillion by 2033, according to a new report from the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This represents a 25-fold increase from $189 billion in 2023, according to the UNCTAD report.
For many, AI’s rapid advance generates anxiety that impairs higher-level thinking and future planning. The challenge is to shift from fear to anticipation and innovation—becoming architects rather than subjects of technological change.
This imperative resonates deeply with Dr. Loretta Cheeks, an industry leader and AI expert. When her eldest son was diagnosed with autism in the late 1980s, she turned to Computer Science to understand brain function and cognition. Her research conducted in 1991 using artificial neural networks explored the brain’s capacity to reassign functions after injury. This capability is a reality with the innovative AI brain chip implants and AI cell therapy released last year.
Dr. Cheeks’ career spans academia, government, defense, private industry, and non-profit sectors. Her groundbreaking research on “Programmable Insight” methodologies has revolutionized how complex data is transformed into actionable intelligence across multiple industries. As CEO of DS Innovation (AI & Big Data services) and Strong TIES (a STEAM education non-profit), she connects technological advancement with educational implementation. Her international speaking engagements and leadership in cross-continental partnerships offer a global perspective on inclusive technology development.
On May 5–6, 2025, the inaugural Global Innovation Summit convened at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), an HBCU, with delegates from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), a historically disadvantaged institution in Durban, South Africa. MUT is located in the largest township in South Africa with over 14,000 students housed at their university. Conceived by Dr. Cheeks and organized and sponsored by DS Innovation, the Summit advanced AI and centered STEAM/STEM capacity building, AI literacy, curriculum development, and research partnerships across continents.
The Summit produced concrete outcomes: a formal agreement between DS Innovation and MUT for AI capacity building, actionable plans for co-creation of curriculum development with SUNO, MUT and services of DS Innovation, and a commitment to sustained, culturally responsive innovation. This collaboration demonstrates how cross-institutional partnerships can accelerate technological advancement in historically marginalized communities.
This partnership’s foundation was established through Dr. Cheeks’ participation in the United States-South Africa Higher Education Network, which formed in 2019. When Mangosuthu University of Technology planned their visit to the United States, Dr. Cheeks specifically recommended Southern University at New Orleans as the host institution, leveraging her ongoing research collaborations with SUNO to secure funding for an AI degree program. The Summit’s success stemmed from strong commitment and support from leadership at both universities.
AI has grown alongside our understanding of language and logic. The earliest computers could only handle simple yes-or-no statements to mimic basic reasoning. These basic systems had clear limitations. Researchers then created more advanced methods to deal with uncertainty and understand context.
Today’s AI language systems can process huge amounts of text and understand it in context. They recognize not just the structure of language but also cultural references and deeper meanings. This growth shows both how far technology has come and how language connects to power and meaning in our society.
This matters deeply to Black communities. Our linguistic traditions, cultural expressions, and ways of communicating must be represented in how AI develops. Without our input, these systems may miss or misinterpret important aspects of Black communication styles and cultural references.
AI is changing how businesses operate in every industry. It makes work more efficient by handling routine tasks. It helps leaders make better decisions by finding patterns in large amounts of information. It creates better experiences for customers through personalized recommendations. It also enables entirely new products and services that weren’t possible before.
The past year alone has shown us remarkable advances in what AI can do. We’ve seen AI systems that can spot patterns invisible to human eyes. Teams of AI programs now work together to solve complex problems. Medical researchers have developed AI implants that can detect cancer early. Reproductive medicine has advanced with AI-guided techniques. Engineers have created new ways for AI systems to communicate with each other faster. Space exploration has been revolutionized through AI innovations. Our cities are becoming smarter with AI-managed energy systems. Healthcare has been transformed with breakthrough diagnostic and treatment applications.
We must balance these innovations with serious ethical considerations. AI systems can deepen existing inequalities if they’re not carefully designed and governed. The risk of being left behind is especially serious for Black communities. As AI reshapes our economy and society, we need to ensure our voices help guide its development.
The policy landscape reflects these tensions and opportunities. The United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), passed in 2021, allocated $200 billion for advancing America’s technological position. Yet HBCUs remain underrepresented in national advisory bodies like the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Biden’s PCAST represented a significant shift toward diversity compared to previous administrations, including Obama’s administration. Trump’s 2025 PCAST explicitly rejects DEI frameworks in favor of a “merit-based” approach focused on technological competitiveness.
While federal policies continue to evolve, some states are creating their own models for inclusive AI governance. Arizona’s creation of an AI Steering Committee, announced by Governor Katie Hobbs, offers a promising approach to balanced policy development. The committee’s mandate is to identify opportunities for AI to benefit the public good, guide responsible policy development, and ensure Arizona’s leadership in technological advancement. In a significant move toward broad perspectives, Dr. Loretta Cheeks was appointed to this newly formed committee in April 2025, bringing her extensive experience in AI and commitment to equitable technological advancement. This state-level initiative demonstrates how regional leadership can complement federal efforts and potentially create pathways for greater representation.
We need four key actions to make sure AI works for all of us—especially our communities. First, we must transform education, so our children gain AI literacy from elementary school through college, emphasizing our values of responsibility, ethics, humanity, and community. Second, we need money flowing to the right places, with philanthropists and investors funding partnerships between HBCUs and tech companies, and supporting community programs that teach STEAM skills in our neighborhoods. Third, we must prepare our people for the jobs of tomorrow through training programs for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and semiconductor work—where AI is creating new opportunities right now. Fourth, we need our voices in the rooms where decisions happen by advocating for Black representation on every AI advisory board or committee at both state and federal levels; which means we must prepare and be competent in AI. Our HBCUs are already producing brilliant STEM graduates who will shape America’s technological future—but only if we clear the path for them to lead.
AI is not just a technological force; it will determine the contours of opportunity and power in the 21st century. The Global Innovation Summit and the work of leaders like Dr. Cheeks demonstrate that inclusive innovation happens when our communities are empowered to engage, collaborate, and lead.
The call to action is clear: move from fear to anticipation and innovation. Become architects of the future by inserting our voices, intelligence, and creativity into AI development. Disrupt old narratives and create new opportunities that reflect the full spectrum of human experience.
As Dr. Cheeks’ journey shows, with vision, expertise, and commitment, it is possible to bridge divides, drive systemic change, and ensure that AI’s benefits are shared by all. The future is being written today—and we must help hold the pen.
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