As AI transforms industries, the question of access—and who gets to shape the future—has become increasingly urgent. A new initiative led by investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith is aiming to ensure that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play a central role in the rise of generative AI (gen AI).
Expanding Access
Smith, founder of Vista Equity Partners, has emphasized that the next phase of innovation must include Black professionals now, no longer simply as users, but as creators of AI technology. Speaking in a fireside chat with Harold L. Martin Sr., Ph.D., chancellor emeritus of North Carolina A&T State University, Smith explained that Vista’s partnerships with major cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google give his firm early access to gen AI tools—an advantage he believes can help bring these capabilities to HBCU campuses.
Smith described his role as creating “on-ramps on the platforms that you have influence over” so that more Black students can participate in building the future of technology.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 19: Robert F. Smith gives the commencement address during the Morehouse College 135th Commencement at Morehouse College on May 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
Gen AI Curricula
That vision is now being implemented at Morehouse College and Spelman College, two Atlanta-based HBCUs. Through Vista’s portfolio company, Stats Perform, new gen AI coursework has been launched across the Atlanta University Center. One class, titled “AI in Basketball,” introduces students to AI concepts through sports analytics—a practical and culturally relevant access factor into superior technology.
These programs aim to close skill gaps in fast-growing technology fields by giving students hands-on experience with gen AI gear and information analysis. As Smith noted, preparing the next generation for AI-driven jobs is essential to building equitable participation in the digital economy.
Workforce Opportunity
Gen AI is projected to reshape employment across nearly every industry. Analysts warn that automation and AI could disproportionately affect Black workers if access to training and career pathways remains unequal. Embedding gen AI education at HBCUs provides a concrete way to prepare students for new technical roles while ensuring that a variety of voices are represented in the development of these tools.
Beyond the Classroom
Smith’s foundation also operates InternXL, an online learning and career platform offering more than 4,000 technical and certification courses to students nationwide. This digital access broadens opportunities for learners who might not be enrolled at a participating HBCU, ensuring that education in gen AI reaches beyond traditional academic boundaries.
While programs like these are still expanding, they represent a critical step toward ensuring that Black students and professionals have both access to and influence over emerging AI technologies. For Smith, the goal is clear: to transform gen AI into a platform for inclusion—empowering HBCU graduates to be creators, innovators and leaders in the evolving world of AI.
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