Black Tech Street and Microsoft debuted a new technology hub late last week dedicated to developing technology.
Located in the Greenwood district at the Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton building, the technology hub will focus on developing technologies such as AI, cybersecurity and autonomous systems innovation. It will specifically focus on cultivating research alongside startups, business companies and public organizations.
The beginning of their work will revolve around concepts such as developing AI responsibly and helping organizations and communities understand the new technologies as they continue to integrate them into their systems.
Through the new hub, Tulsa Innovation Labs, a partner in the technology hub’s creation, predicts that approximately 370 jobs will be created and over 100 businesses will be assisted.
The new project is part of Black Tech Street’s ASPIRE program. Supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the program revolves around addressing AI fluency.
🚨 AI & Enterprise IT: Microsoft, Black Tech Street open Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab in Tulsa
— Gurus Direct (@GurusDirect) May 24, 2026
Microsoft and Black Tech Street launched the Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab in Tulsa, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems innovation. #Microsoft #Azure #Copilot pic.twitter.com/7Oa2oCspTK
“The GEM building is precious to the Greenwood community, so for Black Tech Street HQ and this Microsoft Lab to be housed in it, across from the Middle School I attended and be focused on making this community a leader in the most impactful technology in human history, AI, means more than I can put into words,” said founder and CEO of Black Tech Street, Tyrance Billingsley II, per a press release. “The United States will need a model to look for how to catalyze impactful and community-focused AI innovation as it looks to lead the world on this new frontier.”
“Tulsa looks forward to being that example,” he added.
Founded in 2021, Black Tech Street’s main initiative is to develop Greenwood and cultivate it into a major tech district. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greenwood was so prosperous in the early 20th century that it was known to be “Black Wall Street.” In 1921, however, from May 31 to June 1, a mob of white residents burned and destroyed a majority of the neighborhood in what is considered to be one of the biggest cases of racial violence in U.S. history.
As they work to rebuild Greenwood to what it once was, a majority of the newest initiatives launched by Black Wall Street revolve around AI.
These initiatives come amidst an increase in AI usage. Per the Pew Research Center, the usage of AI has grown from 16% in 2024 to 21% amongst workers. Forbes predicts that it will have an annual growth rate of nearly 37% from 2023 to 2030.
With its integration, however, AI comes with several serious concerns. Along with an increased concern for misinformation, cybersecurity risks, high levels of water waste and threats of replacing humans in several job markets, AI has been linked to several health concerns.
Often located in BIPOC communities, the data centers that power AI through fossil fuels have been linked to air pollution. The Environmental Project reports that, by 2030, they could be responsible for 600,000 asthma cases and 1,300 early deaths.
Data centers are also predicted to be responsible for over a third of asthma deaths across the nation, alongside an increase in diagnoses for various cancers.
