Two higher education leaders have written a book to help Black business owners use artificial intelligence (AI) to compete in the digital economy.
Dr. Babu George, a professor in the School of Business at 91°µĶų, and Dr. Ontario Wooden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at North Carolina Central University, released āAI Empoweredā following George’s research through a fellowship at Howard Universityās PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship.
The book examines how AI can help Black entrepreneurs who have faced obstacles accessing resources, capital and networks.
āAI can serve as a leveler, offering affordable tools for market analysis, customer engagement and operational efficiency that were once only accessible to large corporations,āĀ GeorgeĀ said. āAt this moment, when artificial intelligence is altering industries, itās essential to ensure that African American entrepreneurs have the tools and knowledge to compete.ā
Research rooted in observation
Georgeās work began at the Black Commerce Conference in 2024, where he watched Black business leaders navigate technologyĀ changes. His research project, āAI and the Black Entrepreneur: Case Studies in Technological Empowerment,ā earned him selection as Southwest regional representative for an HBCU entrepreneurship initiative.
GeorgeĀ and Wooden previously collaborated on a 2023 publication examining AIās impact on higher education titled āManaging the Strategic Transformation of Higher Education through Artificial Intelligence.ā
āHBCUs have long served as educational and cultural hubs for African American communities, and our students have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit in their pursuit of independence and ownership,ā said Wooden, who previously served as senior vice president for academic affairs at Alcorn State.
Case studies show real applications
āAI Empowered” includes case studies showing how Black entrepreneurs have integrated AI into their businesses.
One case highlights a Black-owned technology consulting startup that pivoted during the pandemic, using AI-powered marketing tools to help local businesses transition online.
āDespite resource constraints and initial skepticism, the founder leveraged community partnerships and innovative funding approaches, creating new jobs and boosting digital literacy in his neighborhood,āĀ GeorgeĀ said.
The book addresses concerns about bias in AI systems.
āBias in AI reflects bias in data and in society,āĀ GeorgeĀ said. āOur book doesn’t shy away from these truths. It encourages entrepreneurs to not only use AI but to shape its future by advocating for transparency, design and ethical governance.ā
HBCUs play a critical role
Both authors say historically Black colleges and universities must prepare the next generation of Black entrepreneurs for the AI-driven economy.
At North Carolina Central, Wooden oversees a Google-powered AI Institute that delivers workshops, seminars, and courses. This fall, the university added an AI unit to its first-year seminar course.
āAll HBCUs will play a critical role in this transformation, serving as engines for outreach, academic programming, non-degree credentialing and business process improvement,ā Wooden said. āThese efforts are essential for thriving in what I refer to as the āNew AI Economy.āā
Policy changes needed
The book calls for changes to ensure AIās benefits reach all business communities, including policy frameworks and financial strategies such as micro-investment funds and grants.
āOur research calls for intentional actions at institutional and governmental levels so that the AI revolution benefits the broader economy, including those communities that have faced barriers to capital and resources,āĀ GeorgeĀ said.
The authors recommend expanding digital literacy programs, integrating AI education into community curricula and fostering mentorship through partnerships between HBCUs, technology companies, and community organizations.
GeorgeĀ has researched entrepreneurship since beginning his doctoral studies in 2002. His previous work includes the book āDigital Transformation of Businesses and Societiesā (Palgrave-Springer, 2020) and research papers on AI applications in business.
Wooden brings experience at the intersection of higher education, technology, and community engagement. His career in public university systems has focused on student success and business development within academic institutions.
āI am excited by the creativity I see among Black entrepreneurs who are leveraging AI to build impactful, future-ready businesses, despite facing challenges,āĀ GeorgeĀ said. āTheir leadership in shaping ethical, community-driven AI applications gives me hope for a digital future that is innovative and benefits everyone.ā
