As the conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) has coincided with concerns about bias – particularly as it relates to the Black community – Microsoft has seized this growth opportunity by helping to show how technology can improve the entrepreneurial journey of a person. Microsoft tapped social media star Keith Lee to help demonstrate how AI can empower Black entrepreneurs, providing tools and insights to navigate and thrive in an increasingly focused business landscape. technology.
At the AFROTECH™ 2024 conference, the tech company purposefully hosted an activation in Houston, creating a space for tech experts, enthusiasts, and everyone in between. explore its offers in the AI landscape. At the heart of this experience was Microsoft Copilot, a suite of AI-powered tools seamlessly integrated with the company’s products, designed to help users with tasks ranging from daily workflows to managing the complexities of running a restaurant, where Lee’s expertise came into play.
Lee, his wife and other family members were joined at an intimate Black TechXcellence brunch as a continuation of The Reheat partnership. launched between Lee and Microsoft earlier this year. The program connected Lee with the Black restaurateurs he spotlighted on his famous multi-city food tours, with the goal of demonstrating how AI tools like Copilot can drive the operational efficiencies needed to keep of their businesses following the Keith Lee effect.
“At Microsoft, we always say that our entire mission is to allow everyone to do what they want, their dreams, their aspirations,” Makeda Bell, senior manager of multicultural communications, told AFROTECH™ over brunch.
“I think we’ve seen time and time again what happens when people have access to the right technology and match it to their creativity and passions,” she continued. “And I think when you think about the diversity that exists at AFROTECH™, the number of people who are in the rooms, who are looking to become founders, creators, business people, able to present themselves in a place like that, providing them with new knowledge and new tools, and doing it on the ground, being able to be intentional, doing it in person… we know the permanent effects that this can have, and it goes beyond AFROTECH™, but I think we see it here as a simple way for us to meet them and be part of our empowerment mission statement, bring them in real time.
In this case, some of the people they connected with were from the Houston community, as the brunch included dishes from local restaurants previously highlighted during Lee’s stops in the vibrant Lone Star State.
These establishments included The Puddery, Cool Runnings, and the Houston Breakfast Klub, where each owner received a hands-on tutorial on leveraging AI technology to scale and grow their business. The tools also offered solutions to help them cope with the increased demands that often come after going viral, thanks to the Keith Lee effect.
“I’m fortunate to have a trusted platform that helps local businesses across the country grow,” Lee said. “Knowing that Black-owned businesses often struggle to stay afloat or keep up with demand, I’m excited to continue my partnership with Microsoft to give them the tools needed to keep their businesses thriving for years to come. come.
At one point during brunch, The Puddery founder Janel Prator broke down in tears. She took this moment to personally thank Lee and his family for making her dessert shop go viral shortly before preparing to close shop due to declining business.
“It starts with moments like these,” Bell said, describing the warm interaction between Lee and Prator. “I think hearing Janel say thank you to Keith Lee, but also thank you to Microsoft for sharing his story, for bringing him on board, shows how much of an onus it is on companies like ours to not only rely on about the creators, but also about these stories that we hear and that we find. It’s up to us to give them our platforms, to share more of their voices, to give them even more opportunities and to grow beyond. that.
“But I think, of course, looking at our tools, I’ll start with Copilot. This is our main thing. And I know we’ve discussed this tool as potentially a game changer. I think for people who often have that blank slate, whether you’re a business owner, whether you’re a mom who you know is trying to plan a day out for your kids or a vacation, the copilot is just a companion everyday. it can help you take that blank sheet of paper, inspire you, push you into the train of thought you’re looking for, and help you take the next step.
Would you like to attend the AFROTECH™ 2025 conference? Secure your early bird tickets now – from October 27 to 31, 2025, in Houston, Texas.