While coastal hashtag#AI elites battle their boards and seemingly self-destruct, the hype-free Midwest keeps a steady eye on bigger prizes like how AI is revolutionlizing access and equity. Indeed, the critical debate we need to have in 2024 is not where hashtag#SamAltman lands but how we harness AI to renegotiate opportunities for entrepreneurs, and especially under-represented entrepreneurs. This was the central theme we recently explored recently at the NITRO! Bootcamp, where thirty minority small businesses in the Cincinnati area assembled for intense tech-skilling. Whether it’s crafting compelling content with tools like Shopify or Wix or streamlining design processes with Canva, AI is proving to be a powerful equalizer. The bootcamp's standout session, possibly setting a record, saw these businesses collaboratively build nearly sixty custom bots using CustomGPT.ai.ai in order to better engage with customers and project their unique brand voices.

Hats off to Maurice E. Coffey, II, whose Midwestern humility belies his significant impact, inspiring us to rethink what's possible with AI and other tech. On November 28th, I'm hosting a second “Responsible AI" roundtable which envisions the Midwest as a beacon for ethical AI startups. We’ll tackle how we can be frontrunners in trust, anti-bias, transparency, ethics, and climate tech—all facets of responsible AI. If you're interested and haven't been invited, please reach out or ping Carl Fraik. (The last one ROCKED!)

Lastly, Maurice and his incredible team assembled a rockstar group of contributors to make this event truly great and they deserve big shoutouts: Christopher Brock / Cyfe, LaTosha W. / Smartsheet, Zach Peter (CustomGPT.AI), Rebeca Arbona / BrandTrue, John Fittro / Fifth Third Bank, Kaylin Leland, Christopher Bollman, Azizah Nubia Cintrifuse

Credit: Pete Blackshaw