Cliff Notes: Revolutionizing Business with AI: What Van Jones is Bringing to Invest Fest

Welcome to another exciting episode of Market Mondays! In today's video, our hosts, Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, and Ian Dunlap, have a fascinating conversation with the incredible Van Jones. Van shares his ambitious plans for InvestFest and his nonprofit organization - Dream Machine Innovation Lab - that aims to empower the Black community through artificial intelligence (AI). Van Jones passionately emphasizes the transformative potential of AI, encouraging everyone, especially underrepresented communities, to embrace this technology as a "jetpack" for their businesses rather than fearing it as a "hand grenade." He draws parallels between today's AI revolution and the cultural revolution led by hip hop, urging the community to harness this new technology creatively and disruptively. Van discusses his innovative program, the Dream Machine AI Academy, which he launched with Will.i.am under the campaign "Make Wakanda Real." This program aims to make advanced AI tools accessible and understandable for everyone, irrespective of age or experience. Van highlights how AI can democratize opportunities across various fields, from making films and business plans to creating music and generating discretionary income. During the weekend of Juneteenth, the Dream Machine AI Academy held its first-ever session in Atlanta, attracting around 500 participants across a wide age range. Supported by giants like Microsoft and Amazon, the academy provided a crash course on AI tools, leaving attendees hopeful and excited about the future. Troy Millings queries about the feedback and reception from the initial class, to which Van responds positively, noting the participants' newfound optimism amid a challenging political and economic landscape. Ian Dunlap brings up the high costs associated with large language models and inquires about niche models that might benefit the community. Van underscores the importance of just starting with the available tools, emphasizing how AI can significantly streamline tasks, enhance productivity, and save costs, thereby preventing businesses from falling behind. He also touches on the considerable, yet untapped, power the Black community holds in various spheres – political, cultural, and spiritual. Van advocates for leveraging these aspects collectively to demand access to computing resources from tech giants, ensuring that African American institutions and businesses can stay competitive in the AI-driven future. Van’s enthusiasm is palpable as he anticipates bringing this revolutionary program to InvestFest, an event dedicated to fostering financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation within the Black community. Join us in this enlightening conversation as we explore how AI can be a catalyst for change and uplift the community. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on all things Market Mondays! #MarketMondays #InvestFest #VanJones #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DreamMachineAI #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #BlackBusiness #FinancialLiteracy #WillIAm #MakeWakandaReal #TechForGood #BusinessGrowth #AIRevolution #CommunityEmpowerment #Microsoft #Amazon #CultureRevolution #HipHopTech #Juneteenth #BlackExcellence --- Tune in and learn how you can be at the forefront of the AI revolution, ensuring you’re not just keeping up, but leading the charge. See you at InvestFest! Our Sponsors: * Check out PNC Bank: https://www.pnc.com * Check out Square: https://square.com/go/eyl Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.