Robert F. Smith Champions Generative AI Access for HBCU Students

Billionaire investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith is leveraging his influence to ensure Black students lead the generative AI revolution – not just participate in it.

Speaking at a fireside chat with Harold L. Martin Sr., chancellor emeritus of North Carolina A&T, Smith highlighted how his private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners, uses its scale – ranking among the top-five customers of Amazon, Microsoft, and Google – to give portfolio companies early access to cutting-edge AI tools. “That’s critically important,” he said, “to be first in market with gen AI–enabled products.”

But Smith isn’t stopping at the boardroom. Committed to closing racial equity gaps in tech, he’s building “on-ramps” for underrepresented talent.

His initiative began with AI hackathons at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which evolved into formal curricula at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges – and across the Atlanta University Center (AUC). One standout course, “AI in Basketball,” developed with his sports analytics firm Stats Perform, blends technical training with real-world industry applications.

To broaden access further, Smith launched InternXL, a free AI-learning platform offering over 4,000 technical and certification courses to students nationwide.

His efforts underscore a clear message: technological advancement must be inclusive. As generative AI reshapes industries, Smith is ensuring HBCU students aren’t left behind – but positioned at the forefront.

Smith was recently honored at the 2025 XCEL Summit for Men for his leadership in education and equity.