Black excellence and cutting-edge technology are coming together in a major way. Miles College just announced a powerful new partnership with NVIDIA, the global AI powerhouse now worth more than $5 trillion, and it’s poised to shift what’s possible for students, faculty, and the community at large, Black Enterprise reports.
The Birmingham-area HBCU is boldly stepping into the next era of innovation, integrating artificial intelligence into its classrooms, research programs, and local outreach. The move is the result of intentional leadership from Miles College President Bobbie Knight, who recognized early on the transformative potential of AI for the next generation.
“I wanted this partnership because the future is here,” Knight said during a Birmingham panel. “It’s not here in 10 years—it’s here right now, and AI is part of that future. I wanted to make sure our students, not just at Miles but across HBCUs and Alabama, are positioned to live in a world dominated by AI.”
The collaboration arrives at a time when AI is reshaping every industry imaginable, and NVIDIA is sitting firmly at the center of that shift. For Miles College, this is more than an upgrade. It’s a statement that HBCU students deserve to be on the front lines of the digital revolution, not catching up to it.
AI integration is already having a significant impact. Nearly half of the faculty are using AI tools in their courses, and about 60 percent of campus research projects now incorporate artificial intelligence. Louis Stewart, NVIDIA’s Head of Strategic Initiatives for the Global Developer Ecosystem, pulled no punches about the moment students are living in.
“This is a ‘right now’ opportunity—it’s not a 5-10-year opportunity,” Stewart told students. “If all of you are not involved in AI right now, that’s a problem. If you don’t think about how AI can change the situations for your family, that’s a problem.”
He also highlighted what genuine collaboration looks like. “A real partnership isn’t about how NVIDIA can invest in you, but how we can walk alongside you as part of the puzzle. Without the other pieces, you just have a piece—and that doesn’t do you any good.”
Knight and Stewart have already been showcasing Miles’ innovation on national stages, from San Jose to Washington, D.C., putting the college in front of top tech leaders and potential collaborators. “That audience will have an opportunity to see what Miles College is doing with NVIDIA and hopefully create other opportunities for others,” Knight said.
And the vision doesn’t stop at the campus gates. Knight shared that expanding AI education into K-12 schools is a priority. “We’ve talked about taking this out to K-12,” she said. “Young people need to start now understanding AI and its implications in daily life. It has the potential to be life-changing for so many.”
For Black millennials cheering on the evolution of HBCUs, this partnership serves as a reminder that our institutions aren’t just keeping up; they’re actively shaping the future. Miles College is planting a flag in the AI landscape, making sure the students coming up behind us are equipped to lead, build, innovate, and thrive in a world powered by technology.
Cover photo: Alabama HBCU Miles College Leans Into the Future With Game-Changing NVIDIA AI Partnership/Photo credit: Miles College