CBX Daily 7/28/2025

Author

Cynthia Anaba
July 28, 2025

Today, tech is drawing clear wealth divide lines, but let’s start with how Amazon’s $10 billion move is bringing brighter times…

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Amazon's $10 Billion AI Data Center Is A Big Win For North Carolina

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Amazon is staking a major claim in the South as it expands its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure with a $10 billion data center investment in North Carolina. The move is more than a tech upgrade, it's a strategic cultural and economic bet on a state where Black communities make up 22.1% of the population, opening doors for inclusive job growth and innovation. The tech's groundbreaking Richmond County AI and cloud-computing hub will be developed over the next decade by Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to Amazon’s official announcement. The company says the investment will not only upgrade its AI capabilities but also generate hundreds of new jobs in Richmond and Gaston counties.  

Can Automation Be Equitable? The Racial Wealth Gap Says Otherwise

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For generations of workers displacement has been a normal albeit unequal process, now technology is adding another layer to the mix. Workplace automation presents the larger society with a conundrum, as A.I. is set to upend companies, leaving African Americans especially vulnerable. Nearly 4.5 million African Americans in the next 10 years could lose their jobs due to automaton. Is it possible this business impediment will lead to more income inequality and is there anything that can be done about it?  

Should You Swap Your Credit Card for Buy Now Pay Later?

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Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is popping up everywhere. An April 2025 LendingTree survey found that around half of Americans have used BNPL, and around 1 in 3 have used it more than once. Buyers aren’t just using it for essentials either, with a Billboard report finding that nearly 2 in 3 attendees at this year’s Coachella festival used BNPL to buy their tickets. Credit cards, the grandfather of deferred payment solutions, have been around since the 1950s, and more than 4 in 5 US adults have one, according to the Federal Reserve. Is it worth ditching high-interest plastic in favor of zero-interest cardless loans?  

Tune-in Tuesdays!

The U.S. will soon charge a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ to international visitors. Is this border control or brand control?

A. “Rich Bitch” by Gunna – The U.S. is curating its guest list with pride, power, and paranoia, and the dress code is wealth
B. “My House” by Beyoncé – The so-called land of opportunity is rewriting its welcome mat. The fee may be new, but the message isn’t: this house wasn’t built for everyone
C. “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar – For some, $250 may be a speed bump but the dream is still alive because they have nothing to hide and willing to cough a little extra

What are your thoughts on this? Tune in next Tuesday to see which jam captures the prevailing sentiment!

A  |  B  |  C

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HBCUs Are Shaping The Future Of Silicon Valley’s Tech Innovation

CBX Vibe:

For decades, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been cultural bedrocks, cultivating brilliance against the odds. Now, they’re redefining what it means to lead in tech. As the tech industry faces mounting pressure to diversify, HBCUs are emerging not just as pipelines, but as powerhouses of innovation.  

Culture Still Wants Luxury But It's Losing Buyers

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Luxury has always sold aspiration, but these days, aspiration looks a lot more like a $500 canvas bag than a $5,000 statement piece. As U.S. spending on luxury goods fell 6% year-over-year in 2024, the old playbook of exclusivity and extravagance is cracking under pressure. Brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton (LVMH +1.54%) have responded by releasing more “accessible” items from crossbody bags, logo belts to perfume sets all priced just under the psychological $500 mark.  

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