Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin, Co-Founder of Human Tech Futures | Saturday, October 10, 2026 | Online
Every time you apply for a loan, search for a job or post on social media, an algorithm may be deciding something about you. Increasingly, AI systems sort people, predict behaviour and shape who gets opportunities.
However, who taught those systems what to think about us? That question sits at the heart of ethical AI for entrepreneurs. For Black business owners, it matters twice: once as the people AI makes decisions about, and again as founders choosing which AI tools to trust with our customers.
So on Saturday, October 10, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin, Co-Founder of Human Tech Futures and co-founder of the AI Global South Summit, exploring AI, entrepreneurship, identity, ethics and inclusion.
Who Is Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin?
All told, Kem-Laurin brings two decades of experience across corporate innovation and academic research. Before turning to research, she spent more than 15 years as a design leader and researcher at companies including Siemens, BlackBerry and Autodesk.
Later, she earned her doctorate at the University of Waterloo, where her research examined how AI systems characterize and profile people, and how those characterizations affect real lives. Along the way, she received the DiMarco Graduate Scholarship in Computational Rhetoric. Additionally, she is the author of User Experience in the Age of Sustainability.
Today, she co-leads Human Tech Futures, which helps individuals and organizations navigate the future of humans and technology through design thinking and human-centred innovation. In addition, she serves as Executive Director of the AI Global South Summit.
How can we, in the humanities, with our rich tradition of storytelling and character exploration, harness our knowledge to shape the future of artificial intelligence? (Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin)
The AI Global South Summit
In October 2024, Kem-Laurin co-founded the first AI Global South Summit in Saint Lucia, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and youth from across the Global South and North. The goal was clear: put the Global South, including the Caribbean and Africa, at the centre of conversations about AI.
Importantly, she argues that smaller and developing nations must build the capacity to create AI, not just consume it. That message resonates deeply with Black entrepreneurs in Canada, many of whom have roots in those same regions.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Biased data creates biased decisions
In simple terms, AI learns from historical data. Consequently, if that data reflects past discrimination in lending, hiring or policing, AI can repeat it at scale. For this reason, understanding how this works is the first step to demanding better tools and fairer outcomes.
2. The tools you choose reflect your values
Meanwhile, as more small businesses adopt AI for hiring, marketing and customer service, owners become responsible for how those tools treat people. Therefore, Black entrepreneurs have an opportunity to lead by choosing tools that are transparent, fair and respectful of customer data. (For the upside of AI, see our Day 1 spotlight on using AI to close the funding gap.)
3. Creators, not just consumers
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that Black entrepreneurs face, including overconcentration in professional services. In contrast, Kem-Laurin’s call to build AI capacity, not just use it, points to a way out. When Black founders help design technology, we move into sectors with more ownership, more scale and more influence. (Our Day 7 post explores AI economic opportunity for Black Canadians.)
4. Responsible growth starts with clarity
Of course, before adopting any new technology, it helps to know exactly what problem you are solving. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your goals and the risks of the tools you use. Next, connect with experts and peers who can guide your choices. Finally, access capital to invest in growth the right way.
Ready to grow your business with clarity and confidence? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
5. Our stories must shape the future
Ultimately, Kem-Laurin’s work reminds us that technology is not neutral. Rather, it reflects the stories, values and people behind it. So when Black voices help write those stories, the future of AI becomes more inclusive for everyone.
What You Will Walk Away With
- How AI systems profile people and why it matters for Black communities
- How to evaluate AI tools for fairness, privacy and bias
- Why the Caribbean and Global South must help build AI, not just use it
- How human-centred design leads to better products and businesses
- A live Q&A with an AI scholar, design leader and summit founder
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ethical AI mean for a small business?
Generally, it means using AI tools in ways that are fair, transparent and respectful of people’s data. For example, it involves checking how a tool makes decisions, protecting customer information and keeping a human involved in important choices like hiring or lending.
Can AI be biased against Black people?
Yes. In fact, when AI systems learn from data that reflects historical discrimination, they can repeat those patterns. That is why diverse voices in AI design, testing and policy are so important.
I missed the live session. Can I watch the replay?
Yes. Replays of BEEConference sessions will be shared on the ACBN YouTube channel.
Join Us on Day 10
Day 10 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if you want to use AI wisely and help shape where it goes next, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin | BEEConference Day 10
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | Online
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a replay, workshop or conversation: youtube.com/@acbn_canada
Connect. Build. Grow.
