Microsoft and Black Tech Street announced the launch of the Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a new collaborative technology hub focused on advancing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems innovation.
Located inside the Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton (GEM) building in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood district, the lab is designed to bring together startups, enterprises, researchers, and public-sector organizations to develop and test next-generation AI technologies. The initiative is part of the broader Greenwood AI Center of Excellence, which is supported through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program after Tulsa was designated a Federal Tech Hub in 2024 for leadership in autonomous systems.
Tulsa’s Tech Hubs coalition, led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, received $51 million in federal funding to help establish the region as a national center for advanced autonomy technologies, including drones, robotics, and intelligent mobility systems. Of that amount, $10.6 million was allocated to the Greenwood AI Center of Excellence, which serves as the artificial intelligence component of Tulsa’s Tech Hub strategy.
The Greenwood AI Center of Excellence was designed and is operated by Black Tech Street in partnership with Microsoft and SeedAI. The initiative combines workforce development, education, and applied technology innovation to help organizations and communities better understand and adopt AI technologies.
The initiative includes two primary components:
- ASPIRE (AI Societal Program for Innovation, Research, and Education), which focuses on AI fluency, workforce development, and technology education.
- Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab, a collaborative environment where organizations can work alongside Microsoft engineers and technology leaders to build AI-powered solutions for real-world challenges.
The Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab will host Microsoft engineers and researchers while providing access to advanced Microsoft AI and cybersecurity technologies. Initial work at the lab will focus on four strategic areas:
- Startups and enterprise innovation
- Critical infrastructure security
- Autonomous systems
- Responsible AI development
Microsoft also announced initial collaboration plans with Lumen Technologies focused on applied artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, and community engagement initiatives through the lab. Lumen, a longstanding Microsoft partner and major technology employer in the Tulsa region, will help support the collaborative ecosystem envisioned for the facility.
Additionally, Microsoft is partnering with Tulsa Public Schools through its Elevate program, alongside Black Tech Street, to support district-wide AI readiness initiatives. The effort includes educator training, AI-powered career pathways, operational productivity improvements, and exploration of Microsoft Copilot tools to streamline administrative workflows.
Tyrance Billingsley II emphasized the significance of locating the lab within Greenwood and described the initiative as an opportunity to position Tulsa as a model for community-focused AI innovation in the United States.
Michael Salazar said the lab creates an opportunity to bring together founders, researchers, technologists, and community partners to responsibly develop technologies that can generate real-world impact while pairing innovation with security, trust, and opportunity.
Sean Alexander said the AI era will be shaped not only by technology but also by the communities influencing how it is built and deployed, adding that Lumen looks forward to supporting initiatives emerging from the lab.
Jennifer Hankins described the opening as a major milestone for Tulsa’s Tech Hubs strategy and a demonstration of how world-class partners, advanced technology, and community-rooted talent can combine to create globally competitive innovation.
Monroe Nichols also praised the initiative, saying Black Tech Street is helping position Tulsa as a city that is shaping the future while continuing Greenwood’s historic legacy of vision and economic opportunity.
KEY QUOTES:
“This grand opening represents a culmination of years of work and collaboration of several different partners. The GEM building is precious to the Greenwood community, so for Black Tech Street HQ and this Microsoft Lab to be housed in it, across from the Middle School I attended and be focused on making this community a leader in the most impactful technology in human history, AI, means more than I can put into words.
The United States will need a model to look for how to catalyze impactful and community focused AI innovation as it looks to lead the world on this new frontier. Tulsa looks forward to being that example.”
Tyrance Billingsley II, Founder and CEO, Black Tech Street + Greenwood AI Center of Excellence
“The Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab represents an opportunity to bring together founders, researchers, technologists, and community partners to responsibly develop and deploy technologies that can create real-world impact, from helping startups scale and strengthening critical infrastructure resilience to advancing world-class AI and cybersecurity innovation.
This moment in technology is moving incredibly quickly, and Microsoft believes it is important that innovation be paired with security, trust, and broad opportunity. We are proud to work alongside Black Tech Street, Tulsa Innovation Labs, and an exceptional group of partners to help build a model for how communities can harness emerging technologies to empower people and organizations to achieve more.”
Michael Salazar, General Manager, Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab, Microsoft
“The AI era will be defined not just by the technology, but by the communities that shape how it’s built and used. As The Trusted Network for AI and a regional employer, Lumen looks forward to collaborating on contributing to community initiatives emerging from the Co-Innovation Lab anchored in Greenwood, helping turn AI ambition into real-world impact.”
Sean Alexander, SVP Connected Ecosystem, Lumen Technologies
“Today’s opening is a powerful milestone, not just for Greenwood, but for the entire Tulsa region and our Tech Hubs strategy. The Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab brings to life what this investment is meant to do: connect world-class partners, cutting-edge technology, and community-rooted talent to build something uniquely competitive on a global stage.
At Tulsa Innovation Labs, we see this as a proof point for how our broader strategy comes together to advance leadership in autonomous systems and AI while ensuring that innovation translates into real opportunity for people.”
Jennifer Hankins, Managing Director, Tulsa Innovation Labs
“Black Tech Street is helping position Tulsa as a city that is not just preparing for the future, but helping shape it. The opening of the Greenwood Cyber & AI Lab is a powerful investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development rooted in one of the most historically significant communities in our country. Greenwood has always been a place of vision and economic opportunity, and through the leadership of Tyrance Billingsley and Black Tech Street, I’m excited for that legacy to continue in a bold new way. Tulsa is proud to support this work and excited about the opportunities this lab will create for our residents, businesses, and future generations.”
Monroe Nichols, Mayor of Tulsa
