MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Artificial Intelligence company Anthropic is making a big investment in Memphis. The tech company gifted $1 million to Memphis nonprofit CodeCrew to help build their National Tech Education Headquarters in North Memphis.
FOX13 was the only TV station that was allowed an inside look at what the space will look like.
The headquarters will be located at the Northside Square development on Vollintine Avenue. The old high school has been transformed into a multi-use development that includes affordable housing at the top and office spaces on the bottom.
CodeCrew is a Memphis-based nonprofit that started in 2015. The organization has trained more than 16,000 students and adults in AI and computer science. Currently housed on the University of Memphis campus, Meka Egwuekwe, CEO of CodeCrew, told FOX13 their new headquarter space will be triple the size and make it easier for the organization to change lives in Memphis.
RELATED: Memphis empowers computer scientists with summit and $700K grant for Black tech owners
“This space enables us to step into preparing young people for 21st century careers and 21st century entrepreneurship and opportunity,” said Egwuekwe.
The new headquarters space is under construction. When complete, there will be a classroom that can fit up to 100 students. It also has the ability to split into four rooms that can fit 25 students each.
The new space will also include and AI lab with an LED screen to help teach the next generation.
“As we step into an AI native world, we need to, we need to be looking at and double downing on how AI intersects with education and how AI intersects with workforce development,” said Egwuekwe.
In the 11 years CodeCrew has been operating in Memphis, Egwuekwe told FOX13 they have helped many adults find higher paying jobs.
“We train them six months’ time to become AI and software engineers. Then, we help them get placed in the jobs that start at, at least $70,000 a year,” said Egwuekwe. “Imagine what that means for those with kids and the outcomes for them and the outlooks for them changing for the better because now these families can start thinking about building wealth for themselves, generational wealth.”
The gift from Anthropic goes beyond just money. Egwuekwe said students will have the opportunity to use and learn from Anthropic.
“In the form of access to their engineers, so that we ensure that we’re providing young students with industry relevant skills, as well as access to the technology in the form of credits and licenses,” said Egwuekwe.
Anthropic already has a presence in Memphis. The tech company is currently renting xAI’s supercomputer in southwest Memphis. The City of Memphis said this is the first major investment the tech giant has made in the Bluff City.
Egwuekwe told FOX13 he is hoping the new headquarters space allows CodeCrew to reach more people in Memphis.
“We believe that we have something special here in Memphis and it’s time we started bragging about the best-in-class offerings that we have and showing that to the nation and to the world,” said Egwuekwe. “We invite you to step into your brilliance, learn these skills, and establish your own pathway to successful career, to college, to entrepreneurship and tech.”
At a time when there are mixed feelings on AI, Egwuekwe wants to urge Memphians to embrace the new technology and learn how it can help you instead of thinking it could harm you.
“We must ensure that young people have agency and leadership opportunities to shape AI for solving their community problems, for solving real human problems. That’s the business that we’re in here at CodeCrew,” said Egwuekwe. “Asking the tough questions of should technology even be used for a certain set of circumstances.”
Construction is expected to be done by December with the organization hoping to have everything moved in and ready to go by January.
You can learn more about CodeCrew and how to get involved on its website.
Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.
Trending stories: