Microsoft and Black Tech Street Open Tulsa AI Lab Focused on Cybersecurity and Autonomous Systems
Microsoft and Black Tech Street opened the Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a collaborative facility where startups, enterprises, researchers, and government agencies will develop and test AI technologies. The lab operates inside the GEM building in Tulsa's historic Greenwood district.
Tulsa received federal designation as a Tech Hub in 2024 for leadership in autonomous systems. The region's Tech Hubs coalition secured $51 million in federal funding, with $10.6 million allocated specifically to the Greenwood AI Center of Excellence, which houses the new lab.
Lab Structure and Focus Areas
The facility combines two components: ASPIRE, a workforce development and education program focused on AI fluency, and the Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab itself, where organizations collaborate with Microsoft engineers on applied solutions.
Initial work will concentrate on four areas: startup and enterprise innovation, critical infrastructure security, autonomous systems, and responsible AI development. Microsoft engineers and researchers will operate from the lab and provide access to Microsoft's AI and cybersecurity technologies.
Industry Partnerships
Lumen Technologies, a major regional employer and longtime Microsoft partner, will support the lab's collaborative ecosystem through work on applied AI, cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, and community engagement.
Microsoft is also partnering with Tulsa Public Schools through its Elevate program to support AI readiness across the district. The effort includes educator training, AI-powered career pathways, and exploration of Microsoft Copilot tools for administrative workflows.
Why This Matters for IT Professionals
The lab creates a working environment where developers and IT teams can access enterprise-grade AI infrastructure and cybersecurity resources. For professionals in the region, it signals direct access to applied AI projects and collaboration opportunities with Microsoft technical staff.
The focus on responsible AI development and infrastructure security addresses practical concerns IT teams face when deploying AI systems in production environments.
Next Steps
Tyrance Billingsley II, founder and CEO of Black Tech Street, said the lab positions Tulsa as a model for community-focused AI innovation. Michael Salazar, general manager of the lab at Microsoft, emphasized that the facility pairs innovation with security and trust.
IT professionals interested in AI for IT & Development or Generative AI and LLM Courses can explore how these emerging technologies apply to infrastructure and development workflows.
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