Onyx Impact launches Aisha, an AI tool designed to mitigate racial bias

Artificial intelligence is transforming the world, but traditional tools continue to leave minority communities behind. To change this narrative, Onyx Impact officially launched Aisha on June 25—an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for the Black community. This platform aims to provide culturally informed responses, focusing its technology on real sources, history, and experiences that conventional systems often overlook. Unlike mainstream models, Aisha was created to empower a population historically affected by algorithmic bias.

According to its creators, systems like ChatGPT have exhibited biases such as recommending harsher sentences for defendants of African descent or associating dark skin with criminality. Furthermore, hiring tools have systematically rejected Black candidates. In light of this reality, Onyx Impact’s founder and CEO, Esosa Osa, emphasized that communities harmed by technology deserve a tool built with them at the center.

Aisha not only answers questions but also understands its users’ context. If an entrepreneur asks how to start a business, the AI will tailor its resources to the specific challenges faced by Black founders. This is vital for the economic ecosystem, as a study by the McKinsey Institute warns that generative AI could widen the racial wealth gap by $43 billion annually by 2045.

Privacy, Innovation, and Environmental Responsibility

In addition to its cultural focus, the app stands out for its strict privacy and security policies. In a market where data is the main product, Aisha assured the press during the demo that “it does not use users’ personal information or conversations to train the model.” All chats are encrypted and protected, ensuring that only the user has access to them. The goal is to minimize harm by prioritizing verified sources and high-quality Black media outlets.

Another fundamental pillar of Aisha is its eco-friendly approach, a critical issue given that AI infrastructure disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities. The platform uses sustainable servers from Contabo located in Canada. Additionally, its model, powered by Anthropic, covers the costs of upgrading the power grid, ensures the use of renewable energy to offset its consumption, and employs water-efficient cooling systems.

The project is backed by engineers Larry Adams and Mohamed Maan, who worked alongside Osa to bring this vision to life. Originally launched as a web chatbot in 2025, the platform has since evolved into an immersive and comprehensive mobile experience. The app is currently available for direct download via Aisha.ai, as well as on the App Store and Google Play.