AI Is Coming for the Floor and the Ceiling — West Virginia, Let’s Be Ready

“AI is going to tear the floor out from under you. But it’s also going to tear the ceiling off from over you.”

That’s how John Hope Bryant opens the latest episode of his Money & Wealth podcast, and it’s a warning West Virginia can’t afford to ignore.

Bryant, the founder of Operation HOPE, is known for turning big economic ideas into action. His work focuses on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and building generational wealth. This episode dives deep into how artificial intelligence will reshape the way we work, earn, and create — with risks we must prepare for and opportunities we can’t miss.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. 

West Virginia Roots in the Conversation

Bryant’s wife, Chaitra Dalton Bryant, has deep West Virginia ties. Her father, Dr. David Dalton, grew up in the Mountain State and went on to help co-found the first Rite Aid pharmacy, a small-town innovation that became a national chain. Chaitra herself has built a respected career in the wellness industry, proving that Appalachian roots can thrive on the world stage. 

These connections matter. They mean West Virginia isn’t just a place on the map for Bryant, it’s part of his family’s story. And they highlight how the kind of financial education he’s offering through Operation HOPE could have a life-changing impact here at home.

https://johnhopebryant.com/2019/09/saluting-a-be100-leader-my-father-in-law-dr-david-dalton.html

Van Jones: An Ally for Appalachia

Co-host Van Jones also brings a track record of caring about Appalachian communities. His work on green jobs, criminal justice reform, and rural economic revival has included efforts in Central Appalachia. Jones understands that rural and urban America share many of the same challenges — and that both benefit when solutions cross those boundaries.

Brad D. Smith: Marshall’s President, HOPE’s Board Member

Operation HOPE’s Global Board of Advisors includes Brad D. Smith, the president of Marshall University and former CEO of Intuit. Smith is a native of Kenova, WV, who returned home after a successful Silicon Valley career to invest in the future of the state.

At Marshall, Smith is championing tech education, entrepreneurship, and debt-free college through initiatives like Marshall For All and Marshall Forever. His Wing 2 Wing Foundation is funding innovation hubs, remote work programs, and scholarships, exactly the kind of infrastructure West Virginia needs to compete in an AI-driven economy.

His seat on HOPE’s board means West Virginia’s voice is in the room when national leaders are making decisions about economic empowerment, financial literacy, and tech readiness.

The Opportunity for West Virginia

This isn’t just a conversation about AI. It’s a roadmap for how states like West Virginia can catch the wave of innovation instead of getting swept under it.

• AI Literacy: We must prepare our workforce for how AI will reshape industries from coal to customer service.
  
• Financial Education: Operation HOPE’s coaching scholarships can help West Virginians build the skills to adapt and thrive.
  
• Entrepreneurship: Leaders like Bryant, Smith, and Jones are proving that rural areas can innovate at the same scale as major cities.
  

Next Steps: Learn, Share, Apply

1. Listen to the podcast — then share it with someone in your family or community.
   
2. Apply for Operation HOPE’s free financial coaching and check out Bryant’s bestselling book Financial Literacy for All.
   
3. Engage with BBG Tech — we’re covering the future of AI, entrepreneurship, and tech in Appalachia.
   

Aiden Satterfield is a cybersecurity graduate and athlete from Walsh University, and a native West Virginian.
For more information or to engage with BBG Tech contact: info@blackbygod.org. Let’s continue to inspire, inform, and foster an environment where diversity and innovation thrive in the tech industry.