Author: Okikiola O. Johnson

A stark digital divide is opening up across the African continent. New data published by Microsoft reveals that South Africa has surged significantly ahead of regional economic heavyweights Nigeria and Kenya in artificial intelligence adoption. According to the latest figures released in the Microsoft Global AI Diffusion in Q1 2026 Report, South Africa has secured its spot as the continental frontrunner. It recorded a 23.1% generative AI adoption rate among its working-age population. By contrast, Nigeria tracks much further behind at 10.1%, while Kenya registers at just 7.8%. The Continental Leaderboard The metrics, compiled by Microsoft’s specialised AI Economy Institute,…

The Federal University Lokoja has confirmed the establishment of a ₦3 billion Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Centre of Excellence focused on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences, as part of efforts to strengthen research capacity and digital innovation in the institution. The development, which is being highlighted within the Vice-Chancellor’s first 100 days in office report, reflects ongoing progress in implementing strategic academic and technological projects aimed at repositioning the university as a hub for emerging technologies in Nigeria. According to official university communications, the intervention was approved through a TETFund special allocation and is intended to support advanced…

Google has released new research showing that its Gemini artificial intelligence tools are delivering measurable improvements in student learning outcomes and helping teachers personalise education more effectively. The findings were published in a new report titled “Measuring the impact of AI on teaching and learning,” where Google detailed the results of education studies conducted in countries including Sierra Leone and Italy. The company said the studies focused on how AI-powered guided learning systems can improve maths performance, student engagement, and teachers’ lesson preparation. According to Google, one of the studies found that 69% of students using Guided Learning with Gemini…

Nigeria has officially launched “GovGuide Nigeria,” a new artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to help citizens access government information and public services through conversational AI. The initiative marks one of the country’s most ambitious deployments of AI within the public sector to date. The platform was developed through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Meta, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and Nigerian technology company Publica AI. According to government officials, the chatbot is intended to simplify the way Nigerians interact with ministries, departments, and agencies by providing faster, easier access to…

Google said its AI Mode in Search has surpassed 1 billion monthly users, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing transition toward artificial intelligence–driven and agentic search experiences. The company disclosed the figure in a product update, noting that adoption has accelerated rapidly as users increasingly engage with conversational, AI-generated responses integrated directly into Search. AI Mode is powered by Google’s Gemini family of models and is designed to synthesise information from multiple sources into direct answers, reducing reliance on traditional lists of web links. Sundar Pichai, business executive and Chief Executive Officer of Google and its parent company,…

South Africa has emerged as the leading adopter of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the African continent, according to a recent report by Microsoft. The report highlights the country’s rapid integration of AI technologies, including large language models, AI-driven analytics, and automation tools, across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and retail. Despite South Africa’s progress, Microsoft notes that Africa as a whole continues to trail global adoption, with countries such as the United States, China, and the United Kingdom leading in AI deployment and integration. “South Africa is showing that African countries can be at the forefront of AI innovation,”…

Young People in Tech (YPIT), a global community founded in Lagos in 2022, has launched a multi-week artificial intelligence programme titled The Artificial Future, aimed at connecting and accelerating Africa’s emerging AI builder framework. The programme, running from May to June 2026 across Lagos and online, includes a global webinar and workshop series, a two-weekend AI hackathon, and a closing conference expected to bring together over 1,000 participants. Organisers say the initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration among African AI developers working on locally relevant systems, such as African-language datasets, speech recognition tools, and healthcare applications adapted to regional contexts.…

Derragui Hibat-Allah-Mouna | Lois Christopher Mwamzanya | Thiouna Traore | Amanda Sibanda | Marie Yahaya Abdou Maikassoua | Amie Marie Flora Dushimumukiza | Fifaliana Arizaka | Cathleen Sacheus | Olorato Ralefala The AWC Women and Girls Digital Tech Hub has announced the successful graduation of nine women from across Africa following the completion of its six-month Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science Program, Cohort 1. The initiative was jointly implemented by the Helpline Social Support Initiative, Africa Women Conference (AWC), and DataCamp Donates USA, and was designed to equip women and girls with future-ready digital skills in Artificial Intelligence, Data…

Several leading universities in the United Kingdom have expelled students for using artificial intelligence tools to cheat on academic work, amid a sharp increase in AI-related misconduct cases across the higher education sector. New figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that thousands of students at major British universities were investigated or disciplined during the 2024-25 academic year for improper use of generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT in essays, coursework, and examinations. Among the institutions taking disciplinary action were University College London, Imperial College London, the University of Leeds and the University of Glasgow, according to reports published…

Microsoft’s head of artificial intelligence has warned that white-collar work is on the verge of a rapid transformation as AI systems become capable of handling a growing share of knowledge-based tasks. According to his outlook, the next 18 months could mark a turning point in how office jobs are structured, executed, and even defined. The prediction centres on the accelerating capability of AI tools to perform tasks traditionally handled by professionals in fields such as administration, finance, law, marketing, and technology. Rather than gradual change over decades, the shift is expected to unfold quickly as organisations adopt AI systems at…