Author: Okikiola O. Johnson

First Bank of Nigeria (FirstBank) is intensifying its support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by championing the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and strategies to boost competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainable growth. The initiative was highlighted during the SMEConnect webinar on March 31, 2026, themed “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact.” “SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank, we recognise that the economy cannot thrive without them-building on this foundation, we are equipping business owners with the right knowledge and practical insights on Artificial Intelligence to help them scale in…

Microsoft has unveiled major upgrades to its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform, designed to transform AI from a conversational assistant into a productivity partner capable of both advanced research and workflow automation. A central part of the update is the expansion of Copilot’s research capabilities. The new Critique feature allows multiple AI models to work together: one model generates a response while another checks for accuracy and quality before it reaches the user. Complementing this, the Council interface enables side-by-side comparison of responses from different models, helping users make more informed decisions. Corporate Vice President Nicole Herskowitz said, “Having various different…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has intensified its call for deploying advanced technologies- including artificial intelligence, satellite systems, and big data analytics — to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to withstand escalating climate risks. Professor Charles Anosike, Director‑General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Conference of the Nigerian Meteorological Society (NMetS) and its 35th Annual General Meeting at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State. The conference theme, “Advancing Meteorology: Harnessing AI Satellites, and Big Data for Climate Resilience and Sustainability,” illustrates the agency’s commitment to modernising weather and climate services. In…

Global Popular artificial intelligence platform DeepSeek suffered a major service outage lasting over 12 hours, affecting millions of users across multiple regions. The disruption, the longest since the platform’s viral surge in early 2025, left individuals and businesses unable to access the chatbot, APIs, and other AI-driven tools. Users reported widespread interruptions to daily tasks, including research, coding, content creation, and workflow automation. Many expressed frustration on social media, highlighting how dependent they have become on AI services for both professional and personal productivity. One user said the outage left them “unable to function” for several hours, underscoring the platform’s…

Qodo, a startup building artificial intelligence tools for code review, testing, and governance, has raised $70 million in a Series B funding round as enterprises grapple with a surge in AI-generated software and a growing need for trustworthy code quality. The round was led by Qumra Capital and included participation from existing and new investors, bringing Qodo’s total funding to approximately $120 million. Venture firms such as Maor Ventures, Phoenix Venture Partners, S Ventures, Square Peg, Susa Ventures, TLV Partners, and Vine Ventures joined the deal, with individual backers including executives from OpenAI and Meta also participating. Qodo’s platform aims…

Former Ghanaian Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has identified six key policy strategies that can position Africa as a leader in the global race for artificial intelligence (AI). Delivering a keynote at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science(LSE) Africa Summit 2026 in London, Dr Bawumia emphasised that Africa must first strengthen its foundational pillars – infrastructure, skills, and governance-before chasing technological applications. “Technological revolutions reward those who build foundations first-institutions, infrastructure, skills, and rules-before chasing applications,” he said. The Six Policy Steps Include; Invest in Foundational Infrastructure Reliable electricity, broadband, and digital infrastructure are essential to enable AI…

Meta, the technology company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has unveiled a new initiative to empower small businesses and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across its platforms. The programme, called Meta Small Business, is designed to help entrepreneurs leverage AI tools to build, manage, and scale their operations more efficiently. It targets the more than 250 million small and medium-sized businesses already using Meta’s platforms for advertising, sales, and customer engagement. The initiative will integrate AI-driven capabilities directly into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, enabling businesses to automate customer interactions, generate marketing content, and improve data-driven decision-making. Chief Executive Mark…

Google has introduced a new internal artificial intelligence tool, dubbed “Agent Smith,” designed to automate workplace tasks and allow employees to execute assignments directly from their mobile devices, according to reports. The tool, launched internally in early 2026, represents a significant shift toward so-called “agentic” AI systems-software capable of independently carrying out complex workflows with minimal human supervision. Built on Google’s existing infrastructure, Agent Smith can handle tasks such as coding, document retrieval, and workflow management across the company’s internal systems. What sets Agent Smith apart is its asynchronous functionality. Employees can assign tasks to the AI agent, run it…

In a bid to expand AI-powered content creation, ByteDance Ltd., the Beijing-based technology company behind TikTok and CapCut, has introduced its Dreamina Seedance 2.0 AI video generation model to CapCut, the company’s widely used video editing platform. The new feature allows creators to generate, edit, and synchronise video and audio using textual prompts, images, or reference clips, making advanced AI video tools accessible to a global audience. The rollout spans multiple regions, including Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East, signalling ByteDance’s intent to position CapCut as a leading platform for AI-assisted creative production. “Dreamina Seedance 2.0 represents…

In a bid to make messaging faster and more efficient, WhatsApp has introduced an AI-powered feature that can draft replies based on users’ conversations. The new tool analyses the context of chats and suggests responses that users can accept, edit, or ignore, offering convenience while keeping control firmly in users’ hands. The feature builds on WhatsApp’s previous AI-driven tools, such as text rephrasing and chat organisation functions. With draft replies, the platform can now offer more intelligent, context-aware suggestions that adapt to the tone and flow of conversations, helping users respond quickly to messages without compromising personal expression. WhatsApp has…