Author: Okikiola O. Johnson

Global markets and technology sectors have witnessed an unprecedented surge in billionaire wealth as the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industry valuations and wealth-creation patterns. According to the latest UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report, worldwide billionaire wealth reached a record $15.8 trillion-an increase of about 13 % year-over-year-with tech billionaires’ assets growing by nearly 24 % amid soaring valuations in AI-driven companies. The same study found 287 new billionaires were created in 2025, the second-highest number ever recorded. Forbes also reported that substantial AI innovation and funding helped create more than 50 new billionaires, further underscoring AI’s role in today’s wealth dynamics. Billionaire…

Nigeria’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem is gaining a stronger media voice, with AIBase.ng continuing to grow as a trusted hub for AI news, insights, and industry developments. The platform is quickly establishing itself as a key source of information for professionals, innovators, and organisations seeking reliable coverage of artificial intelligence across Nigeria and the wider global technology landscape. Launched to meet the rising demand for credible and accessible information on artificial intelligence, AIBase.ng is positioning itself as a central destination for AI-focused journalism in Nigeria. The platform serves a broad audience, including students, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, and business leaders who…

TikTok has announced an additional $200,000 investment in AI media literacy programmes across Sub‑Saharan Africa, aimed at helping users identify and respond to misinformation, deepfakes, and other AI‑generated content. The funding was revealed during TikTok’s third annual Sub‑Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit in Nairobi, which brought together government officials, regulators, technology companies, and civil society organisations to discuss online safety challenges in the region. The $200,000 will be distributed as advertising credits to organisations already engaged in digital literacy and AI education, including Mtoto News in Kenya, Africa Check operating in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, and the Centre for…

Meta Platforms has delayed the release of its upcoming artificial intelligence model following internal concerns about its performance, according to reports released this week. The model, reportedly codenamed “Avocado,” was expected to launch in early 2026 but has now been postponed until at least May 2026 as engineers work to improve its capabilities. Sources familiar with the development said internal testing showed the system was not performing at the level Meta expected, particularly in areas such as reasoning, coding and complex language tasks — key benchmarks used to evaluate modern generative AI models. The delay highlights the growing competition in…

Meta has introduced a new artificial intelligence feature on Facebook Marketplace that allows its AI to automatically draft and send replies to messages from potential buyers. The company says the tool is designed to help sellers manage high volumes of inquiries more efficiently and reduce communication delays. The AI system generates suggested responses based on information already included in a listing, such as item description, price, availability, and pickup location. Sellers can choose to enable the feature on a per-listing basis, preview the AI-generated reply, and make edits before sending. This ensures that sellers maintain full control over the messages…

Morocco has reaffirmed its commitment to embedding artificial intelligence at the centre of its economic and industrial modernisation, unveiling a new research institute and outlining ambitious national targets that could contribute 100 billion dirhams (about $10 billion) to gross domestic product and create 50,000 AI‑related jobs by 2030. The announcement came during a scientific seminar held at the Euro‑Mediterranean University of Fès, where Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, highlighted AI’s strategic role within the Digital Morocco 2030 framework. “We want to turn Morocco into a future excellence hub in AI and data science,” Seghrouchni said,…

Judicial leaders from across Africa have gathered in Maputo to examine how artificial intelligence is beginning to shape court systems and raise new questions around transparency, accountability, and human rights. The regional workshop, organised by the African Network of Judicial Trainers (ANJT) in collaboration with UNESCO, brought together 31 participants, including directors of judicial training institutes, Supreme Court justices, and senior magistrates from several African countries. The meeting focused on how AI technologies — such as automated translation tools and legal research systems — are increasingly being introduced into judicial processes. Opening the workshop, Michael Croft, Regional Director of UNESCO…

With high level of applicants applying for jobs these days, Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in recruitment to screen resumes, rank candidates, and even conduct preliminary interviews. While these systems promise efficiency and objectivity, research shows that they can replicate and amplify existing biases in hiring, potentially disadvantaging underrepresented candidates. How Bias Enters AI Hiring Systems Historical Data Bias: AI trained on past hiring patterns can inherit existing inequalities, favouring groups historically overrepresented in certain roles. Proxy Variables: Even without explicit demographic data, factors such as ZIP codes, schools, or job titles can indirectly signal race, gender, or…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with Nkenne AI to advance artificial intelligence‑powered language technologies across Nigeria. The initiative aims to improve multilingual digital services across sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government. Speaking at the announcement, Dr Bunmi Ajala, National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) under NITDA, said, “This partnership will accelerate the adoption of AI solutions that cater to Nigeria’s linguistic diversity. Our goal is to integrate advanced AI tools into public services and foster digital inclusion nationwide.” Dr Ajala added, “We are committed to expanding high‑performance computing infrastructure,…

The British government has a new plan for its legal system. Justice Secretary David Lammy wants to use artificial intelligence in the UK justice system. This move is part of a bigger effort to modernise courts with digital tools.This plan is to make handling smaller cases easier for legal officers. Lammy thinks automated systems could cut down the need for full jury trials. He believes these tools will make complex procedures simpler.Legal experts in Nigeria are keeping a close eye on these changes. Using AI in judiciary is a big step forward. The goal is to make the justice system…