Author: Okikiola O. Johnson

An AI-powered table tennis robot has defeated elite human players in a landmark series of matches, marking a major breakthrough in real-world robotics and machine intelligence applications. Developed by Sony AI, the robot-named Ace demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level in the sport, winning multiple matches against experienced players and even taking games from professionals under official competition rules. The matches, conducted on a regulation table tennis court in Tokyo, tested the robot’s ability to handle one of the fastest and most unpredictable sports. Table tennis requires split-second reactions, precise control, and real-time decision-making capabilities that have…

Google has selected four Nigerian startups, Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta, and Termii, for its 10th Google for Startups Accelerator Africa cohort, reinforcing growing investor confidence in Africa’s emerging AI and fintech ecosystem. The announcement confirmed that the cohort was selected from about 2,600 applications across Africa, with only 15 startups making the final list. The programme continues Google’s focus on supporting high-growth technology companies building scalable solutions for African markets. According to Google, this year’s accelerator places strong emphasis on AI-driven innovation and infrastructure tools that address real-world challenges in financial systems, digital communication, and enterprise operations across the continent. The…

Synthesia is an AI-powered video creation platform that transforms written text into fully produced videos using digital avatars. It removes the need for cameras, microphones, actors, or traditional editing tools by automating the entire video production process. It is widely used by organisations that need to create high-quality videos quickly, consistently, and at scale—especially in training, marketing, and education. What is Synthesia? Synthesia is a text-to-video AI platform that generates videos directly from scripts. A virtual presenter (an AI avatar) delivers your script in a natural, human-like way, complete with lip-syncing, gestures, and voice narration. In simple terms: You write…

A widespread outage of ChatGPT disrupted services for thousands of users globally on April 20, 2026, and OpenAI confirmed it was actively monitoring recovery efforts after deploying fixes. Reports of the disruption began surfacing around mid-morning U.S. time, as users encountered issues ranging from failed logins to an inability to load conversations or generate responses. Outage tracking platforms recorded a sharp spike in complaints across multiple regions, reflecting the scale of the disruption. OpenAI acknowledged the incident in its official status updates, stating that it was investigating a “partial outage” affecting ChatGPT and related services. The company said some users…

Econet Wireless is intensifying efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations as part of a broader push to improve digital accessibility and service delivery in Zimbabwe. The telecommunications company says AI will play a central role in modernising its network infrastructure, enhancing efficiency, and expanding access to digital services across both urban and rural communities. It describes the shift as part of a move toward more automated and intelligent systems that can support faster decision-making and improved user experience. According to the company, AI adoption is expected to strengthen network reliability by enabling systems that can self-monitor, self-correct,…

ALX, a leading talent accelerator focused on tech and AI skills development across Africa, says it is intensifying efforts to close the gender gap in the continent’s rapidly expanding digital workforce, where women are increasingly taking up roles in software engineering, data science, product management, and AI-related fields. According to the organisation, women currently make up more than half of its graduates, reflecting a steady push toward gender inclusion in technology-driven careers. Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager of ALX Nigeria, said the organisation is deliberately building systems that ensure women are not excluded from the digital economy. “We’re seeing a…

Siemens has introduced a new artificial intelligence system designed specifically for industrial automation engineering, expanding its efforts to embed AI across manufacturing and industrial software workflows. The company unveiled the Eigen Engineering Agent, an AI-powered system capable of planning, executing, and validating complex automation engineering tasks. Siemens says the tool is designed to operate beyond traditional AI assistants by completing engineering workflows with minimal human intervention. The system is integrated with Siemens’ TIA Portal, its core automation engineering platform, enabling access to project-specific data, including control logic, device configurations, and system parameters. This enables it to generate engineering outputs tailored to real…

GREE Electric Appliances has unveiled a portfolio of 130 products at the latest edition of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, stating that more than 80 per cent of the showcased items incorporate artificial intelligence and advanced energy-efficient technologies. The Chinese manufacturer used its presence at the globally recognised trade exhibition to highlight its expanding focus on intelligent systems across a wide range of appliances, including residential air-conditioning units, industrial compressors, and smart-home solutions. The display reflects a broader industry shift towards embedding AI capabilities into everyday consumer and industrial products. According to the company, the integration of AI aims to…

Artificial intelligence hardware in 2026 is no longer a single-category market. It is a layered ecosystem defined by different chip “tiers”-from general-purpose accelerators to highly specialised silicon. Understanding these tiers is essential: Tier 1 (General AI Compute): GPUs and CPUs – flexible, dominant in training Tier 2 (Specialised Accelerators): TPUs, IPUs, AI ASICs – optimised for scale and efficiency Tier 3 (Edge AI & NPUs): ultra-efficient inference chips embedded in devices Tier 4 (Custom / Vertical AI Silicon): bespoke chips built for specific ecosystems This shift towards specialisation reflects a broader industry trend: purpose-built chips outperform general processors in efficiency,…

Nigeria is intensifying its push for a coordinated continental framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging African countries to align policies, infrastructure, and governance systems to secure the continent’s digital future. Speaking at continental digital economy and AI governance forums across Africa, Nigerian officials urged member states to adopt a unified framework for developing artificial intelligence. A key concern raised is that inconsistent regulations and siloed data frameworks could limit innovation and weaken Africa’s competitiveness in emerging AI-driven industries. Nigeria argues that stronger regional collaboration, particularly around cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data governance, is essential to building a resilient digital economy.…