Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Nigeria has intensified calls for greater collaboration among African countries to build the continent’s capacity in artificial intelligence (AI), warning that failure to act collectively could leave Africa dependent on foreign technologies in a rapidly evolving global digital economy. The appeal was made by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, during an interview at GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Morocco. He stressed the urgency of developing local infrastructure and expertise to support AI growth across Africa. According to him, the continent risks missing out on the benefits of AI if it does not invest in…

Cassava Technologies has brought its first AI factory in Cape Town close to full operation, marking a major milestone in Africa’s push to build local artificial intelligence infrastructure. The facility, designed for high-performance computing, will provide businesses, startups, and researchers with access to advanced processing power, resources that have historically been scarce across the continent. “This is about ensuring Africa does not just consume AI built elsewhere, but participates in creating it,” said Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of the company. Unlike traditional data centres, the AI factory is optimised for machine learning workloads, including training large models and processing…

Researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have unveiled a new multilingual artificial intelligence model, named MzansiLM, designed to support a wide range of South African languages and address long-standing gaps in digital language representation. The model, developed by a team of computer scientists and linguists, incorporates languages such as isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sepedi, alongside several others. Its release marks a significant step toward improving access to AI tools for speakers of indigenous African languages, which have historically been underrepresented in global technology systems. South Africa is home to 11 official languages, yet most mainstream AI platforms are primarily…

A Nigerian researcher has developed a mobile-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of identifying all eight denominations of the Nigerian naira, a breakthrough aimed at improving financial accessibility nationwide. Maryam Alka, a PhD researcher in Applied Mathematics at the University of Birmingham, designed the tool to recognise ₦5, ₦10, ₦20, ₦50, ₦100, ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 banknotes. The system is free and accessible online and has been optimised for use on mobile devices commonly available in Nigeria. The innovation is built to function effectively under real-world conditions, including low-light environments and when banknotes are worn, torn or folded. It can…

The Oyo State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies at the University of Ibadan (UI) to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen and expand Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the state. The collaboration aims to bridge academic research and real-sector applications while equipping SMEs with digital tools to improve productivity, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability in an increasingly technology-driven economy. Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the University of Ibadan, the State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Commerce and Cooperatives, Chief Adebisi Adeniyi, said the government remains committed to…

Cyberpedia has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered search engine designed to improve information accuracy and reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. The announcement was made on Monday during a virtual product briefing, where the company outlined its approach to reshaping how users access and verify digital content. The platform, simply named Cyberpedia Search, integrates generative AI with real-time verification systems that cross-check information against multiple trusted databases, academic sources, and verified news outlets. According to the company, the goal is to prioritise “contextually accurate and source-verified answers” over traditional keyword-based search results. A statement released by the company…

A Nigerian engineer, Osazee Harrison Oravbiere, has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) framework designed to transform the planning, delivery, and management of infrastructure systems globally. Oravbiere, a doctoral researcher at the University of Georgia in the United States, presented the framework as a solution to persistent challenges in infrastructure development, including cost overruns, project delays, and inefficient maintenance systems. Speaking during the unveiling, he said the innovation responds to the growing complexity of modern infrastructure demands. “What we are dealing with today is not just a shortage of infrastructure, but a deficit in intelligent systems that can manage and…

An artificial intelligence enthusiast, Jeremiah Musa, has identified what he calls ‘AI phobia’ as a bane to the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence tools by university graduates across Nigeria. Speaking to an AIbase correspondent in a phone interview from the United Arab Emirates, Jerry said that those with AI phobia struggle with the demands of integrating AI into their workflows, a situation that he said undermines productivity and encourages inefficiency. He described AI fear as the biggest challenge facing Nigerian graduates today, stating that their peers globally now focus on advancing AI use, while many Nigerian youths are still on…

Despite being home to world-class universities, influential research labs, and globally recognised companies such as DeepMind, Britain is increasingly being questioned about its ability to translate its strengths in artificial intelligence into long-term industrial dominance. While the UK remains an important AI research hub, structural weaknesses in funding, scaling, and commercialisation are slowing its ability to compete with the United States and China. Strong research base, weak commercial scale-up The UK has no shortage of AI talent. It consistently ranks among the top countries globally for computer science education and produces a steady stream of advanced research. London has become…

According to the SquirrelPR RANKED 2026 Report, Nigeria’s digital media industry has recorded a significant 26.2% decline in audience traffic, as artificial intelligence continues to transform how people access and consume news. The report indicates that total visits to Nigerian digital media platforms fell sharply between 2024 and 2025, marking a major shift in the country’s online information ecosystem. While audience engagement with news remains strong, the way users access content is changing rapidly due to AI-powered search tools and automated summaries. “The old model of digital media was built on clicks. That model is breaking down,” said Jonah Solomon, Co-founder of…