Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications in the United States to protect her voice and likeness from misuse by artificial intelligence, amid growing concerns over deepfakes. The applications, submitted through her company TAS Rights Management, cover two audio clips and one image of the singer. One filing includes Swift saying “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” and another “Hey, it’s Taylor,” while a third covers a stage image from her Eras Tour performances. The move is aimed at countering the spread of AI-generated content that imitates her identity. Deepfakes have previously depicted Swift in false endorsements, advertisements and explicit imagery, heightening calls…

China has blocked and ordered the reversal of Meta Platforms’ acquisition of the artificial intelligence startup Manus, marking a significant escalation in global tech regulation and intensifying scrutiny of cross-border control over advanced AI systems. According to China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planning authority, the deal was prohibited under national security and foreign investment regulations. The regulator instructed all parties to unwind the transaction, effectively forcing Meta to dismantle a deal already in motion. “The National Development and Reform Commission has made a decision to prohibit foreign investment in the Manus project in accordance…

Tech expert Oluwafemi Wale Ogunniyi has highlighted the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on African startups, describing it as a key enabler of innovation, cost reduction, and faster digital product deployment across the continent. According to him, AI is helping founders overcome major technical hurdles by reducing the need for deep engineering expertise. “AI-assisted development tools now allow startups to bypass complex tasks such as debugging, hosting setup, and domain configuration, significantly lowering barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs” Ogunniyi noted that AI is also transforming key sectors in Africa’s startup ecosystem. In agriculture, startups are using predictive analytics…

Financial experts, banking stakeholders, and policy analysts are urging Nigerian banks to accelerate the adoption of privacy-by-design frameworks and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in fraud-prevention systems, amid rising concerns about cybercrime and data protection compliance in the financial sector. Industry stakeholders say the increasing sophistication of digital fraud requires banks to move beyond reactive security measures and embed privacy and risk controls into the core design of their digital systems. Speaking at industry discussions on digital transformation in banking, the President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), Rasheed Bolarinwa, emphasised that trust in…

Mali is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to address rising youth unemployment and limited job opportunities in traditional sectors. Government officials say the country is seeking to reposition its young population for the digital economy through targeted skills development and innovation programmes. “Mali cannot depend only on traditional sectors. We must prepare our youth for the technologies shaping the future,” said an official from the Ministry of Digital Economy at a recent technology forum in Bamako. Private sector actors and innovation hubs are also playing a growing role in this transition. Organisations involved in robotics training say…

Stakeholders in the disability-inclusion and technology space have called on visually impaired people to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve independence, productivity, and access to opportunities. The call was made at a recent awareness and advocacy engagement focused on assistive technology and digital inclusion for persons with disabilities in Nigeria, where experts emphasised that emerging AI systems are increasingly becoming essential support tools rather than optional innovations. Speaking at the event, a disability inclusion advocate, Ayoola Efunkoya, noted that access to assistive technology remains limited globally, underscoring the importance of users actively embracing available innovations. “These tools are not…

The International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) Nigeria has officially announced its 2026 Cake Expo, unveiling a technology-focused theme that places artificial intelligence at the centre of the country’s baking and confectionery industry transformation. The expo, scheduled for October 7–8, 2026, will run under the theme “AI Advantage: Elevating Cake Business and Creativity”, according to organisers. Country Representative of ICES Nigeria, Obianuju Arinze, said the upcoming event is designed to equip bakers and cake entrepreneurs with modern tools for business growth and creative expansion. “We are in a time where technology is no longer optional; it is essential. Artificial intelligence is…

The Ghanaian government, led by John Dramani Mahama, has unveiled a 10-year national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to guide responsible technology development and position the country as a regional innovation hub. Speaking during the launch in Accra, Mahama said the country must shape AI in line with its own values, noting that “we must ensure artificial intelligence reflects Ghanaian realities, supports our people, and drives inclusive growth.” The plan, launched by the country’s number one citizen, sets out a roadmap from 2025 to 2035 that focuses on using AI to drive economic growth, improve public services, and create jobs, while ensuring ethical…

Orange Egypt has partnered with Paragon Adeer and Plug and Play to launch Egypt’s first artificial intelligence campus, an initiative aimed at supporting the creation of 100 AI startups by 2030. The project, announced following a memorandum of understanding signed at the Grand Egyptian Museum, will be located within the Sumou Boulevard development in New Cairo and span roughly 500 acres. It is designed to be a regional innovation hub linking startups, investors, and technology partners across the Middle East and Africa. AIBase Nig The campus will anchor the “AI 100” programme, a multi-year initiative focused on scaling growth-stage AI…

HrFlow.ai, an AI-driven human resources technology company, has announced it has raised $7 million in fresh funding to accelerate the development of its global labour market infrastructure platform. The company said the funding will be used to expand its AI-powered recruitment tools, strengthen data infrastructure, and scale operations across new international markets. In a statement released by the company, HrFlow.ai described the investment as a step toward “redefining how talent is discovered, evaluated, and matched across borders in real time.” “This funding allows us to push forward our mission of building an intelligent layer for the global labour market,” the…