Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

A small group of companies is capturing the overwhelming majority of financial benefits from artificial intelligence, according to a new global report released this week by PwC. The study, published on April 13, found that just 20% of firms account for roughly 74–75% of all AI-related economic gains, underscoring a growing divide between early adopters and the rest of the corporate world. The findings come amid a surge in corporate spending on AI technologies, as businesses across sectors race to integrate tools such as generative AI, automation systems and advanced analytics into their operations. However, the report suggests that most…

The Lagos State Government has expanded its education reform agenda with a targeted training programme designed to equip public school teachers with artificial intelligence (AI) skills and digital teaching competencies, as part of efforts to modernise classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes across the state. The initiative brought together selected secondary school educators for intensive, hands-on sessions on the practical use of AI tools in education, including lesson-planning support, digital content creation, classroom-management automation, and personalised learning strategies to improve student engagement and performance. Officials involved in the programme say the training is designed to strengthen digital literacy among teachers…

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced plans to adopt artificial intelligence technologies as part of ongoing reforms to improve revenue collection, reduce leakages, and strengthen trade facilitation systems across the country. The initiative is part of broader modernisation efforts being implemented under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has emphasised digital transformation as a key pillar of operational efficiency within the service. According to the agency, the planned AI deployment will focus on enhancing cargo inspection processes, strengthening risk management systems, and improving data-driven monitoring of imports and exports at Nigeria’s entry points. The Customs Service is…

A Nigerian aerospace and robotics startup has launched what it describes as Africa’s largest artificial-intelligence-powered drone production facility, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s expanding defence and advanced manufacturing sectors. The facility, operated by Terra Industries (formerly Terrahaptix), is located in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and is designed for large-scale production of autonomous drones for surveillance, infrastructure monitoring, and industrial security applications. The company says the plant has the capacity to manufacture up to 30,000 drones annually, positioning it as a major production hub for locally built unmanned aerial systems in Africa. In a statement announcing the launch, the…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), promising faster drug discovery and more personalised therapies. Yet, as the technology becomes increasingly central to the industry, experts are questioning who ultimately benefits from these advances. Pharmaceutical companies are leveraging AI to analyse massive datasets, identify potential drug candidates, and streamline clinical trials. Proponents say this could reduce development timelines from over a decade to just a few years, potentially lowering costs and accelerating patient access to new treatments. “AI allows us to see patterns in data that were previously impossible to detect,” said Dr Angela Martinez, Chief…

Meta Platforms Inc. on Wednesday unveiled its newest artificial intelligence model, Muse Spark, marking the first major release from its recently restructured AI division as the company pours billions of dollars into competing with rivals such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The model, developed by Meta’s Meta Superintelligence Labs, is positioned as the first in a new series of AI systems designed to deliver advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Meta’s leadership has framed the release as a pivotal step in its long-term strategy to regain momentum in the AI race after mixed reviews for its previous flagship, Llama 4. “Muse…

Swiss healthcare giant Roche has significantly expanded its global artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by launching a large-scale AI factory powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing technology. The initiative is designed to accelerate drug discovery, diagnostics development, clinical trials, and manufacturing processes, reflecting Roche’s strategy to become an AI-driven healthcare organisation. The expanded infrastructure now comprises over 3,500 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, with more than 2,100 deployed across on-premises sites in the United States and Europe, complemented by cloud resources in a hybrid setup. This system enables Roche’s teams to train and fine-tune large AI models, integrate proprietary datasets, and apply accelerated computing…

Industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts across Africa and beyond are set to convene at the Bluechip Summit 3.0 in Lagos to highlight the growing importance of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping Africa’s digital economy and global competitiveness. The summit, scheduled to take place at Eko Hotels & Suites, will bring together stakeholders from across sectors to explore how emerging technologies can accelerate innovation, enhance productivity, and address pressing socio-economic challenges. With the theme centred on leveraging data and AI for sustainable growth, discussions are expected to highlight both opportunities and risks associated with rapid technological adoption. In a…

Firmus, a fast-rising infrastructure company behind the ambitious “Southgate” AI data centre project, has achieved a $5.5 billion valuation, underscoring surging investor confidence in the physical backbone powering artificial intelligence. The company, which specialises in designing and building high-performance data centres tailored for AI workloads, has attracted backing from Nvidia, a dominant force in AI chip manufacturing. The partnership positions Firmus at the centre of a rapidly expanding ecosystem where compute capacity is becoming as strategic as the algorithms themselves. Industry analysts say the valuation reflects a broader shift in the AI landscape, from a focus on software breakthroughs to…

Venture capital firm Eclipse has announced the launch of a $1.3 billion investment fund to drive innovation in physical artificial intelligence-the integration of AI with robotics, autonomous systems, and real-world hardware. The fund is divided into two segments: a $591 million early-stage incubation fund for new startups, and a growth-stage pool targeting companies ready to scale disruptive physical AI technologies. Physical AI refers to systems that operate outside digital environments, including robotics, autonomous transport, and industrial automation. Eclipse Partner Jiten Behl described the initiative as a defining moment for the industry: “Over the last two decades, we’ve seen multiple waves…