Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

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…

Nigeria is moving forward with plans to establish one of the continent’s most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence, as the government and lawmakers advance legislative proposals to govern AI development, deployment, and oversight across the economy. The federal government has completed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which outlines principles for responsible AI use, governance structures, transparency requirements, and risk management guidelines. That strategy now awaits approval by the National Assembly, according to government officials. “Artificial intelligence is a profound engine of creativity, capable of augmenting human intelligence and expanding the horizons of human possibilities. Nigeria must not be passive…

The Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has declared that Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa in the unfolding Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, underscoring the country’s commitment to building a homegrown innovation network and digital infrastructure. Speaking recently at the launch of the Artificial Intelligence University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos. Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described AI as “humanity’s most powerful general-purpose technology,” capable of transforming economic, social, and technological landscapes if deployed responsibly and inclusively. “I believe Nigeria is prepared to lead the whole African continent in this…

A Nigerian AI founder has received a direct job offer from Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, after his startup went viral on social media, highlighting both the global reach of African tech innovation and the rising international attention to Nigeria’s AI capabilities. Sulaiman Adewale, the founder of Lagos‑based AI startup Xara, posted a demo of his product on X (formerly Twitter) that quickly gained widespread attention online. The demo demonstrated Xara’s ability to perform advanced banking assistant tasks via a conversational AI interface. The viral response prompted a recruitment outreach from xAI, the AI research company founded and led by Elon…

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…

A United Nations-backed panel has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa could deepen inequalities and lead to a new form of “digital colonisation,” where foreign technologies dominate local economies and extract value from the continent’s data. The warning comes from a newly established international scientific panel on AI, created with the backing of the UN General Assembly to guide global governance of the technology. The group, made up of dozens of experts from multiple countries, is expected to shape policy discussions over the next three years. Experts on the panel say Africa risks becoming overly…

Anthropic has introduced a powerful new artificial intelligence model, known as “Mythos,” as part of a broader push into cybersecurity, but the company is withholding a full public release amid concerns over the system’s potential misuse. The mode, formally referred to as Claude Mythos Preview, is designed to autonomously detect and analyse software vulnerabilities across complex systems. Early tests show it can identify critical flaws in major operating systems and web browsers, including long-hidden bugs that had evaded human experts for years. Anthropic said the system represents a significant leap in capability, particularly in its ability to uncover “high-severity vulnerabilities,” prompting the company…

OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, has called for a sweeping “New Deal”-style framework to prepare societies for the disruptive impact of artificial superintelligence, warning that governments must act early to manage the economic and social consequences of rapidly advancing AI systems. In a recent policy proposal, the OpenAI chief outlined a vision for restructuring key aspects of modern economies, arguing that superintelligent AI could transform industries, labour markets, and wealth distribution on a scale comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Altman emphasised that while AI has the potential to unlock unprecedented productivity and prosperity, it also poses serious risks, including large-scale job…

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…