Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Trinidadian writer Jamir Nazir, winner of the 2026 Caribbean regional Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and several other prizewinners are facing allegations that they used generative AI to write or enhance their submissions, raising questions about how to verify human authorship in literary competitions. Nazir won the Caribbean regional prize for his story The Serpent in the Grove, published in Granta. Concerns emerged after readers, tech entrepreneurs, and AI researchers flagged the story on platforms like X and Reddit for “obvious markers,” including excessive metaphors and formulaic “Not X, but Y” sentence structures. AI-detection tools, including Pangram and GPTZero, reportedly flagged…

Google has intensified efforts to combat manipulation of its AI-powered search systems, updating its spam policies to target attempts to influence generative AI responses appearing in Google Search. The policy revision, introduced amid the rapid expansion of AI-generated search summaries, explicitly prohibits tactics designed to manipulate responses produced by tools such as AI Overviews and AI Mode. The move signals Google’s growing concern over a new wave of search-engine manipulation techniques emerging alongside generative artificial intelligence. Under the updated rules, Google said spam policies now apply to content and practices intended to “manipulate generative AI responses in Search,” broadening enforcement…

The Anambra State ICT Agency has announced plans to transform itself into what officials describe as Nigeria’s first fully AI-driven government institution, as the state intensifies efforts to deepen digital governance and modernise public service delivery. The initiative forms part of Governor Charles Soludo’s broader technology-driven governance agenda to reposition Anambra as a leading digital economy hub in Nigeria. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, said the agency is working to integrate artificial intelligence into major government operations, citizen engagement systems, and public service platforms. Agbata said the vision is to…

Meta Platforms Inc. has reassigned about 7,000 employees into artificial intelligence-focused units as part of a broad internal restructuring aimed at accelerating its transition toward AI-driven products and services, while employees in the United Kingdom intensify efforts to unionise over workplace conditions and job security concerns. A Meta spokesperson said: “We are reorganising teams to better align with our long-term priorities in artificial intelligence.” The company added that the changes are intended to “accelerate execution, reduce organisational complexity, and improve focus across our AI initiatives.” The restructuring affects employees across engineering, product development, infrastructure, and operations, who are being moved…

Alibaba Group has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) chip designed to strengthen its computing capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor technology, marking a further step in China’s drive for tech self-sufficiency. The chip was announced by Alibaba’s semiconductor unit, T-Head, during a company cloud and AI event. The company said the processor is built for high-performance AI workloads, including large language model inference, real-time data processing, and large-scale cloud computing tasks. “The chip is purpose-built for the emerging wave of AI agents that demand extensive working memory and real-time coordination,” Alibaba said in a statement. Alibaba said the…

Google has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence strategy, introducing a redesigned AI-powered Search system and reviving its smart glasses initiative. The company said the changes represent a shift toward a more integrated, AI-driven ecosystem across its products. The updated Search experience is built around generative AI, allowing users to interact with the platform through conversational queries rather than traditional keyword searches. The system supports text, voice, image, and video inputs, and produces synthesised responses such as summaries, plans, and structured recommendations. A Google spokesperson said the company is moving toward a new model of information access, stating:…

One in three university students in the United Kingdom believes artificial intelligence-driven job losses could lead to social unrest, according to a new study highlighting growing anxiety among young people about the economic impact of emerging technologies. The research, conducted by the King’s College London Policy Institute and the King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence, found that 34% of students fear that rapid job displacement caused by AI could spark civil disorder. The figure compares with 22% among the wider British public. The study surveyed 2,000 members of the public, 1,000 university students, 1,000 young people aged 16 to 29, and…

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has called for the accelerated adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies in customs administration and public-sector operations, describing them as critical tools for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Adeniyi made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference, organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences of the University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology at RUDN University, Russia. The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” brought together scholars, policymakers, technocrats and…

Kenya is pressing ahead with an ambitious plan to position itself as East Africa’s artificial intelligence hub, despite ongoing political unrest, economic pressure and growing concerns over digital rights. President William Ruto’s administration has placed artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure at the centre of its economic transformation agenda, arguing that emerging technologies can create jobs, improve public services and attract foreign investment. The government’s Kenya National AI Strategy 2025–2030 outlines plans to expand digital infrastructure, support AI research, strengthen governance frameworks and encourage innovation across sectors, including agriculture, healthcare and finance. Government officials say the country aims to capitalise on…

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), together with the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) and the German development agency GIZ, has launched a regional Artificial Intelligence alliance to coordinate East Africa’s fragmented AI initiatives and accelerate innovation across the region. The initiative, unveiled during the 4th East African Community (EAC) Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, introduces the EAC AI Alliance and its flagship program, the Regional Network on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research. Held under the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient, Inclusive and Innovative East Africa,” the conference brought together…