Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Standard Chartered is set to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next several years as the bank accelerates the use of artificial intelligence across its operations, according to reports citing company executives and internal restructuring plans. The London-based lender said the cuts would affect about 15% of its corporate functions workforce by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to improve efficiency and boost profitability. The reductions are expected to primarily affect back-office and operational roles that can increasingly be automated by AI-powered systems. Chief Executive Bill Winters said the move was part of a long-term transformation plan rather…

The 3rd Edition of the Bluechip Data & AI Summit is set to bring together more than 7,000 executives, innovators, and decision-makers at Eko Hotel & Suites, in what organisers describe as a defining moment for business leadership in the age of artificial intelligence. With the theme: AI-Driven ‘The Future, Now: AI Driven Transformation for Africa, the summit positions itself as a major platform for advancing conversations on how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and redefining enterprise strategy across the continent. Organised by Bluechip Technologies Limited, the event will focus on the growing urgency for organisations to adopt AI-driven approaches,…

Malta’s partnership with OpenAI signals a shift in how governments may approach artificial intelligence, not just as a commercial tool, but as part of national infrastructure. Instead of limiting access to advanced AI to individuals who can afford subscriptions, the initiative embeds ChatGPT Plus within a broader public strategy focused on digital skills, education, and economic readiness. The key idea is straightforward but ambitious: make AI widely accessible while ensuring citizens are also trained to use it effectively. Overview of the Agreement The agreement links government-led digital policy with OpenAI’s technology connectivity. Citizens are offered access to ChatGPT Plus, but…

A 24-year-old self-taught software developer from Ethiopia has gained international recognition after reportedly winning a major global artificial intelligence competition organised through Amazon Web Services (AWS), drawing attention to Africa’s growing role in the global technology industry. Natnael Getenew Zeleke emerged as the global winner of the AWS AIdeas challenge, defeating more than 10,000 participants from over 100 countries with an AI-powered educational platform called “Ivy.” The innovation has attracted widespread praise because it addresses one of Africa’s most pressing technological challenges: limited internet access. Unlike many AI platforms that depend heavily on cloud computing and constant connectivity, Ivy was…

Some newly admitted students of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) have said that self-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) education has become necessary for personal development and future career relevance in an increasingly competitive labour market. During the institution’s 2025/2026 matriculation ceremony, several matriculants emphasised, in interviews with AIbase Nig, the need for students to acquire AI-related skills outside the classroom through online learning platforms and digital resources. Among them was Chidinma Martha Udoye, a 20-year-old Public Administration student, who described AI education as a proactive step toward future career success. “I started learning AI while seeking admission. You can educate…

The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Microsoft over concerns that the tech giant’s software bundling, cloud licensing practices, and integration of artificial intelligence may be restricting competition in the business software market. The probe marks one of the most significant regulatory examinations of Microsoft’s enterprise framework in the UK and comes amid growing global scrutiny of dominant technology firms and their expanding influence in cloud computing and AI services. In a statement announcing the investigation, the CMA said it would examine whether Microsoft’s business practices “limit competition and innovation” by making…

A network of overseas-operated social media accounts is behind a growing wave of AI-generated anti-immigration content targeting UK audiences, according to a BBC investigation. Among the most prominent examples is the Facebook page “Great British People”, which presents itself as a Yorkshire-based platform promoting traditional British values. One of its latest videos, an AI-generated clip showing an elderly white British man in tears over his pension despite having “paid in for decades”, has attracted more than 1.3 million views. Other widely shared posts feature fictional reporters warning about “the overwhelming scale of mass immigration” and asking viewers whether they miss…

OpenAI, the global artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, known for developing advanced generative AI systems, has expanded its AI coding agent, Codex, to mobile devices by integrating it into the ChatGPT app for iOS and Android, enabling users to monitor and control coding tasks remotely from their phones. The update, announced on May 14–15, 2026, extends Codex beyond desktop environments and allows developers to interact with ongoing software development work while the system runs on connected computers or cloud-based development environments. The move is part of OpenAI’s effort to make its coding tools more flexible and accessible across devices. Codex…

Nigeria’s lawmakers are moving to reassess the National Data Protection Act (2023) amid growing concerns about the impact of rapidly changing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and increasingly sophisticated global cybercrime systems. This development was highlighted in Abuja during a three-day Data Protection Awareness Workshop for the Joint National Assembly Committee on ICT. The session, organised by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in partnership with Ampersand Development Partners, aims to strengthen legislative understanding of emerging digital risks and governance needs. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Afolabi Salisu, said the review of the law…

Nigeria is positioning itself for a deeper shift into digital infrastructure-led growth as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) enters a strategic partnership with the International Data Centre Authority (IDCA) to accelerate nationwide digital transformation through large-scale infrastructure deployment. Rather than focusing solely on policy direction, the agreement signals a practical push to build the backbone of a modern digital economy. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s Sovereign Cloud programme and is expected to attract both public and private capital into hyperscale infrastructure, cloud services, and supporting digital connectivity across the country. At the core of the plan is the…