Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

African technology companies Qhala, Amini AI, Angani and iXAfrica Data Centres have partnered to establish a new artificial intelligence research and innovation hub in Nairobi, in a move aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital sovereignty and expanding local AI infrastructure across the continent. The initiative, known as “Qubit Hub,” will be hosted at iXAfrica’s NBOX1 data centre facility in Nairobi and was unveiled during AI Everything GITEX Kenya 2026. The companies say the hub is designed to support AI research, cloud computing, startup development and enterprise innovation while helping Africa build locally controlled digital systems. The partnership combines several layers of…

Pope Leo XIV has called for urgent international regulation of artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked development of the technology could fuel warfare, deepen inequality and threaten human dignity. In his first major encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas “Magnificent Humanity”, released Monday, the pope urged world leaders to establish “robust legal frameworks” and independent oversight mechanisms for AI systems, particularly those used in military operations. The 235-page document marks the Vatican’s strongest intervention yet in the global debate over artificial intelligence and positions AI ethics at the center of Leo’s papacy. The pope warned that modern warfare is entering a dangerous new phase…

Sage has launched its artificial intelligence-powered business suite across Africa and the Middle East as the technology company seeks to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) improve compliance, automate operations, and increase efficiency. The rollout introduces Sage AI across the company’s accounting, payroll, HR, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms in several African markets and the Middle East. The suite includes AI assistants, automation tools, and intelligent agents designed to reduce administrative workloads while improving financial oversight and regulatory compliance. The launch comes as many SMBs across the region face rising compliance demands, economic uncertainty, cashflow pressure, and increasing operational…

Thai authorities have arrested six Nigerian nationals over an alleged AI-assisted romance fraud operation uncovered during a police raid in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The operation, reportedly codenamed “Dark Room Crackdown,” was carried out by Thai special operations police after investigations into an online fraud syndicate accused of using fake digital identities and AI-generated images to deceive victims into romantic relationships before extorting money from them. Police officers raided three condominium units in the Phra Nang Klao Bridge area of Nonthaburi and arrested the suspects, aged between 23 and 35 years. Authorities also confiscated several mobile phones, laptop computers, and…

A tech entrepreneur leading the African-centred data initiative, DataLens Africa, has emphasised the urgent need for well-organised and culturally relevant datasets across Africa, warning that the continent may fail to maximise the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence if its data collection system remains disorganised and fragmented. In an interview with AIbase Nigeria, Olaoye Anthony Somide, Founder and CEO of CipherSense AI, explained that Africa still struggles with data accessibility and fragmentation despite producing huge volumes of information every day. Somide stated that the continent’s main issue is not a shortage of data, but rather poor coordination, lack of organisation, and…

Nigeria is intensifying efforts to build a future-ready digital workforce, with thousands of young people set to receive training in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity through initiatives linked to Coursera and the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda. The programme aligns with the country’s growing push to equip youths with globally competitive technology skills amid rising demand for digital talent across sectors such as finance, telecommunications, software development, data science, and cybersecurity. The initiative is connected to ongoing collaborations with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which has partnered with Coursera to provide large-scale digital learning opportunities to Nigerians…

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders have urged authorities to adopt a proactive approach to artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising both its potential to improve electoral processes and the risks it poses for misinformation and voter manipulation. The warning came during a roundtable on “AI Governance, Democracy and Accountability in Nigeria”, organised by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) in Abuja. The event, themed “Bridging the Governance Gap Between AI, Elections and Accountability in Nigeria,” examined how emerging technologies could reshape democratic participation and the electoral landscape. PPDC Chief Executive Officer Lucy Abagi highlighted that AI could…

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…