Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

The Federal Government has launched a major reform initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the nation’s civil service operations, as part of efforts to modernise governance, improve efficiency, and strengthen public service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The initiative was unveiled in Abuja during a three-day AI Literacy Training Programme organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and with support from the European Union (EU). The reform programme is expected to reposition the Federal Civil Service into…

The United Kingdom has launched a €827,000 Digital Energy Challenge for Nigerian innovators and small and medium-sized enterprises developing artificial intelligence and digital solutions to improve energy access and efficiency. The programme forms part of broader international efforts to strengthen energy systems in Africa through technology-driven approaches, with Nigeria positioned as a key focus due to its persistent electricity access challenges. The initiative is designed to move beyond theoretical ideas and support solutions that can be tested and deployed in real-world energy environments. It encourages innovations that can be implemented within 12 months, particularly those that improve electricity distribution, enhance…

Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has filed a defamation lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company’s artificial intelligence system falsely labelled him a convicted sex offender, causing serious damage to his reputation and career. The lawsuit was filed in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice and seeks approximately 1.5 million Canadian dollars in damages. At the centre of the case is Google’s “AI Overview” feature, which generates automated summaries in response to search queries. According to the statement of claim, the tool produced a response that incorrectly alleged MacIsaac had been convicted of sexual offences, including assault and child luring, and that…

Artificial intelligence startup Sierra has secured $950 million in fresh funding, underscoring intensifying competition among companies seeking to dominate enterprise AI applications, particularly in customer experience and automation. The funding round, led by Tiger Global and GV, values the company at over $15 billion, marking a sharp increase from earlier valuations and highlighting strong investor appetite for enterprise-focused AI platforms. Sierra was co-founded in 2023 by Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor and has quickly emerged as a major contender in the fast-growing AI agent space. The company develops AI-powered systems designed to handle customer service and enterprise workflows, aiming to…

Nigeria has intensified calls for greater collaboration among African countries to build the continent’s capacity in artificial intelligence (AI), warning that failure to act collectively could leave Africa dependent on foreign technologies in a rapidly evolving global digital economy. The appeal was made by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, during an interview at GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Morocco. He stressed the urgency of developing local infrastructure and expertise to support AI growth across Africa. According to him, the continent risks missing out on the benefits of AI if it does not invest in…

Cassava Technologies has brought its first AI factory in Cape Town close to full operation, marking a major milestone in Africa’s push to build local artificial intelligence infrastructure. The facility, designed for high-performance computing, will provide businesses, startups, and researchers with access to advanced processing power, resources that have historically been scarce across the continent. “This is about ensuring Africa does not just consume AI built elsewhere, but participates in creating it,” said Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of the company. Unlike traditional data centres, the AI factory is optimised for machine learning workloads, including training large models and processing…

Researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have unveiled a new multilingual artificial intelligence model, named MzansiLM, designed to support a wide range of South African languages and address long-standing gaps in digital language representation. The model, developed by a team of computer scientists and linguists, incorporates languages such as isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sepedi, alongside several others. Its release marks a significant step toward improving access to AI tools for speakers of indigenous African languages, which have historically been underrepresented in global technology systems. South Africa is home to 11 official languages, yet most mainstream AI platforms are primarily…

A Nigerian researcher has developed a mobile-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of identifying all eight denominations of the Nigerian naira, a breakthrough aimed at improving financial accessibility nationwide. Maryam Alka, a PhD researcher in Applied Mathematics at the University of Birmingham, designed the tool to recognise ₦5, ₦10, ₦20, ₦50, ₦100, ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 banknotes. The system is free and accessible online and has been optimised for use on mobile devices commonly available in Nigeria. The innovation is built to function effectively under real-world conditions, including low-light environments and when banknotes are worn, torn or folded. It can…

The Oyo State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies at the University of Ibadan (UI) to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen and expand Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the state. The collaboration aims to bridge academic research and real-sector applications while equipping SMEs with digital tools to improve productivity, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability in an increasingly technology-driven economy. Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the University of Ibadan, the State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Commerce and Cooperatives, Chief Adebisi Adeniyi, said the government remains committed to…

Cyberpedia has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered search engine designed to improve information accuracy and reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. The announcement was made on Monday during a virtual product briefing, where the company outlined its approach to reshaping how users access and verify digital content. The platform, simply named Cyberpedia Search, integrates generative AI with real-time verification systems that cross-check information against multiple trusted databases, academic sources, and verified news outlets. According to the company, the goal is to prioritise “contextually accurate and source-verified answers” over traditional keyword-based search results. A statement released by the company…