Author: Akin Naphtal

Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, after undertaking an investigation on privacy risks, has officially notified OpenAI that its widely used artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, breaches data protection rules. The regulatory body, known for its proactive approach in evaluating AI platforms’ compliance with European Union (EU) data privacy regulations, briefly banned ChatGPT last year due to alleged violations of EU privacy rules. Following the ban, Garante initiated an investigation, which has now concluded with the regulator asserting potential data privacy violations. Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been given a 30-day window to present arguments defending its stance. The ongoing investigation will also consider…

Hitachi Digital Services, the digital consultancy and technology services subsidiary of Hitachi, is supporting food waste prevention specialists OneThird in the development of a breakthrough solution tackling the global food waste crisis. OneThird selected Digital Services from Hitachi Vantara, now a new entity known as Hitachi Digital Services, to combine its Azure cloud and application expertise with their in-depth understanding of sensing and AI technology and together they created a real-time data insights platform to enable a smarter and more flexible food supply chain. The solution enables fresh produce supply chains to prevent significant waste of produce – 25% at…

An extended partnership between FIFA and Visa until 2026 aims to champion the growth of football and provide unparalleled support to players, fans, and clients. This collaboration focuses on delivering an engaging programme involving youth, beach soccer, and FIFA events, culminating in the largest FIFA World Cup in history in 2026. FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is responsible for the organization and promotion of football’s major international tournaments, primarily the FIFA World Cup™. FIFA works diligently to develop football globally and ensure the sport is accessible to everyone.Visa, a global payments technology company, offers secure and innovative payment solutions. As…

Ghanaian startup, Copianto AI, an enterprise AI search infrastructure platform, has managed to secure a €100,000 investment made by four prominent sharks during Season 03 of Shark Tank Malta, on 22nd January, 2024. The investors are notably, Chairman of Malta’s Bajada Group and BajadaLyons Group, Mark Bajada, CEO of Brown’s Pharma group, Alexander Fenech, Co-Founder of Skrill, Dr. Kirsy Kullboer Rojo, and CEO and founder of Dino Fino Group, Dino Fino. All prominent figures in Malta and the EU region. Copianto AI Background: Copianto AI was originally founded in 2022 by Timothy K. Afrane Wuo-Asare, Alex Boateng, Daniella Darlington and…

Microsoft is set to layoff 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard and Xbox, representing approximately 8% of the overall Microsoft Gaming division, as part of efforts to streamline operations and optimise resources after its $69 billion Activision acquisition. The majority of the cuts will occur at Activision Blizzard. Notably, Blizzard President Mike Ybarra and Chief Design Officer Allen Adham will be departing from the company. Additionally, Microsoft has disclosed the cancellation of a previously announced survival game by Blizzard. This move follows a broader trend in the technology sector, where significant layoffs have been witnessed in recent weeks. Several major companies,…

OfferZen, a developer marketing hiring place, has concluded a €4m (R82m) funding round from investors Invenfin and AI Capital. The company has also announced that its CEO will be stepping down. Philip Joubert, co-founder of OfferZen, remarks: “Securing this funding from investors who share our long-term vision is a testament to our team’s hard work. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with investors that bring so much experience. Their support and capital investment will help us make a lot of product improvements over the coming months.” Change in leadership After three years as CEO, Joubert is handing over the…

Ericsson is announcing that it has signed two agreements for funding with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a total of EUR 420 million where EUR 250 million was disbursed in December 2023. In addition to strengthening Ericsson’s balance sheet and financial flexibility, the loans have been granted for the purpose of financing Ericsson’s investments in research and development (R&D) in relation to enhanced wireless technology between 2023 and 2025. The R&D investments are an important contributor into Ericsson’s overall plan to reach the Net Zero target by 2040 through reduced energy consumption in the mobile networks globally. Carl Mellander,…

PayPal has announced the launch of new artificial intelligence-driven products and a one-click checkout feature, as part of its leadership’s efforts to breathe more life into the US-based fintech giant. This development marks the financial firm’s first major announcement under CEO Alex Chriss, who joined PayPal in September 2023. PayPal’s announcement falls in line with the current trend of technology companies tapping into AI usage to reach more heights The new products and features aim to leverage AI capabilities to enhance customer experiences and provide more targeted services to both consumers and merchants. PayPal’s ability to analyse data from approximately…

Apple is adjusting its policies due to the European Union’s (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires companies with over 45 million monthly active users and a 75-billion-euro market capitalisation to facilitate compatibility with rival apps and allow users to choose pre-installed applications. Starting in March, developers will have the option to distribute their apps through alternative stores on iPhones, providing an alternative to Apple’s App Store. Additionally, developers can opt out of using Apple’s in-app payment system, which traditionally charges commissions of up to 30%. However, apps will still undergo Apple’s review for cybersecurity risks and fraud, and the…

Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment and Development (KIB), a prominent Islamic financial institution in Iraq, has initiated a digital transformation initiative through the adoption of the iMAL™ Islamic core banking platform from Azentio Software. Azentio Software, headquartered in Singapore and owned by funds advised by Apax Partners, specialises in providing technology solutions. iMAL™ aims to establish a robust digital foundation for KIB, aligning with its growth strategy in Iraq and the region. The platform is designed to offer customers user-friendly, high-quality services and an omnichannel experience. iMAL™ complys with the Sharia and financial accounting standards of the Accounting and…