Author: Akin Naphtal

Nigerian fintech startup, Cleva has announced it has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to improve international payments across Africa. According to the company’s website, these products will enable users to send USD internationally and create professional invoices, putting them in a competitive remittance market that already includes platforms like Flutterwave’s Send, Chipper Cash, Lemfi, and Afriex. The company is headed by Tolu Alabi (CEO) and Philip Abel (CTO) who founded the fintech in 2023 to offer US-based accounts to people and companies in Africa so they could receive US dollars. Cleva allows users to open USD accounts by providing…

US tech giant, Intel, announced its entry into the automotive semiconductor market, unveiling plans to launch automotive versions of its latest AI-enabled chips, which will pit Intel against industry giants Qualcomm and Nvidia in the race to power the future brains of automobiles. As part of its automotive push, Intel also revealed its acquisition of French startup Silicon Mobility, known for designing system-on-a-chip technology and software for controlling electric vehicle motors and onboard charging systems. While the purchase price remains undisclosed, Silicon Mobility is controlled by venture funds, Cipio Partners and Capital-E. Chinese automaker Zeekr is set to be the…

Tesla has launched the revamped version of its popular Model 3 sedan in North America, maintaining existing price points for the vehicle, as reported on the company’s website and a post on the platform X. Notably, the electric car manufacturer has removed the “performance” variant, which is the most expensive Model 3 version, from its North American websites. The current listings feature the rear-wheel-drive and long-range variants. The Model 3’s rear-wheel-drive variant is priced at $38,990, while the long-range variant comes in at $45,990. Tesla has also upgraded the range of the long-range variant to 341 miles, an improvement from…

ChatGPT parent company, OpenAI, is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging copyright infringement by two authors, Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage, claiming that OpenAI trained ChatGPT with their books without approval, making billions in the process. Seeking redress, the authors are requesting the courts to halt OpenAI’s use of their works without permission and are seeking approximately $2.5 million in damages. This lawsuit follows a similar legal action initiated four months ago by author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, George R.R. Martin, and 16 other authors, including best seller, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult, who accused OpenAI…

Infinix is set to launch its new 16-inch laptop, the Infinix InBook Y4 Max, in India, marking the brand’s first laptop with such a large display. According to the reports, the laptop is designed for creatives and students, boasting a stylish design, smart features, and a focus on ease of use. The Statement disclosed Infinix is getting ready to shake things up in the laptop world with its new Infinix InBook Y4 Max, soon hitting stores in India. This laptop promises to make a big difference in how people use their computers. As per reports, Infinix is now planning to…

Taiwanese authorities have sent out an emergency message following the launch of a Chinese satellite over the island’s airspace. The mobile phone alert was sent this week, as Chinese state media confirmed the launch of a science satellite. The alarm came amid preparations in Taiwan for elections next week. China, which claims the island as its own, is watching closely and warns that the result could further raise tension in the Taiwan Strait. “China launched a satellite which flew over the southern airspace,” said the alert sent out in Chinese. “Public, please beware of your safety.” An English-language version announced…

Illinois Institute of Technology has received a substantial grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a pioneering education program in sensory technology aimed at underrepresented groups—particularly veterans. The initiative, funded through NSF’s Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program, underscores Illinois Tech’s commitment to critical future technologies and expanding education to groups that have historically faced barriers. The new program, Sensor Technology for Experiential Learning, has received over $875,000 in NSF funding and aims to prepare students for industries such as healthcare, defense, space, and environmental control. The nine-credit certificate program combines mentorship and hands-on training…

South Africa’s Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, has recently unveiled the country’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which outlines strategies for a stable electricity supply from 2023 to 2050, and aims to end power cuts and meet growing energy demands. South Africa has grappled with worsening load-shedding since 2007, with the country experiencing half of 2023 without electricity. Approximately 4,000 hours of blackouts. Ending Load-Shedding The IRP focuses on two key timeframes, the first being 2023 to 2030, which aims at stabilising South Africa’s power supply and ending load-shedding. The second timeframe, 2031 to 2050, will seek to generate sufficient power for…

Kenyan startup, Octavia Carbon has obtained funding to enhance its innovative Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, specifically designed to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. Founder and CEO of Octavia Carbon, Martin Freimüller, noted the pivotal role of carbon capture technologies in the fight against climate change. Confident in the capabilities of the startup’s DAC technology, Freimüller stated that it would play a significant role in reducing global carbon emissions, contributing to the goal of achieving a net-zero future. Octavia Carbon stands out as a trailblazer in technological solutions, providing a platform for individuals and companies to purchase…

The company announced this week that its mixed reality Vision Pro headset will be available online and at US Apple Store retail locations starting February 2. Pre-orders for the device, which starts at $3,499 with 256 GB of storage, will begin Friday, January 19 at 8 a.m. ET. The product uses virtual and augmented reality, running on what Apple calls “the world’s first spatial operating system,” with a 3D interface that is controlled by the user’s voice and eye and hand movements. No controller comes with it. By blending the wearer’s physical surroundings with their digital experience, Apple says the…