Author: Akin Naphtal

Adobe has announced the general availability of its gen AI-powered Firefly after several months of beta testing. This release opens up a world of creative possibilities for users across Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Express, and Adobe Experience Cloud. Previously confined to beta versions of Adobe applications, Firefly’s AI-powered workflows are now accessible to a wider audience. These features include Illustrator’s vector recoloring, Express text-to-image effects, and Photoshop’s Generative Fill tools. One noteworthy update is the expanded language support, with Firefly AI now accommodating over 100 languages, making Adobe Express more accessible on a global scale. Initially available on desktop web…

In a significant move to bolster global security and provide innovative solutions for businesses and individuals facing crisis situations, Mastercard which is a global financial services company known for providing payment solutions and services has partnered with   Crisis24, a risk management platform owned by Garda World Company and integrated risk management and crisis response, consulting and global protective firm to offer a new service that helps business keep their employees safe while travelling. Crisis 24 is available in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) regions. The partnership aims to combine Mastercard’s expertise in financial technology and global reach…

Lipalater a Kenyan based financial company known for its innovative approach to consumer financing, has successfully secured regulatory approval to conduct public fundraising activities in the United States. This milestone marks a significant breakthrough for LipaLater, as it becomes one of the pioneering African companies to receive the coveted green light from the esteemed United States, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). LipaLater was founded in 2018 by Eric Muli and Michael Maina, the Buy Now and Pay Later (BNPL) service partners with retailers to allow shoppers to pay in instalments and operates in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Speaking on this…

In a notable surge, the number of SMEs in South Africa has seen a commendable 6% year-on-year increase. Recognising the potential of transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in the business landscape, Microsoft South Africa has launched an AI-driven technology skills training program targeting 2,000 local SMEs. The first training sessions were delivered in Durban, in the lead up to GovTech 2023 taking place between 12 and 14 September 2023, and leveraged the low-code capabilities of Microsoft Power Platform to help SMEs build solutions and applications that are fuelled by data and AI. According to the company;“Through this initiative, we…

On 25 September, Huawei Technologies will host a media event to discuss new products, raising anticipation for details about their recently released smartphones. The focus will be on the Mate60 series, which stands out for its use of an advanced chip made in China. This series is seen as Huawei’s first major effort to recover from the damaging US sanctions imposed on its smartphone business. While Huawei did not provide specific information about the new products, Yicai, a domestic business daily, reported that details about their latest phones will be revealed. The Mate60 and Mate60 Pro, the company’s latest high-end…

Telegram, the popular chat app with 800 million monthly active users, is introducing a self-custodial crypto wallet to further establish its presence in the thriving crypto community that has emerged from its platform. The wallet, called TON Space, is developed by the Open Network Foundation, a separate entity from Telegram that was formed after the company faced legal action from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announcement of TON Space was made at the Token2049 crypto conference in Singapore, attended by over 10,000 people. The wallet will be available globally from November, except in certain countries like the U.S.…

New York Fashion Week which took place last week has embraced cutting-edge technology, especially on-demand manufacturing during the entire show. Themed ‘Life Lately’ (an Instagram carousel play) and featuring designers Bruce and Glen Proctor, the show was in large part successful because of Resonance, a digital design and on-demand manufacturing company. Laura Garcia, who presented her brand during the event, also leveraged Resonance’s capabilities for her relaunch. Simultaneously, various video shopping shows enhanced the New York Fashion Week experience for a wider audience. Designers at the event credited Resonance for its immediate production, marketing, and sales. Bruce and Glen Proctor…

Apple implemented its anticipated iPhone price hike quietly, with the aim of obtaining more money from consumers without causing a sudden shock. In this endeavor, the company only raised the price of the highest-end Pro Max model by $100 to $1,199, while keeping the prices of the other three new versions unchanged. Additionally, the upgraded phone now offers double the storage capacity, allowing Apple to argue that it was not a true price increase. Apple is following a consistent strategy of appealing to cautious consumers who are concerned about inflation. While the company is not drastically altering its prices, it…

Alexandre Brousse has been named the EMEA Channel Lead at Dell Technologies, starting on October 1. In his new role, Brousse will work with the EMEA Channel team to create a customer-focused and partner-driven ecosystem to promote growth and innovation in the region. He replaces Anwar Dahab, who will now lead Dell Technologies in France. Brousse has been with Dell Technologies for 18 years and previously held the position of Channel Sales leader for Western Europe. Diego Majdalani, President of Global Channel Sales at Dell Technologies, emphasized the company’s dedication to expansion and the development of market prospects for customers…

Google.org, the non-profit arm of Google, has recently introduced the Digital Futures Project. This initiative encourages responsible AI researchers, facilitates discussions, and promotes debate on public policy solutions. Google.org’s $20 million fund for the Project aims to support leading think tanks and academic institutions globally. The objective is to promote dialogue and research on this significant technology, which can help tackle complex societal issues such as disease prevention, urban improvement, and natural disaster prediction. Google plans to address various issues such as fairness, bias, misinformation, security, and the future of work through collaboration with industry, academia, governments, and civil society.…