Author: Akin Naphtal

Cloudflare, a leading provider of connectivity cloud solutions, has unveiled Speed Brain, a new free product aimed at accelerating webpage loading by up to 45%. Designed for use with popular web browsers, Speed Brain eliminates loading delays by predicting the next page a user is likely to visit and preloading it into the browser cache before the user even clicks. Web speed has always been a critical factor in enhancing online experiences. Over the years, internet performance has evolved from waiting minutes for a song to load, to considering 100 milliseconds as fast enough for “ideal browsing.” One of the…

AG2R LA MONDIALE, a leader in social and wealth protection, has partnered with Accenture and Oracle to modernize and digitalize its management systems. The collaboration is centered around the launch of the Integrated Piloting Platform (PPI), a program designed to enhance activity monitoring and financial forecasting within the company. AG2R LA MONDIALE has selected Oracle’s Cloud Finance solution, known for its comprehensive Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and exceptional user experience to achieve these goals. The system will be supported by Oracle’s Integration Cloud Services to ensure seamless operation. Accenture will oversee the implementation of the platform, leveraging its expertise in large-scale…

Facebook parent company, Meta Platforms is set to launch its annual Connect conference on 25th September at its California headquarters, where it is expected to showcase its first augmented reality (AR) glasses and reveal updates to its virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) products. Among the AI updates, Meta is planning to introduce an audio upgrade for its chatbot, which will allow users to choose from a selection of voices, including those of celebrities such as Judi Dench and John Cena. This feature aims to enhance Meta’s chatbot, which competes with products like ChatGPT. The unveiling of the AR…

Emerging market fintech leader, M-KOPA, has surpassed a significant milestone of 5 million customers across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, the company announced in its 2024 Annual Impact Report. This achievement highlights M-KOPA’s growing influence in deepening digital and financial inclusion across the continent. Notably, 2 million customers were added in the past 15 months alone. M-KOPA’s innovative business model addresses the financial exclusion faced by many “Every Day Earners”—individuals who make daily wages but often lack access to smartphones and financial services. The company enables these individuals to access the digital economy and build a credit record…

US tech giant, Microsoft, has announced that it will invest $1.3 billion over the next three years to bolster its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Mexico. The investment, revealed during an event in Mexico City by Microsoft’s chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, is aimed at enhancing connectivity and accelerating the adoption of AI technology by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country. “We’re doubling down on bringing more capacity to Mexico,” Nadella said. According to a company statement, the initiative is expected to impact 5 million Mexicans and support 30,000 SMBs within three years. Already, major Mexican…

Google has announced that it has begun providing core technology for a new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant integrated into a smartphone app for Volkswagen (VW) drivers, to provide them with information and assist them with tasks. The AI assistant, built using Google’s Gemini large language models, enables users to ask and receive answers to questions like “How do I change a flat tire?” or use their phone cameras to identify dashboard controls and receive relevant information. This is part of Google’s broader strategy to expand its enterprise AI offerings by enabling businesses to develop practical AI applications. The assistant was…

Swedish streaming giant Spotify has announced that it is expanding its generative AI-powered playlist creation tool, initially launched in the UK and Australia in April, to four new markets, including the United States (US) and Canada. The feature, helps premium subscribers personalise playlists by allowing them to refine song selections using text prompts. Known as AI Playlist, the tool is still in beta and will be made available in Ireland and New Zealand as well. provisional Spotify aims to boost its competitive edge in the crowded streaming market by enhancing its app with innovative AI features, as it faces growing…

SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, has announced that the company plans to launch approximately five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars over the next two years. The announcement, made on Musk’s social media platform X, aligns with his earlier statements that the first Starships will depart for Mars when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens in two years. Musk clarified that the timeline for crewed missions to Mars will depend on the success of these uncrewed flights. If the uncrewed Starships land safely, the first crewed mission could launch within four years. However, if challenges arise, the crewed missions will be postponed…

The US Commerce Department is expected to propose a ban on the use of Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads, citing national security concerns. The proposed regulation, set to be revealed on Monday, 23rd September, 2024, would prohibit the import and sale of vehicles from China equipped with key communications or automated driving system technology. This stands as a significant escalation in the United States’ efforts to limit Chinese influence in the automotive sector, following recent tariff hikes on Chinese electric vehicles (EV) and related components. Concerns about Chinese firms collecting sensitive data on…

Major global stakeholders gathered at the United Nations Headquarters for “SDG Digital: A Digital Future for All”, where they showcased innovative digital solutions and announced new commitments to leverage technology for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the event highlighted how digital innovations are essential to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and responsible future. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the role of digital technology in transforming global efforts toward achieving the SDGs, stating, “The commitments and solutions on display send a powerful message to the world…