Author: Akin Naphtal

Leading provider of creative software, Adobe, has announced the upcoming release of its new generative AI-powered video creation and editing tool, Adobe Firefly Video Model, which will expand Adobe’s suite of AI-driven creative solutions. Scheduled for a limited beta release later this year, Adobe Firefly Video Model will allow users to generate five-second video clips based on text or image prompts. The tool can also interpret camera angles, panning, motion, and zoom, providing users with a high degree of control over the generated content. “We’ve invested heavily in making this model reach the level of quality and prompt understanding that…

In just three days, Africa’s most prestigious technology event, the African Digital Economy Awards (ADEA), will take center stage for its highly anticipated ninth edition, the second to be hosted in Kenya. Often dubbed the “Oscars” of Africa’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, ADEA is the only event on the continent that brings together the brightest minds and leading technocrats to drive conversations around the digital economy and technological advancements in Africa. According to GSMA, Africa’s internet economy is projected to account for 5.2% of GDP by 2025, and digital ecosystem development could add up to 1.9% in GDP…

Oracle is turning to nuclear power to address the growing demand for AI data centers. During the company’s quarterly earnings call on Monday, Oracle founder, chair, and CTO Larry Ellison announced that the tech giant has secured permits to build three small modular reactors (SMRs) to power a data center with over a gigawatt of AI computing capacity. SMRs, miniaturized nuclear reactors used in naval vessels for nearly 70 years, are designed for mass production and require less infrastructure than conventional reactors. While they promise to be more cost-effective, none are currently operational, and pilot projects have faced challenges. Oracle’s…

U.S. AI startup, OpenAI is set to introduce “Strawberry,” a new AI model which will be integrated into OpenAI’s ChatGPT service, and is designed to enhance reasoning capabilities, according to a report by the Information. Under the leadership of Sam Altman, OpenAI has spurred renewed interest and substantial investment in artificial intelligence (AI), as businesses race to leverage this advanced technology to enhance their products. The company, backed by Microsoft, has reported over 1 million paying users for its business products, largely driven by the successful adoption of its sophisticated chatbot. Unlike existing conversational AIs, Strawberry is notable for its…

Apple’s iPhone 16, launched with much anticipation, has left investors and consumers underwhelmed, in the wake of Chinese tech giant, Huawei, launching its groundbreaking tri-fold Mate XT smartphone. Apple shares fell 1.7% on Tuesday, 10th September, despite it unveiling the iPhone 16 a day before. The latest iPhone features AI-powered functionalities but with limited external design changes. The iPhone 16 boasts hardware-level integration for AI-driven features, including enhancements to Siri and the phone’s camera, branded as “Apple Intelligence.” However, these AI capabilities will only be available in beta form on U.S. iPhones next month, with a wider rollout expected “later…

Chinese tech giant, Huawei Technologies, has launched its latest innovation, the $2,800 tri-fold Mate XT smartphone, as it aims to further solidify its dominance in China’s smartphone market and challenge Apple’s iPhone 16. The Mate XT, which can be folded in three directions, was introduced during a launch event in Shenzhen on Tuesday, 10th September, just hours after Apple unveiled its AI-enhanced iPhone 16. The Mate XT has already generated significant interest, with over 4 million pre-orders placed without requiring a deposit, according to Huawei’s website. To put this into perspective, the global market for foldable phones reached approximately 4…

RWS, a global leader in technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property solutions, has partnered with GPSL to launch Contenta Cloud S1000D, a groundbreaking cloud-based platform designed to streamline large-scale S1000D deployments in the aerospace and defense sectors. This solution simplifies the creation, management, and publication of technical documents. President of Contenta at RWS, Tim Russell-Jones stated, “Our goal is to empower enterprise clients with an innovative, secure, and scalable cloud-based solution that meets current and future operational needs.” The Contenta Cloud S1000D platform allows aerospace and defense organizations to efficiently provide critical information to engineers and technicians, reducing mean time…

British payments technology firm, Pockit, is negotiating with the consumer banking arm of the UK challenger bank, Monese, to acquire it for a nominal sum, and inject capital into its direct-to-consumer operations to enhance regulatory capital and fund the integration with Pockit. Although talks are progressing, they remain uncertain, with the potential for the agreement to collapse, said one anonymous source who spoke to Reuters. Neither Monese nor Pockit has publicly commented on the ongoing negotiations. London-based Monese, which was valued at over £1 billion ($1.31 billion) in early 2020 and backed by HSBC, split its operations in May 2023.…

Apple has introduced its AI-powered iPhone 16, marking the long-anticipated arrival of the device just as Chinese rival Huawei’s innovative tri-fold phone began attracting millions of pre-orders. This new launch is part of the tech giant’s strategy to infuse artificial intelligence (AI) into its flagship products amid intensifying global competition in the smartphone market. Apple’s Leap Into AI-Powered Smartphones At the product launch event at Cupertino, California, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, emphasised the significance of the iPhone 16, describing it as “designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up” and marking the dawn of an exciting new era for the…

Echelon Data Centres, an Irish-owned company, is advancing to the construction phase of its DUB20 data centre in Wicklow, following a significant approval to connect the project to the national grid. This approval, granted by EirGrid, marks a major milestone in developing the ‘sustainable’ data center, which aims to play a key role in Ireland’s growing tech infrastructure. Echelon had faced delays earlier this year during negotiations with EirGrid over the grid connection, causing frustration within the company. However, with the green light now secured, Echelon plans to move ahead with construction, creating 1,100 jobs during the build and 200…