Author: Akin Naphtal

The world’s first legally binding international treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) has been opened for signing by countries that played a crucial role in its negotiation, including members of the European Union (EU), the United States, and the United Kingdom. According to the Council of Europe, the treaty was opened on Thursday, 5th September. This AI Convention, years in the making, was officially adopted in May after discussions involving 57 countries. The agreement aims to mitigate the risks posed by AI while fostering responsible innovation. UK Justice Minister, Shabana Mahmood, emphasised the significance of the treaty, noting that it marks…

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the digital advertising market, potentially harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers. The CMA claims that Google has been using anti-competitive practices, particularly by prioritising its own ad exchange, AdX, in open display advertising technology, which has restricted competition. The CMA’s interim executive director of enforcement, Juliette Enser, highlighted the importance of online advertising in keeping digital content accessible to the public, noting that Google’s alleged practices could be undermining this system. The regulator’s provisional findings suggest that since 2015, Google has been leveraging its…

The 2024 Ghana Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has been launched at the Kofi Annan ICT Conference Hall, focusing on advancing sustainable digital development among Ghanaian youth. The event, held from 4th to 5th September, 2024, featured the Youth IGF and Main IGF, with a follow-up Ghana Internet Governance School scheduled for 26th September, 2024. The theme, “Navigating the Digital World: Empowering Youth through Meaningful Connectivity for Responsible AI Use and Online Safety,” highlights the forum’s dedication to responsible digital engagement. Hosted by the Ghana IGF in collaboration with several partners including the Ghana Domain Name Registry, Internet Society Ghana Chapter,…

Network International, a leading provider of digital commerce solutions in the Middle East and Africa has extended its strategic partnership with Orabank Group, the largest banking group in Francophone Africa, aiming to revolutionize prepaid and agent banking services in the region. The extended collaboration marks a key milestone in Orabank’s digital transformation efforts, enhancing the banking experience for its customers. Leveraging Network International’s expertise, the partnership seeks to boost Orabank’s competitiveness in the Francophone markets by introducing cutting-edge payment technologies and solutions designed to improve consumer trust and convenience. Ferdinand Ngon Kemoum, Group CEO of Orabank Group, expressed enthusiasm about…

E-PAL, a global leader in gaming and social companion platforms, has launched Balance, its new AI-powered blockchain experience platform. This innovation follows two successful funding rounds led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Galaxy Interactive, raising $30 million. Notable investors such as Animoca Brands, K5, CLF Partners, and YouTube co-founder Steve Chen also participated in the rounds, boosting E-PAL’s mission to build a robust Web3 ecosystem. The new funding will be used to develop the Balance platform’s infrastructure, which is designed to revolutionize the social industry by integrating advanced AI and blockchain technologies. Balance is poised to serve E-PAL’s 4.2 million-strong…

Broadcom reported a 47% year-on-year revenue growth for its third quarter, bolstered by its acquisition of VMware. The company’s revenue reached $13.07 billion, with $7.25 billion coming from its Semiconductor Solutions division and $5.8 billion from its Infrastructure Software sector, including $3.8 billion from VMware. VMware’s contribution reflects Broadcom’s ongoing turnaround efforts, with CEO Hock Tan noting an acceleration in VMware bookings and a reduction in costs from $1.6 billion in Q2 to $1.3 billion this quarter. Tan also highlighted strong sales growth for VMware Cloud Foundation, which validates the changes in VMware’s licensing and business model. Despite the positive…

Salesforce has announced its acquisition of New Jersey-based data management and protection company, Own, in a deal worth $1.9 billion in cash. This marks Salesforce’s largest purchase since its $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack in 2021. Earlier this year, the company considered buying Informatica, a data management software firm but decided against it. Steve Fisher, General Manager at Salesforce, highlighted the significance of the acquisition, stating, “This move underscores Salesforce’s commitment to providing secure, end-to-end solutions that protect our customers’ most valuable data.” He emphasized the growing importance of data security and how Own’s expertise would enhance Salesforce’s offerings. Founded…

Azerbaijan is set to have 1 million citizens using digital identities by the end of 2026, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. This move is part of the country’s broader plan to expand its digital economy and enhance public access to e-government services. As of July, 65% of Azerbaijan’s population has adopted the national mobile digital ID, Asan İmza, eliminating the need for physical ID cards. In September, the nation’s largest mobile network operator, Azercell, began accepting digital ID cards for all transactions, allowing customers to verify their identity via the Mygov application.…

YouTube has introduced a new suite of AI detection tools aimed at safeguarding creators, including artists, actors, musicians, and athletes, from having their likenesses—such as their face and voice—copied and misused in videos. This innovation comes amid growing concerns over the unauthorized use of AI-generated content. A key feature of this new technology is the expansion of YouTube’s existing Content ID system, which currently identifies copyright-protected material. The update will now include a synthetic-singing identification tool that detects AI-generated content mimicking someone’s voice. YouTube is also working on technology to detect AI-simulated faces, marking a significant step in protecting creators…

In a decisive step towards regulating artificial intelligence (AI), a group of countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and the European Union, have signed the Council of Europe (COE) Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law. This treaty, hailed as the first legally binding international agreement on AI, aims to ensure that AI systems operate in alignment with human rights, democratic principles, and the rule of law. At a meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, the treaty was formally opened for signatures. Alongside the major global markets, signatories include nations such as Iceland, Israel, Norway, and…