Author: Akin Naphtal

Fran Katsoudas, Cisco’s Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer, is sounding the alarm on AI’s transformative power in the workplace, calling it a “significant accelerant” when paired with strategic investment in people. Speaking from the heart of the global tech giant’s headquarters, Katsoudas emphasized that while AI boosts productivity—evident in its near-doubling of workplace adoption in the U.S. from 21% in 2023 to 40% in 2025—it’s the human potential it unlocks that truly matters. “Productivity is just the starting line,” Katsoudas declared. “The real opportunity lies in preparing our employees to lead with confidence and harness AI’s potential for themselves,…

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM software, will invest $6 billion in its UK operations by 2030, with a focus on establishing the UK as its European AI innovation hub, CEO and Chair Marc Benioff announced. “We are doubling down on our long-standing commitment to the UK with this significant investment,” Benioff said. “We’re delighted that the UK, already a vital talent and innovation centre, will become our AI hub for Europe, driving product innovation for customers across the region.” The investment underscores Salesforce’s confidence in the UK’s position as a global leader in AI advancements. By leveraging the country’s…

Andrea Ferro, Vice President of Power & IT Systems for EMEA at Vertiv said that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping telecommunications infrastructure, driving a shift from traditional connectivity to AI-powered network intelligence. Speaking on the evolving demands of digital infrastructure, Ferro emphasized that AI’s transformative impact is redefining how telecom networks are planned and deployed across the ecosystem. “We are witnessing a fundamental shift in expectations,” Ferro said. “AI systems demand unprecedented responsiveness and scale, which is changing the way digital infrastructure is designed.” This transformation extends beyond centralized data centers, with compute and storage increasingly positioned…

Uber Technologies Inc. has ventured into Kenya’s iconic wildlife tourism sector with the launch of Uber Safaris, a groundbreaking service allowing users to book guided game drives to Nairobi National Park directly through its mobile app. The rollout, announced on September 17, 2025, coincides with the ride-hailing giant’s 10th anniversary in Kenya and aims to capture a slice of the country’s $4.3 billion tourism industry by offering quick, hassle-free excursions for busy travelers. The service, currently exclusive to Nairobi, provides a three-hour wildlife adventure in safari-grade Land Cruisers operated by licensed tour companies, complete with professional guides. Daytime safaris, accommodating…

Albania’s newly appointed AI minister, Diella, made her parliamentary debut on Thursday, staunchly defending her virtual existence amid cries of unconstitutionality and accusations of political theater. The world’s first AI government official, unveiled last week by Prime Minister Edi Rama as part of his fourth-term cabinet, appeared on screens before lawmakers as a poised woman clad in a flowing traditional Albanian xhubleta costume. Her name, meaning “sun” in Albanian, evoked warmth and enlightenment, but her words cut sharp against critics. “Some have called me ‘unconstitutional’ because I am not a human being,” Diella declared in the pre-recorded video speech, whose…

Perry Carpenter, Chief Human Risk Management Strategist at KnowBe4, a leading security awareness and behavior change platform, has raised concerns about the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology used by cybercriminals. Speaking about his recent experience testing a platform designed to mask deepfake imperfections, Carpenter highlighted the adaptive strategies attackers employ to evade detection. “I was recently testing a platform with a feature that freezes a video on the last good deepfake frame to hide artifacts, glitches, or syncing issues, effectively protecting the identity of the person behind the deepfake,” Carpenter explained. He noted that such advancements make it more challenging…

Vodacom Tanzania celebrated its 25th anniversary by announcing a transformative $100 million technology modernization program, one of the largest infrastructure investments in its history, aimed at revolutionizing connectivity and advancing digital inclusion across the nation. The initiative will upgrade thousands of network sites and enhance IT infrastructure, including the widely used M-Pesa platform, to deliver faster data speeds, improved call quality, and more reliable financial services for millions of users. The modernization program aligns with Vodacom Tanzania’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes people, planet, and trust, while supporting Tanzania’s national digital transformation agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Philip Besiimire,…

Airtel Africa, through its datacentre subsidiary Nxtra by Airtel Africa, has officially begun construction on what is set to be East Africa’s largest datacentre, a $150 million facility in Kenya, as announced on September 15, 2025. The state-of-the-art datacentre, designed to support cloud computing, AI workloads, and enterprise-scale services, marks a significant step in bolstering the region’s digital infrastructure. The facility, with a planned power capacity of 44 megawatts (MW), will be developed in two phases of 22 MW each, with completion expected by the first quarter of 2027. The datacentre aims to meet growing demand for advanced digital services…

Tech giants Nvidia and OpenAI are planning to invest billions of dollars in developing advanced data centres in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with London-based data centre operator Nscale Global Holdings Ltd, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The announcement coincides with an upcoming state visit by US President Donald Trump , highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative. The UK government will support the project by supplying energy for the new facilities, while OpenAI will provide access to its cutting-edge AI tools, and Nvidia will contribute its advanced semiconductor chips, known for powering AI and high-performance computing. This partnership…

Rwanda has etched its name in aviation history by conducting Africa’s first public flight of a self-flying passenger drone, cementing its position as a trailblazer in advanced air mobility on the continent. The landmark demonstration, held during the Africa Aviation Summit 2025 in Kigali, showcased the EHang EH216-S, a pilotless electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The event, attended by President Paul Kagame and senior government officials, featured the two-seat, fully electric drone soaring to an altitude of approximately 100 meters, navigating autonomously without an onboard pilot. This continental first for autonomous air taxis marks a significant milestone in…