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Nigeria to establish AI, blockchain research centres

Nigeria to establish AI, blockchain research centres

Plus: Meta’ Threads now has more than 175 MAUs

Innovation Village
July 04, 2024

Today’s Menu ☕️

🤖 FG to establish AI, blockchain research centres in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones
📱Meta’ Threads now has more than 175 million monthly active users
💰Peleza and Y Combinator-Backed Prembly Merge to Create Unified Prembly Group
🤖 Apple Joins Microsoft as Observer on OpenAI Board, Signaling Deeper Collaboration on AI
🛒 Shoprite launches eCommerce platform for small retailers in South Africa

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🔬 RESEARCH

FG to establish AI, blockchain research centres in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones

The Federal Government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to establish research centres for emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, among others across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting a keynote during the opening of the IoT West Africa Conference in Lagos.

According to him, this is in line with one of the focus areas of the agency in building a robust technology research ecosystem.

He added that the research focus areas for NITDA include IoT, blockchain technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics.....…....continue reading

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📲 SOCIAL MEDIA

Meta’s Threads now has more than 175 million monthly active users

On Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, made a public announcement that the company’s messaging app, Threads, has surpassed the milestone of 175 million monthly active users. This significant user base has been amassed just shy of a year since the app’s launch, with its first anniversary approaching in two days. Back in April, the tech billionaire revealed that Threads had surpassed 150 million MAUs, up from 130 million in February.

Threads, launched on July 3, 2023, is a social media platform focused on real-time, public conversations among users. Its launch occurred as many users were looking for alternatives to X (formerly Twitter) due to substantial changes introduced by Elon Musk. Remarkably, the platform reached 100 million users within five days, setting the record as the fastest-growing app in history.

This is however, still a long way from Elon Musk’s X boasting of about 600 MAUs....…....continue reading

🪪 IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

Peleza and Y Combinator-Backed Prembly Merge to Create Unified Prembly Group

The Kenyan startup Peleza, specializing in identity management, has combined forces with the Y Combinator-supported Prembly to establish the Prembly Group. The specifics of the financial terms involved in the merger have not been disclosed by either company.

Peleza, known for conducting background checks for businesses, has established significant partnerships in East Africa, including with prominent mobility apps such as Uber and Bolt, as well as the international logistics giant FedEx. Prembly, on the other hand, offers services in identity verification, security, and compliance. The newly formed Prembly Group aims to capitalize on Peleza’s regional expertise to enhance its business presence in East Africa and to elevate the customer service experience.

Peleza has been utilizing Prembly’s infrastructure for the past year and a half, and this merger is a natural progression of their collaborative efforts. Marita Mutemi, the founder of Peleza, conveyed to TechCabal that the merger is a strategic move to broaden their service offerings and reach in various markets, including the global stage.…....continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Apple Joins Microsoft as Observer on OpenAI Board, Signaling Deeper Collaboration on AI

Tech giants Apple and Microsoft are forging a powerful alliance in the realm of artificial intelligence. Apple has reportedly secured an observer role on OpenAI’s board, joining Microsoft, a major investor and collaborator of the AI research organization.

This landmark development, as reported by Bloomberg, places both tech titans at the forefront of shaping the future of AI, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. While the specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed, it is believed to be part of a broader AI partnership between Apple and OpenAI, which was announced at WWDC 2024.

The presence of both Apple and Microsoft on OpenAI’s board has the potential to reshape the dynamics of the AI industry. It could foster greater collaboration between the three entities, leading to accelerated advancements in AI research and development.…....continue reading

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🛒 E-COMMERCE

Shoprite launches eCommerce platform for small retailers in South Africa

Shoprite has ventured into the realm of eCommerce with the launch of a new online shopping and delivery service tailored for small businesses, including spaza and tuck shops, in South Africa. This initiative marks the entry of Shoprite-owned Cash & Carry, traditionally a wholesaler, into the digital marketplace.

The service enables customers to explore and order a broad selection of products at competitive prices via an automated online system. Moreover, it offers the added benefit of free delivery for locations within a 50km radius.

Spaza shops and smaller retailers often grapple with various operational hurdles, such as the high costs of transportation and fuel, difficulties in keeping up with demand in the informal sector, the financial burden of overstocking, increased risks of theft, and cash flow constraints.

To address these issues and enhance user convenience, Shoprite provides multiple payment methods, both online and in-store. These include credit and debit cards, electronic funds transfer (EFT), store credit, cash on collection, and the Shoprite Money Market Account......…....continue reading