🤖Nigeria Unveils N-ATLAS v1, Open-Source Multilingual AI Model

Happy New Week Valued Subscribers👋

Mondays might get a bad rap, but they’re also the perfect launchpad—a chance to shake off last week and step into new possibilities. Whether you’re powering through work, chasing deadlines, or just trying to find your rhythm, consider this newsletter your head start.

We’ve gathered the stories that matter, so you can kick off the week informed, sharp, and maybe even a little inspired.

Let’s dive in.👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

🤖 Nigeria launches N-ATLAS v1, an open-source multilingual & multimodal AI model
🚙 Lagride deploys 100 EVs to dominate Lagos ride-hailing, targets 70% market share
📶 Airtel’s AI Detector Achieves 84% Reduction in Spam SMS in Nigeria
🤖 African Students Get Free 1-Year Access to Google Gemini AI Pro
🚲 DONE Raises $2.1M to Build Morocco’s First Super App
📰 America’s $100,000 H-1B Fee: A Talent Tax With Outsized Consequences for Startups
🤖 OpenAI Fixes Security Hole That Let ChatGPT Be Tricked Into Gmail Data Theft

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🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Nigeria launches N-ATLAS v1, an open-source multilingual & multimodal AI model

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has launched N-ATLAS v1, an open-source, multilingual, multimodal large language model announced during #UNGA80 in New York. The model’s first release supports Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Nigerian-accented English, setting out to make African languages a foundation for AI rather than an afterthought.

N-ATLAS is designed to be freely adaptable for both research and commercial use, with future plans to expand into more African languages and add speech and vision capabilities........…continue reading

 🚙 RIDE-HAILING

Lagride deploys 100 EVs to dominate Lagos ride-hailing, targets 70% market share

Lagride, the Lagos State–backed e-hailing service, has deployed 100 electric vehicles (EVs) and set an ambitious goal to capture 70% of Lagos’s ride-hailing market. The rollout is the first step in a three-year plan to reach 5,000 cars, including more than 3,000 EVs. The new models deliver an estimated 333km of range and can fast-charge in about 30 minutes; Lagride says routing and a growing charging network will minimize downtime.

The company will update its app so riders can choose EV or petrol vehicles. Management emphasizes a maintenance-first operating model, strict safety and compliance, and pro-driver economics, including drive-to-own options with 18- to 48-month tenors. Executives frame the expansion as aligned with Lagos’s modernization agenda—cleaner air, shorter wait times, and thousands of jobs across training, charging, maintenance, and operations. Backed by CIG Motors and state institutions, Lagride aims to challenge Uber, Bolt, and inDrive with a denser, quieter, reliable fleet..........…continue reading

📶TELECOMS

Airtel’s AI Detector Achieves 84% Reduction in Spam SMS in Nigeria

Airtel Africa has cut unwanted SMS in Nigeria by 84% in six months using its AI-powered spam alert system. The carrier-grade filter analyzes over 250 behavioral signals—without reading message content—to block fraud and nuisance texts in real time. Between March and May 2025, Airtel intercepted 9.6 million suspicious messages in Nigeria and tens of millions more across 12 other markets, with Kenya leading at 68 million.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) welcomed the rollout, citing spam and phishing as major risks for new and rural smartphone users. Airtel CEO Sunil Taldar called the free service a milestone in safeguarding customers as SMS remains vital for banking, government, and commerce. If results hold, rivals may face pressure to adopt similar AI defenses to stay competitive.........…continue reading

 🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

African Students Get Free 1-Year Access to Google Gemini AI Pro

Google has announced free one-year access to Gemini 2.5 Pro for eligible African students, marking a major investment in digital learning and creativity on the continent. The program covers students in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana, with more nations to follow.

Beyond free AI tools, Google is committing over $17 million to universities and research institutions, expanding subsea cable systems, launching a Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, and adding 40+ African languages to Google Translate. The initiative reflects Google’s broader goal to empower Africa’s youth, strengthen digital infrastructure, and position the continent as a global innovation hub.......…continue reading

🚲LOGISTICS

DONE Raises $2.1M to Build Morocco’s First Super App

Moroccan startup DONE.ma has raised $2.1 million in seed funding, backed entirely by local investors — one of the largest early-stage rounds funded solely by Moroccan capital. Founded in 2024, DONE began as a food delivery app but now aims to become Morocco’s first super app, expanding into e-commerce, fintech, and mobility.

The funding will support growth across more Moroccan cities, logistics, and product innovation, including digital wallets and BNPL services. The all-local funding highlights rising confidence in Morocco’s tech ecosystem and positions DONE as a key player in Africa’s growing $30 billion super app market.......…continue reading

🛂 SKILLED IMMIGRATION

America’s $100,000 H-1B Fee: A Talent Tax With Outsized Consequences for Startups

The White House has imposed a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, reshaping the economics of skilled immigration. The move, framed as a push to prioritize domestic workers, could price out startups and mid-sized firms that rely on global talent. Critics warn it risks driving innovation and jobs offshore, as companies reroute hires to lower-cost hubs abroad.

The policy also threatens sectors like healthcare—already facing physician shortages—and STEM fields dependent on international students. While Big Tech may absorb the cost, smaller firms may pivot to remote-first models, offshore hiring, or relocation to Canada and Europe.

Coupled with a new $1 million “gold card” residency option, the shift signals a pay-to-play model for U.S. immigration that could erode America’s talent edge in AI and advanced technologies..........…continue reading

 OTHER STORIES

• Google to Auto-Generate Themed Icons for All Android Apps in 2025...continue reading

• How to Train Your Own AI Model (Beginner’s Guide)……continue reading

• From Manga to Merch: How Anime Is Building Billion-Dollar Empires…..continue reading

• OpenAI Fixes Security Hole That Let ChatGPT Be Tricked Into Gmail Data Theft…….continue reading

• MTN Nigeria Secures Spectrum Lease from T2 Mobile, Ends Ntel Agreement…..continue reading

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