🤖 Open AI is Considering Rollout of Ads

Today’s Menu ☕️

🤖 Open AI is Considering Rollout of Ads on its AI Product
🍎 Apple Commits to $1 Billion Investment to Lift iPhone 16 Ban in Indonesia
🚚 Egypt’s Nowlun Secures $1.7 Million Seed Funding to Revolutionize Logistics in MENA
🧑🏽‍💻 AltSchool Africa Expands to Europe with Malta as a Strategic Hub
🚙 Enakl raises $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to revolutionize urban mobility in Africa
🧑🏽‍💻 Microsoft Faces £1 Billion UK Lawsuit Over Alleged Anti-Competitive Cloud Practices

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🍎 DEVICES

Apple Commits to $1 Billion Investment to Lift iPhone 16 Ban in Indonesia

Apple Inc. is stepping up its efforts to secure its presence in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, with a $1 billion investment commitment. This comes as the tech giant seeks to resolve a government-imposed ban on the sale of its iPhone 16 devices due to unmet domestic content regulations.

The ban, implemented in October 2024, stemmed from Indonesia’s requirement that manufacturers meet specific local content thresholds for smartphones and tablets. While Apple had previously pledged investments in the region, including $107 million for developer academies, it fell short by $10 million, triggering dissatisfaction from Indonesian authorities......……continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Open AI is Considering Rollout of Ads on its AI Product

In a recent interview, Sarah Friar, Chief Financial Officer of OpenAI, shared that the tech startup is considering introducing an advertising model. She emphasized that the company’s approach to ads would be “thoughtful about when and where we implement them.”

OpenAI, widely known for its ChatGPT product, is exploring how and where ads could function within its AI ecosystem, though specific details remain undecided. The company, valued at $150 billion following a $6.6 billion funding round in October, has reportedly been hiring advertising experts from major players like Google and Meta to lay the groundwork for this potential shift.

Friar clarified that OpenAI has no immediate plans to roll out advertising, stressing that its current model is already experiencing strong growth. However, she did not provide a timeline for when ChatGPT users might encounter ads alongside responses...……continue reading

🚚 LOGISTICS

Egypt’s Nowlun Secures $1.7 Million Seed Funding to Revolutionize Logistics in MENA

Nowlun, a rising star in the digital freight forwarding industry across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has successfully raised $1.7 million in seed funding. Led by Nama Ventures and A15, the funding round also saw participation from Sanabil 500 Global and several prominent angel investors. The new investment is set to propel Nowlun’s ambitious growth plans and fuel advancements in its innovative technology platform, which is transforming logistics operations in the region.

Launched in 2021 by Moataz Khamis (CEO), Mahmoud Khaled (CTO), and Ahmed Emara (COO), Nowlun has rapidly positioned itself as a key player in MENA’s logistics market. By integrating with all major shipping lines, the company provides businesses with real-time pricing, enabling them to make faster and more informed shipping decisions. The platform’s advanced shipment management system acts as a control tower, giving users real-time visibility into cargo movements, instant notifications, and tools to address challenges proactively......……continue reading

🧑🏽‍💻 EDUCATION

AltSchool Africa Expands to Europe with Malta as a Strategic Hub

Nigerian edtech startup AltSchool Africa is set to make waves in Europe, marking a significant step forward in its mission to bridge the global skills gap. The expansion, which follows the startup’s participation in the SuperCharger Ventures accelerator programme and a government-backed growth accelerator in Malta, highlights AltSchool’s ambition to diversify revenue streams and accelerate growth.

Having trained over 100,000 learners across eight African and twelve European countries, AltSchool has steadily gained global traction since its launch in 2021. With a curriculum that spans engineering, data analytics, business, and the creative economy, the startup has quickly become a leading alternative to traditional higher education.

Europe represents AltSchool’s third-largest market, with learners from more than 12 countries. This new phase will see the startup adopt a hybrid learning model, blending online education with in-person sessions at a new campus in Malta.......…continue reading

🧑🏽‍💻 TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft Faces £1 Billion UK Lawsuit Over Alleged Anti-Competitive Cloud Practices

Microsoft is under intense scrutiny in the United Kingdom as it faces a £1 billion lawsuit alleging unfair pricing practices that stifle competition in the cloud computing market. The lawsuit, led by competition lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi, accuses the tech giant of overcharging businesses using rival platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud to host its widely-used Windows Server software.

At the heart of the lawsuit is Microsoft’s pricing strategy, which reportedly offers more favorable licensing fees for its Windows Server software on its own Azure cloud platform compared to competitor platforms. This pricing disparity, the lawsuit claims, effectively penalizes businesses for opting for alternative cloud solutions, forcing them to pay higher fees........…continue reading

🚙 MOBILITY

Enakl raises $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to revolutionize urban mobility in Africa

Moroccan urban mobility startup Enakl has secured $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to further its mission of providing safer, smarter, and sustainable collective transport solutions for daily commutes, both locally and internationally. Founded in September 2023 by Samir Bennani and Charles Pommarede, with Ahmed Omrane later joining as associate CTO, Enakl aims to revolutionize commuting for millions of workers.

The platform offers accessible, shared transit solutions designed to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions while enhancing reliability. The funding round, led by Catalyst Fund, saw participation from Renew Capital, Digital Africa, Station F, and 15 business angels. This investment will drive Enakl’s growth and support its expansion in Morocco and other African markets.

Currently in its pilot phase, the startup operates in Casablanca, managing over 15,000 bookings monthly with a growth rate of 20% per month. Enakl plans to extend its services to additional cities across Africa.........…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Talk360 Expands with NjiaPay to Address Africa’s Payment Ecosystem Challenges……read more

• MTN Group appoints Sandile Gwala as Independent Non-Executive Director……read more

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