AI in Business
Nvidia is investing $1.5 billion in a SoftBank-backed data center developer that will power an OpenAI infrastructure project. The investment secures demand for Nvidia's chips in a major AI computing facility. Source: TechCrunch
Policy & Regulation
A Vaal University of Technology study reveals that AI adoption among lecturers and students in South African higher education has progressed faster than institutional policies and ethical frameworks can accommodate. The research highlights a significant gap between actual AI use and the governance structures needed to manage it responsibly in
AI in Business
Standard Bank is implementing AI across core business functions including relationship management, payments and lending operations. The bank is simultaneously investing in AI governance frameworks, workforce skills development and supporting infrastructure. Source: ITWeb
AI in Africa
A manufacturing plant and showroom for the Iris AI robot tutor has opened at Dube TradePort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The facility will produce humanoid tutoring robots for deployment in educational settings. Source: ITWeb
AI in Business
Wispr, a speech AI company, has raised $280 million in funding at a $2 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to over $361 million. The company is expanding its focus beyond dictation applications. Source: TechCrunch
Policy & Regulation
OpenAI has funded 14 independent projects focused on developing AI policy approaches to promote economic opportunity and societal resilience. The initiative aims to explore new governance frameworks and policy ideas for the emerging artificial intelligence era. Source: OpenAI
AI in Business
Call centre operators are finding that AI implementation costs more than expected due to infrastructure requirements rather than software licensing fees, according to Qrent's head of GBS/BPO solutions. The true expense of deploying AI in contact centres lies in the underlying computational and technical infrastructure needed to
AI in Business
South Africa's 3G network shutdown will expose poorly maintained backup networks that many businesses have neglected to monitor or update. Network administrators warn that legacy backup systems may fail during the transition, leaving organisations vulnerable to outages. Source: ITWeb
AI in Business
Moxie is an AI-powered robot marketed to help neurodivergent children develop social and emotional skills through interactive play, though research shows mixed results with limitations in real-world effectiveness compared to controlled studies. The article examines the broader landscape of companion robots for children, including concerns about data privacy,
AI in Business
iOCO Data and Analytics' Tapiwa Mudungwe states that successful AI programmes depend more on access to trusted data at the right time than on advanced algorithms. The emphasis highlights data quality and integration as fundamental to effective AI implementation. Source: ITWeb
AI in Business
Kaspersky warns that artificial intelligence capabilities used by cybersecurity providers are equally accessible to cyber attackers, creating an arms race in AI-driven threat landscapes. The article discusses how companies can leverage AI to defend against increasingly sophisticated AI-powered cyber threats. Source: ITWeb
AI in Business
Stripe is reportedly acquiring OpenRouter, an AI gateway startup, for over $7 billion. OpenRouter's CEO has positioned the startup as providing payment and access infrastructure for AI models, similar to Stripe's role in payments. Source: TechCrunch