<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="520" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-820x520.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-462631" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-820x520.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-300x190.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-142x90.jpg 142w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-768x487.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-1536x973.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-860462600-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HONG KONG, HONG KONG &#8211; OCTOBER 11: A man holds an Apple iPad Mini as he uses Apple Music app on October 11, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by studioEAST/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, on Monday hit&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;with a 1.8 billion euro ($1.95 billion) antitrust fine for abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.



The Commission said it found that Apple had applied restrictions on app developers that prevented them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app.



Apple also banned developers of music streaming apps from&nbsp;providing any instructions&nbsp;about how users could subscribe to these cheaper offers, the Commission alleged.



This is Apple’s first antitrust fine from Brussels and is among one of the biggest dished out to a technology company by the EU.



Apple shares were down around 1.6% in pre-market trade in the U.S.



The European Commission opened an investigation into Apple after a complaint from Spotify in 2019. The probe was narrowed down to focus on contractual restrictions that Apple imposed on app developers which prevent them from informing iPhone and iPad users of alternative music subscription services at lower prices outside of the App Store.



Apple’s conduct lasted almost 10 years, according to the Commission, and “may have led many iOS users to&nbsp;pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions&nbsp;because of the high commission fee imposed by Apple on developers and passed on to consumers in the form of higher subscription prices for the same service on the Apple App Store.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apple-response"><a></a>Apple response</h2>



In a fiery response to the fine, Apple said Spotify would stand to gain the most from the EU pronouncement.



“The primary advocate for this decision — and the biggest beneficiary — is Spotify, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Spotify has the largest music streaming app in the world, and has met with the European Commission more than 65 times during this investigation,” Apple said in a statement.



“Today, Spotify has a 56 percent share of Europe’s music streaming market — more than double their closest competitor’s — and pays Apple nothing for the services that have helped make them one of the most recognisable brands in the world.”



Apple said that a “large part” of Spotify’s success is thanks to the Cupertino giant’s App Store, “along with all the tools and technology that Spotify uses to build, update, and share their app with Apple users around the world.”



Apple said that Spotify pays it nothing. That’s because instead of selling subscriptions in their iOS app, Spotify sell them via their own website stead. Apple does not collect a commission on those purchases.



Developers over the years have spoken out against the 30% fee Apple charges on in-app purchases.



Spotify in a statement called the Commission’s decision “an important moment in the fight for a more open internet for consumers.”



Apple’s rules muzzled Spotify and other music streaming services from sharing with our users directly in our app about various benefits—denying us the ability to communicate with them about how to upgrade and the price of subscriptions, promotions, discounts, or numerous other perks,” Spotify said.



“Of course, Apple Music, a competitor to these apps, is not barred from the same behaviour.”



The Commission said that Apple prevented developers of music streaming apps from informing their iOS users within their apps about prices of subscriptions or offers available elsewhere.



App developers could not include links in their apps leading iOS users to the app developers’ websites where alternative subscription could be bought, the Commission alleges.



The EU’s executive arm also said that Apple prevented app developers from contacting their own newly-acquired users — for example via email — to inform them about alternative pricing options.



In a press briefing, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager qualified the basic amount of the fine for Apple, excluding the 1.8 billion euro lumpsum, as “quite small” and likened it to a “speeding ticket, or a parking ticket” relative to the company’s scale.



“When Apple imposes these anti-steering provisions on the music provider, they as developers have no other choice than to either accept them or abandon the App Store. Apple with its App Store currently holds a monopoly,” Vestager said.



She added that the Commission has ordered Apple to remove the so-called anti-steering provisions and to “refrain from similar practices in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>EU scrutiny on tech giants rises</h2>



The fine will ramp up tensions between Big Tech and Brussels at a time when the EU is increasing scrutiny of these firms.



Last year, the Commission designated Apple among other tech firms like&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;and&nbsp;Meta&nbsp;as&nbsp;“gatekeepers” under a landmark regulation called the Digital Markets Act, which broadly came into effect last year.



The term gatekeepers refers to massive internet platforms which the EU believes are restricting access to core platform services, such as online search, advertising, and messaging and communications.



The Digital Markets Act aims to&nbsp;clamp down on anti-competitive practices&nbsp;from tech players, and force them to open out some of their services to other competitors. Smaller internet firms and other businesses have complained about being hurt by these companies’ business practices.



These laws have already had an impact on Apple. The Cupertino, California-based giant announced plans this year to&nbsp;open up its iPhone and iPad to alternative app stores&nbsp;other than its own. Developers have long-complained about the 30% fee Apple charges on in-app purchases.



Vestager fired a warning shot to Apple in regards to the DMA.



“In a couple of days on the 7th of March, Apple will have to comply with the full list of dos and don’ts under the DMA. Among others, Apple can no longer impose rules such as the anti-steering obligations … and this holds for any app on the App Store, not just music streaming apps.”



&#8211; CNBC’s Ryan Browne and Ruxandra Iordache contributed to this article.

Young man holds a smart device while using Apple Music app

Apple hit with more than $1.95 billion EU antitrust fine over music streaming

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-820x461.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-460684" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107367602-17067928972022-10-23t204940z_1048320918_up1eian1luq2v_rtrmadp_0_motor-f1-usa.jpeg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Apple CEO Tim Cook waves a checkered flag to the race winner at the Formula One United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 23, 2022. Mike Segar | Reuters</figcaption></figure>



Apple will wind down its team working on electric cars, called Special Projects Group, according to Bloomberg.



The news signals an end to Apple’s secretive effort to build a car to rival Tesla. The program employed thousands of employees but never fit with Apple’s core business of electronics and online services, and raised questions about where Apple would turn for the manufacturing of a vehicle.



Reports of Apple’s ambition to build a car first surfaced in 2014 after the company recruited automotive engineers and other talent from auto companies. While there was little public information about Apple’s plans, the company operated a program with autonomous Apple-owned cars equipped with sensors and safety drivers cruising around the San Francisco Bay Area.



Apple’s Special Projects Group had several reorganizations over the years, including layoffs in 2019, when employees were moved to different parts of the company. Some Apple employees in the car division may move to a generative artificial intelligence team, according to Bloomberg.



The company has other automotive-related projects, including its infotainment CarPlay software, which Apple says is installed on 80% of new vehicles.



Apple’s car project was part of an internal effort to look for technologies the company could develop with huge potential markets. Apple continues to develop health technologies, especially for the Apple Watch. And last month, the company released its first virtual reality headset, the Vision Pro.



Some of Apple’s Asian rivals in smartphones have invested heavily in designing and potentially manufacturing cars. Xiaomi, a maker of Android smartphones, announced a new electric vehicle this week. Foxconn, Apple’s main manufacturing partner, said last year it will build electric vehicles.



Apple and CEO Tim Cook never acknowledged the car project publicly, instead referring to it as work on “autonomous systems.” In 2016, Cook was asked by a shareholder about the project, and teased that “it’s going to be Christmas Eve for a long time.”



As part of its silence, Apple’s hasn’t outlined its expenditures in the auto space. Overall, the company spent about $30 billion on research and development in 2023, a 14% increase over the prior year. Apple’s R&amp;D budget includes investments in new software and features for its existing products such as the iPhone.



Apple shares rose less than 1% on the news on Tuesday. Apple declined to comment.

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Apple cancels plans to build an electric car

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="552" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-820x552.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-460391" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-820x552.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-300x202.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-134x90.jpeg 134w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-768x517.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-1536x1034.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107343954-1701877568407-gettyimages-1835240563-wm_10263_h1xkdgsj-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: via CNBC</figcaption></figure>



The burgeoning artificial intelligence tools from companies such as OpenAI still have their share of skeptics, but don’t count JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon among them.



The Wall Street titan told CNBC’s Leslie Picker on Monday that AI is not just a passing fad and is bigger than just the large language models such as Chat GPT. He compared the current moment favorably to the tech bubble around the start of the 21st century, when investor excitement seemingly got ahead of the actual changes.



“This is not hype. This is real. When we had the internet bubble the first time around … that was hype. This is not hype. It’s real,” Dimon said. “People are deploying it at different speeds, but it will handle a tremendous amount of stuff.”



JPMorgan has done work on the ability to use the new technologies internally, with Dimon saying that AI will eventually “be used in almost every job.” JPMorgan created a new role of chief data and analytics officer last year, in part to handle AI.



Dimon said Monday that there are 200 people at JPMorgan doing research on the large language models that have recently been rolled out by tech companies.



While acknowledging that AI can be used by bad actors, Dimon called himself a “big optimist” about the emerging technology, mentioning cybersecurity and pharmaceutical research as areas where it can be helpful.



“It may invent cancer cures because it can do things that the human mind simply cannot do,” Dimon said.

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JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says AI is not just hype — ‘This is real’

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083-820x462.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-459995" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083.jpeg 929w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Betul Abali | Anadolu | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Google is bullish on the prospect of its more advanced artificial intelligence models coming to smartphones in the next year.  



The internet giant expects that its currently available Gemini large language model (LLM), which competes with Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s most powerful GPT-4 AI model, will begin to get embedded into devices starting next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Google already offers Gemini Nano, which is the company’s most efficient model for “on-device” AI, across its Pixel devices and on all other capable Android devices.&nbsp;



Brian Rakowski, vice president of product management for Google’s Pixel unit, said that he expects the company’s most advanced large language models, which are currently only accessible via remote data centers via an internet connection, to begin arriving on smartphones directly next year.&nbsp;



“There are smaller versions of our Gemini model on the cloud,” Rakowski told CNBC. “There’s been quite a few breakthroughs to compress these models to get them to run on device.”&nbsp;



“Some have already been proven and some are being explored for some applications. It’d be great having all models on device. It still has wondrous applications.”&nbsp;



“Gemini Nano is performing at a level that our online models were at less than one year ago,” Rakowski added. “You can do a lot with these distilled small versions of the models on device.”&nbsp;



“If you just follow that trajectory, some of that stuff we thought we would have had to go to the cloud for next year will be on device, which is pretty exciting, which is instantaneous without requiring a connection or subscription.”&nbsp;



Large language models, or LLMs, are AI models capable of understanding and generating language in a humanlike way. Gemini Ultra is Google’s top LLM, clocking in at a whopping 1.56 trillion parameters. For comparison, OpenAI’s GPT-4 consists of 1.76 trillion parameters.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dreaming-of-a-smartphone-supercycle"><a></a>Dreaming of a smartphone ‘supercycle’</h2>



Smartphone makers have been dreaming of a “supercycle” in their industry, driven by artificial intelligence, after a bruising few years that saw device sales slow aggressively. In 2023, smartphone sales fell to 1.16 billion units, the lowest point for unit shipments in a decade.  



Analysts say a supercycle is unlikely to occur within the next few years as there’s not enough going on in the market in terms of novel features and innovation that will convince people holding their aging smartphones to upgrade.&nbsp;



“Unfortunately, we don’t expect that boom,” Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of data and analytics at research firm IDC, told CNBC.&nbsp;



“The last supercycle we saw was between 2010 and 2015, where in five years the market grew five times from around 300 million smartphones per year to 1.5 billion.”&nbsp;



Nonetheless, more and more smartphone makers are making big investments in AI in the hope that it will drive some more excitement around mobile technology.&nbsp;



The likes of Humane, Rabbit, and China’s Meizu are betting on a future for smartphones that doesn’t even look like a traditional smartphone. These are devices that would be smaller and more compact, and that we could interact with via voice activation, like an Amazon Echo speaker but on the go.&nbsp;



Google has been making huge bets on AI in an effort to gain an edge over its rivals like OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed company behind ChatGPT.



Google recently announced a major rebrand of Bard, its ChatGPT alternative, including a fresh app and subscription options. Bard was renamed Gemini, the same name as the suite of AI models that power the chatbot.



Android users can download a dedicated Android app for Gemini, while iPhone users can use Gemini in the Google app on iOS.



Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the firm’s commitment to AI during the company’s Jan. 30 earnings call. Pichai said he eventually wants to offer an AI agent that can complete more and more tasks on a user’s behalf, including within Google Search, although he said there is “a lot of execution ahead.”



Likewise, chief executives at tech giants from Microsoft to Amazon have underlined their commitment to building AI agents as productivity tools.&nbsp;



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107374413-1708024437471-gettyimages-1992338676-AA_10022024_1525083

Google expects its more advanced large language models to arrive on Android phones next year

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe-820x462.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-459046" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe.jpeg 929w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks in conversation with Emily Chang during the APEC CEO Summit at Moscone West on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California. The APEC summit is being held in San Francisco and runs through November 17. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Munich, GERMANY — Rapid developments in artificial intelligence could help strengthen defenses against security threats in cyber space, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.



Amid growing concerns about the potentially nefarious uses of AI, Pichai said that the intelligence tools could help governments and companies speed up the detection of — and response to — threats from hostile actors.



“We are right to be worried about the impact on cybersecurity. But AI, I think actually, counterintuitively, strengthens our defense on cybersecurity,” Pichai told delegates at Munich Security Conference at the end of last week.



Cybersecurity attacks have been growing in volume and sophistication as malicious actors increasingly use them as a way to exert power and extort money.



Cyberattacks cost the global economy an estimated $8 trillion in 2023 — a sum that is set to rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025, according to cyber research firm Cybersecurity Ventures.



A January report from Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre — part of GCHQ, the country’s intelligence agency — said that AI would only increase those threats, lowering the barriers to entry for cyber hackers and enabling more malicious cyber activity, including ransomware attacks.



However, Pichai said that AI was also lowering the time needed for defenders to detect attacks and react against them. He said this would reduce what’s known as a the defenders’ dilemma, whereby cyberhackers have to be successful just once to a system whereas a defender has to be successful every time in order to protect it.



“AI disproportionately helps the people defending because you’re getting a tool which can impact it at scale versus the people who are trying to exploit,” he said.



“So, in some ways, we are winning the race,” he added.



Google last week announced a new initiative offering AI tools and infrastructure investments designed to boost online security. A free, open-source tool dubbed Magika aims to help users detect malware — malicious software — the company said in a statement, while a white paper proposes measures and research and creates guardrails around AI.



Pichai said the tools were already being put to use in the company’s products, such as Google Chrome and Gmail, as well as its internal systems.



“AI is at a definitive crossroads — one where policymakers, security professionals and civil society have the chance to finally tilt the cybersecurity balance from attackers to cyber defenders.&nbsp;



The release coincided with the signing of a pact by major companies at MSC to take “reasonable precautions” to prevent AI tools from being used to disrupt democratic votes in 2024′s bumper election year and beyond.



Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, were among the signatories to the new agreement, which includes a framework for how companies must respond to AI-generated “deepfakes” designed to deceive voters.



It comes as the internet becomes an increasingly important sphere of influence for both individuals and state-backed malicious actors.



Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday described cyberspace as “a new battlefield.”



“The technology arms race has just gone up another notch with generative AI,” she said in Munich.



A report published last week by Microsoft found that state-backed hackers from Russia, China, and Iran have been using its OpenAI large language model (LLM) to enhance their efforts to trick targets.



Russian military intelligence, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and the Chinese and North Korean governments were all said to have relied on the tools.



Mark Hughes, president of security at IT services and consulting firm DXC, told CNBC that bad actors were increasingly relying on a ChatGPT-inspired hacking tool called WormGPT to conduct tasks like reverse engineering code.



However, he said that he was also seeing “significant gains” from similar tools which help engineers to detect and reserve engineer attacks at speed.



“It gives us the ability to speed up,” Hughes said last week. “Most of the time in cyber, what you have is the time that the attackers have in advantage against you. That’s often the case in any conflict situation.



“If you can run a little bit faster than your adversary, you’re going to do better. That’s what AI is really giving us defensively at the moment,” he added.

107335558-1700223310512-gettyimages-1797445843-js1_2971_if4auhpe

AI can ‘disproportionately’ help defend against cybersecurity threats, Google CEO Sundar Pichai says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-820x461.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-456438" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4.jpeg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York City Mayor Eric Adams holds a press availability at a news conference on January 08, 2024 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday that his administration has filed a lawsuit against the parent companies of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging that their services are damaging to the mental health of young adults and children in the largest U.S. city.



The city of New York along with plaintiffs including the school district and health organizations filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles county branch of the California Superior Court because of the companies’ ties to the area, attorneys wrote in the filing.



The suit alleges that Meta, Snap, ByteDance and Google (whose parent company is Alphabet) knowingly “designed, developed, produced, operated, promoted, distributed, and marketed their platforms to attract, capture, and addict youth, with minimal parental oversight.”



The plaintiffs allege that the tech companies violated several city laws related to public nuisance and gross negligence through the design and marketing of their addictive products. They claim that New York’s school districts and various health and social services have been severely impacted by children who have suffered negative mental health consequences stemming from their use of popular social media apps.



“Over the past decade, we have seen just how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing our children to a non-stop stream of harmful content and fueling our national youth mental health crisis,” Adams said in a statement. “Today, we’re taking bold action on behalf of millions of New Yorkers to hold these companies accountable for their role in this crisis, and we’re building on our work to address this public health hazard. This lawsuit and action plan are part of a larger reckoning that will shape the lives of our young people, our city, and our society for years to come.”



A TikTok spokesperson said in an statement that the company has “industry-leading safeguards” for teens, including parental controls and features for age restrictions.



“We regularly partner with experts to understand emerging best practices, and will continue to work to keep our community safe by tackling industry-wide challenges,” the spokesperson said.



A Google representative said the allegations are “simply not true.”



“Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience online has always been core to our work,” Google said. “In collaboration with youth, mental health and parenting experts, we’ve built services and policies to give young people age-appropriate experiences, and parents robust controls.”



Meta said it’s “spent a decade working on these issues” and wants “teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online, and we have over 30 tools and features to support them and their parents.”



A Snap spokesperson said that “Snapchat was intentionally designed to be different from traditional social media,” focusing on facilitating conversations with close friends.



“Snapchat opens directly to a camera – rather than a feed of content that encourages passive scrolling – and has no traditional public likes or comments,” the Snap spokesperson said. “While we will always have more work to do, we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected, happy and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence.”



New York’s lawsuit echoes similar allegations made against Meta, Snap, TikTok and Alphabet in litigation filed in 2022 in the Northern District of California. Multiple school districts and individuals claim the companies’ products “are defective because they are designed to maximize screen time” and that they have resulted in various emotional and physical harms, including death.”



Social media companies have come under fire from lawmakers who are pushing multiple bills like the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, as part of a broader appeal for regulation. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel attended a Senate Judiciary hearing in late January and faced tough questions from a bipartisan group of lawmakers about their alleged negligence in protecting kids.



Meanwhile, a coalition of over 40 attorneys general filed a joint federal lawsuit against Meta alleging that its products are addictive and harm mental health.

107355659-1704744261664-gettyimages-1917749607-c85i5859_jdwm3op4

TikTok, Facebook and YouTube sued by New York City for alleged harm to kids’ mental health

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="524" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-820x524.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-455807" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-820x524.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-300x192.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-141x90.jpg 141w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-768x491.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-1536x981.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WPW75XVHCBK5VLWJPUHDR5PTJM-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: A women uses an iPhone mobile device as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar</figcaption></figure>



BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;AAPL.O&nbsp;has won an exemption for its iMessage and Microsoft&nbsp;MSFT.O&nbsp;for its Bing search engine from new EU tech rules after the companies convinced antitrust regulators their services are not gateways for businesses to reach end-users.



The European Union&#8217;s Digital Markets Act&nbsp;(DMA), which takes effect in three weeks&#8217; time, requires Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet&#8217;s&nbsp;GOOGL.O&nbsp;Google, Amazon&nbsp;AMZN.O, Meta Platforms&nbsp;META.O&nbsp;and ByteDance to allow third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and make it easier for people to switch to rivals.



The companies are also prohibited from favouring their services over rivals.



Following a five-month investigation, the European Commission found iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising &#8220;did not qualify as gatekeeper services,&#8221; the EU executive said in a statement.



The Commission said Apple&#8217;s App Store, iOS operating system and Safari browser will continue to be classified as gatekeepers as will Microsoft&#8217;s Linkedin social network and Windows operating system.



It made &#8220;a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders&#8221;, the Commission said without providing details of the companies&#8217; arguments.



Apple had said iMessage usage is negligible, even on its devices, compared to rival messaging services in the EU and that iMessage is not an important channel for businesses to reach users in the bloc.



&#8220;Consumers today have access to a wide variety of messaging apps, and often use many at once, which reflects how easy it is to switch between them,&#8221; an Apple spokesperson said.



Microsoft said that Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising operate as challengers in the market and are of relatively small scale, meaning they are not important gateways for business users.



&#8220;We will continue to engage with the Commission and industry at large to ensure Microsoft&#8217;s other designated platforms comply fully with the DMA,&#8221; a Microsoft spokesperson said.



Lazar Radic, an antitrust expert at the International Center for Law and Economics, said: &#8220;It is a good sign that the Commission has considered market realities, instead of just slapping the &#8216;gatekeeper&#8217; label on iMessage because it fulfills certain quantitative thresholds.



&#8220;This suggests the Commission is capable of avoiding the temptation to over-regulate.&#8221;



However, the&nbsp;Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE), whose members include Google, Meta Platforms&nbsp;META.O&nbsp;and Qualcomm&nbsp;QCOM.O,&nbsp;disagreed with the&nbsp;Commission&#8217;s decision&nbsp;to exempt&nbsp;services such as iMessage.



&#8220;Today’s surprising decision undermines the objectives of the DMA, as well as its potential to improve choice and contestability for all Europeans,&#8221; it said in a statement.



(Reporting by Bart Meijer and Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Keith Weir)

women uses her iPhone mobile device as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store in New York

Apple, Microsoft win exemptions for iMessage, Bing from EU rules

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-820x547.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-451066" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-820x547.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-135x90.jpeg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The PlayStation DualSense controller and PlayStation 5 console. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Sony is making a bold bet on Africa’s video game industry.&nbsp;



The Japanese consumer electronics and gaming giant has invested an undisclosed sum into Carry1st, a video game studio based in Cape Town, South Africa, via its Sony Innovation Fund venture arm, Carry1st told CNBC exclusively.&nbsp;



The deal is a strategic investment that will see the two companies partner on a range of commercial opportunities. For now, the two companies are in the “exploratory stages” of that partnership.



Cordel Robbin-Coker, CEO and co-founder of Carry1st, said talks with the Sony Innovation Fund began about eight to nine months ago, and that his pitch to the PlayStation console maker was that Africa is the next big market to find growth in video games.&nbsp;



“As large companies like Sony that have really strong footholds in tier-one and tier-two markets start thinking about where the next billion customers and gamers are going to come from, our pitch is that Africa is a prime market for that,” Robbin-Coker told CNBC in an interview.&nbsp;



“We believe very firmly that there is an incredibly underrated console opportunity in Africa,” Robbin-Coker said, citing countries like Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria as places where console adoption is rising a lot.&nbsp;



Sony is coming into an emerging gaming market with blistering growth potential. Sub-Saharan Africa’s gaming industry is expected to generate over $1 billion for the first time in 2024, according to research from Carry1st and venture capital firm Konvoy. 



Many gamers in Africa are buying consoles on “gray” markets — in other words, from vendors who’ve imported consoles from overseas to resell them locally, Robbin-Coker added.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-playstation-in-africa-nbsp"><a></a>Expanding PlayStation in Africa&nbsp;</h2>



One aspect of Carry1st’s partnership with Sony was about helping the games and entertainment giant expand PlayStation’s footprint in Africa. 



Sony forecast it would sell a record 25 million PlayStation 5 units in its 2023 fiscal year, which would mark the best year for any PlayStation console in history. The PS5 was initially blighted by shortages due to a scarcity of chips and supply chain disruptions.



Sony’s bet with its stake in Carry1st is that Africa will be the next major market to drive growth in PS5 sales.



“Our hope is that we can help [Sony] to expand their reach of PlayStation in the region and support them in a range of ways, including broader go-to-market strategies, as well as digital payments,”&nbsp;Robbin-Coker told CNBC.



He noted Carry1st could take advantage of the changing console business model, where sales have gone from primarily in-store payments for physical consoles and games to a more online experience marked by digital downloads, free-to-play games, and in-app purchases.&nbsp;



Carry1st’s localized payment service Pay1st allows African gamers to buy games using local infrastructure, bank accounts, and payment methods including M-Pesa and mobile wallets. Game makers can monetize their games on Carry1st, the company’s online marketplace for games and add-on content.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>Original games in the pipeline&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Carry1st, founded in 2018, specializes in developing mainly social and casual puzzle-based mobile games for an African audience.  



Carry1st currently only makes and scales games for other clients, like Activision. But the company is now planning to develop its own original titles this year, with development underway on three new games.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Little is known about the original games for now, but Robbin-Coker says he is “very confident” about the road map for Carry1st’s original titles, and that he “firmly believes” the company is on track to launch its debut first-party game sometime in 2024.&nbsp;



Carry1st is still an early-stage startup, but its growth has been on a tear in recent years. Carry1st says its revenues climbed nearly ninefold between 2021 and 2023. Carry1st said it was unable to give a fuller picture of its financials given the sensitivity of the numbers.&nbsp;



Carry1st works with the likes of Activision, Supercell and Riot Games to bring Western game franchises like “Call of Duty: Mobile” and “Valorant” to Africa.&nbsp;



The company is behind the mobile games “Mancala Adventures,” “SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off” — made in partnership with Nickelodeon — “Ludo Blitz” and “Mine Rescue.”&nbsp;



Sony’s investment in Carry1st marks the first financial commitment of its new flagship African venture fund, Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, which launched in October 2023 to invest in early-stage startups in Africa’s entertainment industry.&nbsp;



Sony Ventures Corporate, Sony’s venture arm, allocated an initial $10 million to its Africa fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Carry1st’s latest deal adds to its list of venture backers, with another top name on the cap table. Andreessen Horowitz, Bitkraft Ventures, Google, Riot Games, and rapper Nas have so far backed the company with $60 million of funding to date.&nbsp;

107283162-1691491519512-gettyimages-1580920005-porzycki-playstat230806_nph3Q

Sony is making a bold bet on an African gaming startup to boost PlayStation’s reach in the continent

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="548" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-820x548.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-442871" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-820x548.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FSG7ZJLZSVPYDIAQ4I25PVA7XY-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Italy&#8217;s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni holds her end-of-year press conference in Rome, Italy, January 4, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane</figcaption></figure>



ROME, Jan 4 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Supporting African development and tackling the dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI) will be two key themes for Italy during its one-year presidency of the Group of Seven, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.



Speaking at a wide-ranging news conference, Meloni added that Italy would maintain its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and warned that a further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could have &#8220;unimaginable consequences&#8221;.



Italy took over the rotating presidency of the G7, which includes the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Britain and Italy, at the start of January.



It will host numerous ministerial meetings throughout the year, including a leaders&#8217; summit in June. However, Meloni said she wanted to hold a special session before June focused on AI.



&#8220;I am hugely concerned about the impact (of AI) on the labour market,&#8221; she told the news conference to mark the end of the year, held over from last month when she was unwell.



&#8220;Today we are faced with a revolution where (human) intellect is in danger of being replaced.&#8221;



She told reporters that supporting African development would also be a central theme of her G7, saying it was vital to boost local economies and living standards to dissuade would-be migrants from heading to Europe.



&#8220;What I think needs to be done in Africa is not charity. What needs to be done in Africa is to build cooperation and serious strategic relationships as equals not predators. What needs to be done in Africa is to defend the right not to have to emigrate &#8230; and this is done with investments and a strategy.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-war-on-the-agenda">WAR ON THE AGENDA</h2>



Among other issues likely to dominate Italy&#8217;s presidency is the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.



Meloni called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and said that a more permanent solution needed to be found for the Palestinian issue.



&#8220;I believe&#8230;it&#8217;s an error to say &#8216;First let&#8217;s destroy Hamas and then we&#8217;ll talk about it&#8217;,&#8221; Meloni said.



&#8220;One of the best ways of calling the bluff of Hamas, which has no interest in the Palestinian cause, is to work for a structural solution of the Palestinian question,&#8221; she added, saying the European Union should play a more prominent role in diplomatic initiatives.



Meloni, who took power in October 2022 as Italy&#8217;s first woman prime minister, said she believed that the West should continue to supply arms and material support to Kyiv.



&#8220;The only way to reach any kind of diplomatic solution in Ukraine, any kind of negotiation, is to maintain the balance between forces on the ground.&#8221;



(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni and Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Crispian Balmer and Keith Weir; Editing by)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni holds her end-of-year press conference in Rome

Italy to put Africa development, AI at heart of its G7 presidency

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-436426" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-969437892-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the year 2024 promises to be a pivotal moment for the tech industry. As we step into this era of innovation and digital transformation, it&#8217;s essential to take a closer look at the top jobs that are driving this technological revolution. These roles not only define the future of the industry but also offer exciting career opportunities for those who are passionate about shaping the world through technology. From software engineering to blockchain expertise, these professionals are the architects of our digital future.



1. Software Engineer



Highly sought-after, highly-paid; a software engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software applications, systems, and programs. The professional uses principles of computer science, engineering, mathematics, and project management to create solutions that meet specific requirements or solve problems.



2. AI/ML Engineer



There’s a growing trend of generative AI applications, which requires skills from an AI/ML engineer to develop, implement, and maintain AI and machine learning solutions. Their key focus is to create algorithms, models, and systems that enable computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data without explicit programming.



3. Data Scientist



Over the years, data scientists have become more in-demand as big data has become key to decision making. They gather, analyse, interpret, and draw insights from large amounts of data, which can be used for stats, ML, or programming. Data scientists also uncover patterns, trends, and valuable information from complex datasets.



4. Cybersecurity Engineer



As technology increasingly becomes integrated into our lives, the need to protect digital assets, sensitive information, networks, and systems from cyber threats becomes more critical. A cybersecurity engineer designs, implements, and maintains security measures to protect an organisation.&nbsp;



5. Project Management



According to the Project Management Institute, the global economy needs <a href="https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/talent-gap-2021">25 million</a> new project professionals by 2030. An IT project manager plans, executes, and completes projects within an organisation, relating to infrastructure, software development, system upgrades, network installations, and anything else tech related.



6. Full-Stack Developer



A full-stack developer is a software engineer who works on both the front-end and back-end of web development, which requires a broad skillset. They handle all aspects of software development, including designing user interfaces, building databases, creating server-side logic, and ensuring the overall functionality of web applications.



7. Cloud Solutions Architect



According to <a href="https://www.cloudwards.net/cloud-computing-statistics/">Cloudwards</a>, 94% of enterprises globally make use of the cloud, and over 100 zettabytes (one zettabyte is a billion terabytes) will be stored in the cloud by 2025. A cloud solutions architect designs, develops, and deploys cloud computing solutions and architectures that is scalable, secure, and efficient to meet an organisation’s needs.



8. Blockchain Engineer



Blockchain technology has revolutionised the financial landscape and as a result, the demand for blockchain engineers has skyrocketed. It entails designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining blockchain-based solutions, which is a decentralised and distributed ledger system that securely records transactions across a network of computers.&nbsp;



9. Product Manager



Given the demand for software engineers and full-stack developers, naturally, product managers are in demand. A product manager overseas everything from development, strategy, and lifecycle of IT products and services. They focus on creating and enhancing products to meet the demands of the market to bring value to users.



10. UX Designer



There will always be a need for a good end-user experience (UX) and thus, UX designers will always be in demand. The key focus area for this role is to enhance the user’s overall experience when interacting with systems, services, or products to ultimately deliver intuitive and enjoyable user experiences for the target audience.

Young businesswoman looking at smartphone in spaceship like corridor

The Top 10 Technology Jobs In 2024

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424605" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/XYLRJGDDEBIFFEYH3ILGDOLHJM-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: A man counts Nigerian naira notes in a market place as people struggle with the economic hardship and cashflow problems ahead of Nigeria&#8217;s Presidential elections, in Yola, Nigeria, February 22, 2023. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



In a <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/media/6341841699112/expanding-africas-digital-payments-systems-/">recent interview</a> with CNBC Africa, Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO of AfricaNenda, discussed the challenges and opportunities for expanding Africa&#8217;s digital payments systems to promote financial inclusion. While progress has been made in reducing the number of financially excluded individuals, Dr. Ochola emphasized the need to accelerate efforts to onboard the remaining 350 million people.



Digital public infrastructure, comprising data, payments, and digital ID systems, is a critical component of Africa&#8217;s financial inclusion agenda, according to Dr. Ochola. By using open-source technology, African countries can build cost-effective payment systems, as demonstrated by Brazil&#8217;s success with its PICS system. However, the infrastructure required for these systems is still expensive, and alternative models, such as partnerships and data embassies, may be necessary.



Addressing the gender gap in access to financial products is another crucial aspect of expanding Africa&#8217;s digital payments systems. Dr. Ochola highlighted that 60% of the 400 million financially excluded Africans are women. To bridge this gap, solutions need to be designed with a gender lens, considering factors like onboarding, product design, and accessibility. Collecting and disaggregating data on transactions and usage by women is also essential for data-driven policy decisions.



Creating an enabling environment for the uptake and rollout of digital public infrastructure strategies requires several key actions, according to Dr. Ochola. First, there is a need for harmonization of policies at a pan-African level, which can then be implemented at regional and national levels. Second, partnerships and cost-effective infrastructure models are essential to reduce the expenses associated with building and maintaining necessary infrastructure. Finally, there is a need for upskilling developers and system integrators to harness Africa&#8217;s expertise in programming and technology development.



Ensuring the safety and security of digital payments is paramount to build confidence among users. Dr. Ochola mentioned that African Enda, in collaboration with partners, is piloting various solutions, including fraud management systems. The goal is to provide cost-effective tools to fintechs and create a local ecosystem that can serve customers affordably. By addressing concerns around cybersecurity and integrity, more individuals who are currently excluded due to cost constraints can be brought into the digital payments space.



Expanding Africa&#8217;s digital payments systems to promote financial inclusion requires focusing on onboarding the financially excluded, leveraging digital public infrastructure, addressing the gender gap, creating an enabling environment, and ensuring the safety and security of digital payments. By taking these steps, Africa can scale up the adoption of financial payment systems and drive economic growth and development across the region.

FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows U.S. dollars and Euro banknotes

Expanding Africa’s digital payments systems

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-396212" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1221966026-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cell Tower | (Photo by Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Pan African Towers, a leading provider of telecom infrastructure in Africa, h<a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/media/6341839886112/pan-african-towers-partners-dpi-verod-capital-for-growth/">as announced a strategic investment from Development Partners International (DPI) and Verod Capital.</a>



 The investment will serve as a launch pad for the next phase of Pan African Towers&#8217; strategy and will help accelerate the Nigerian telecommunications market.



In an interview with CNBC Africa, Azeez Amida, the CEO of Pan African Towers, discussed the significance of this partnership and how it fits into the company&#8217;s overall strategy. Amida emphasized that the investment was long overdue and would enable Pan African Towers to take advantage of the current activity in the telecom sector.



When asked about the attractiveness of the Nigerian market for digital infrastructure, Amida pointed out that Nigeria has a friendly regulatory environment, thanks to the efforts of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He believes that the boxes are already ticked in terms of the regulatory and business environment, and that Nigeria is a country with a large population and a strong demand for telecom services.



Amida sees the opportunity in the telecom infrastructure space in Nigeria, where there is a significant gap between the number of towers currently in operation and the desired number. According to the NCC, there are currently over 41,000 towers in Nigeria supporting 3G and 4G technology, but the Ministry of Commerce aims to increase that number to 80,000. Pan African Towers plans to close that gap and play for the excess capacity in the industry.



The company&#8217;s strategy is to aggressively roll out new towers, triple its tower count in the coming years, and concentrate its portfolio in areas where it is strongest. Pan African Towers is also open to acquisitions and partnerships, and will assess the demands of mobile network operators (MNOs) in order to deliver value to its customers and other players in the telecom sector.



While Nigeria is currently the company&#8217;s only market, Pan African Towers is keeping an open mind about expanding into other African markets. However, for now, the focus is on growing its presence in Nigeria. Amida expressed optimism about the outlook for the market, citing the industry&#8217;s contribution to the country&#8217;s GDP and the upcoming technological advancements, such as 5G.



Overall, Pan African Towers is excited about the Nigerian market due to its large population, technological advancements, and the role it plays as a bridge in the economy. The company recognizes the importance of providing the right telecom services to enable other sectors, such as banking, to thrive.



The investment from DPI and Verod Capital will undoubtedly propel Pan African Towers forward and help it capitalize on the opportunities in the Nigerian telecom sector. With its aggressive expansion plans, the company is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure and support the development of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Radio mast seen destroyed by a fire outbreak.Last night, a

Pan African Towers Partners DPI, Verod Capital for Growth

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-820x461.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-429467" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam Altman (L), US entrepreneur, investor, programmer, and founder and CEO of artificial intelligence company OpenAI, and the company’s co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, speak together at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv on June 5, 2023. Jack Guez | Afp | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



After several days of crisis and tumult, Sam Altman has returned as the CEO of OpenAI. Three new board members have replaced the previous leadership that ousted Altman.



OpenAI’s new board doesn’t appear to be fully built. Negotiations are reportedly underway to install representation from Microsoft, which has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI, or other major investors.



There’s a notable change in the board’s experience. The previous board included academics and researchers, but OpenAI’s new directors have extensive backgrounds in business and technology.



Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview with CNBC on Monday that governance at OpenAI needed to change. Nadella said Wednesday he is “encouraged” by the changes to the company’s board, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.



“We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance,” he said.



Microsoft, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital and Tiger Global are among the OpenAI investors that lack representation on the board but had been pushing to reinstate Altman, as CNBC previously reported.



Here’s who’s in, who’s out, and what the changes may mean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>Here are the newest members of OpenAI’s board</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bret-taylor-board-chair">Bret Taylor, board chair</h3>



Bret Taylor is currently a board member at the e-commerce platform Shopify. He’s also the former co-CEO of Salesforce and was Twitter’s final board chair prior to Elon Musk’s acquisition of the social media platform.



Taylor co-founded Quip, a collaboration platform that was acquired by Salesforce in 2016. That acquisition propelled him into the most senior ranks of the enterprise software company, where he would eventually take the co-CEO title in 2021. Taylor left Salesforce in January.



The executive launched his own artificial intelligence venture alongside a former Google executive in February. It isn’t clear whether Taylor’s involvement with his own AI startup will cease with his appointment to lead OpenAI’s board. 



Taylor did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Larry Summers</h3>



Larry Summers served as Treasury secretary during the Clinton administration and was the president of Harvard University. An economist by training, Summers also led the Obama administration’s National Economic Council during the Global Financial Crisis.&nbsp;



His connections in Washington could be valuable for OpenAI as the company faces continued regulatory scrutiny from lawmakers.&nbsp;



In December, Summers called OpenAI’s popular generative chatbot ChatGPT a “profound thing for humanity” during an interview with Bloomberg. He compared the advent of the technology to the introduction of the printing press and electricity. 



“This could be the most important general-purpose technology since the wheel or fire,” Summers said.&nbsp;



Summers also serves on the board of Block, a financial technology company led by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, and on the board of Skillsoft, an educational technology company. 



Summers stepped down in 2006 from Harvard’s presidency following backlash on campus about comments he made on gender representation in STEM fields at a diversity conference. Summers later apologized for the remarks, saying in a 2005 letter that he was “wrong to have spoken in a way that has resulted in an unintended signal of discouragement to talented girls and women.”



A representative for Summers declined to comment.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Adam D’Angelo</h3>



Adam D’Angelo is the only member of OpenAI’s previous board who still holds a seat. He joined in 2018 and reportedly played a major role in the negotiations that brought Altman back to the helm. 



D’Angelo is the CEO of Quora, a platform where users can publicly ask and answer questions. He is also developing an AI chat platform called Poe, which he announced in February. He spent several years at Meta, formerly known as Facebook, and served as CTO from 2006 to 2008.



He has not commented publicly since Altman’s ouster Friday, but he retweeted a post on X that suggested his motives were not “crazy” or “vindictive.” OpenAI’s board fired Altman on Friday after determining he was “not consistently candid in his communications,” but its members never elaborated further.&nbsp;



D’Angelo did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here’s who’s no longer on OpenAI’s board </h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Helen Toner</h3>



Helen Toner is a researcher and director of strategy and foundational research grants at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Toner was a former employee at Open Philanthropy, serving as an advisor on AI policy.&nbsp;



Toner offered what could be seen as public criticism of OpenAI in an October paper, a decision with which Altman reportedly took issue. The paper suggested that OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT undermined the company’s efforts to develop AI safely, by spurring other tech companies into launching their own competing chatbots and forcing them to “accelerate or circumvent internal safety and ethics review processes.”



She was one of the directors involved in pushing Altman out. She has not responded to CNBC’s previous attempts to contact her.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tasha McCauley</h3>



Tasha McCauley joined OpenAI’s board in 2018. She is an adjunct senior management scientist at Rand Corporation, and formerly served as the CEO of GeoSim Systems, which developed an automated city modeling system.&nbsp;



She is married to actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who announced the union in 2015. 



McCauley has not commented publicly since Altman’s firing Friday. She did not respond to CNBC’s requests for comment. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ilya Sutskever</h3>



Ilya Sutskever co-founded OpenAI and serves as its chief scientist. He also aligned himself, for a time, with the board members who ousted Altman.



Sutskever is the author or co-author of more than 130 research papers on artificial intelligence, neural networks, and generative AI, according to his Google Scholar profile. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Toronto and had a brief post-doctoral stint at Stanford, according to his LinkedIn profile.



Sutskever co-led OpenAI alongside president Greg Brockman, an idea that Altman at the time described as “non-traditional.” Sutskever is close with Brockman and officiated his wedding at OpenAI headquarters in 2019. 



A personal plea from Brockman’s wife reportedly helped bring Sutskever back into Altman’s camp. Sutskever was one of the first signatories on a letter signed by the vast majority of OpenAI employees that demanded the board’s resignation over the weekend. He repudiated his support for the board in a post on X.



Despite his about-face, Sutskever was removed from the board. His status as an OpenAI executive does not appear to have changed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s next?</h2>



Semafor reported that Altman had been pushing for months to add more directors at OpenAI, and reports suggest it’s unlikely that OpenAI’s board will remain this small.



Bloomberg said Thursday that among the changes Microsoft wanted was a larger and more experienced board. The board is currently smaller, and it’s unclear what, if any, kind of other protections or role on the board Microsoft might get.



The composition of the new board — experienced technology and business executives — suggests that OpenAI may be transforming into a more conventional Silicon Valley startup on paper, not just in spirit.



The new governance, however, does not change the fact that OpenAI remains a “capped-profit” entity owned by a nonprofit, with excess profits continuing to flow up to that nonprofit.&nbsp;

107337930-1700665715409-gettyimages-1258459514-AFP_33GZ4VK

Sam Altman’s back. Here’s who’s on the new OpenAI board and who’s out

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-820x461.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-429142" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">BARCELONA, SPAIN &#8211; MARCH 01: A view of the MasterCard company logo on their stand during the Mobile World Congress on March 1, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros Garcia/Corbis via Getty Images) Joan Cros Garcia &#8211; Corbis | Corbis News | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Mastercard is doubling down on its efforts to detect and prevent fraud that’s routed through cryptocurrency exchanges.



The company told CNBC exclusively that it’s partnered with Feedzai, a regulatory technology platform that aims to combat money laundering and financial scams online using artificial intelligence.



Through the partnership, Feedzai will integrate directly with Mastercard’s CipherTrace Armada platform, which is used to help banks monitor transactions from over 6,000 crypto exchanges for fraud, money laundering and other suspicious activity.



CipherTrace Armada will be embedded directly in Feedzai’s technology, rather than accessed through an API, or application programming interface, with Feedzai “inhaling” the data to enable real-time alerts about suspicious crypto transactions.



“This will&nbsp;increase fraud detection by protecting unwary consumers, but will also detect potential money laundering activity and mule accounts,” Feedzai CEO and co-founder Nuno Sebastio told CNBC. Mule accounts are accounts of users that fraudsters exploit to launder their ill-gotten funds.



An estimated 40% of scam transactions exit directly from a bank account to a crypto exchange today, according to Feedzai data.



The tie-up will also give Mastercard access to Feedzai’s artificial intelligence smarts. Feedzai says its software can identify and block suspicious transactions in a matter of nanoseconds — but also recognize transactions that are legitimate.



Feedzai’s RiskOps platform analyzes transactions worth over $1.7 trillion annually. Co-headquartered in Coimbra, in Portugal, and San Mateo, California, in Silicon Valley, the firm holds close to 100 patents and secures an average of 10 patents per year to safeguard its technology.&nbsp;



“Numerous banks that believe they are preventing illegitimate cryptocurrency transactions are, in fact, only blocking transactions involving the widely recognised and regulated entities within the crypto space and omitting the rest,” Sebastio said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crypto-entering-the-mainstream"><a></a>Crypto entering the mainstream?</h2>



The move marks a push from Mastercard into the market for legitimizing crypto as a mainstream financial asset that can be subjected to the same rules and compliance frameworks as traditional assets.



Banks and other large financial institutions have shown increased interest in experimenting with crypto in their products and services. But the next step, deploying commercially available crypto products as part of their core offerings, has proven more elusive.



Banks have been wary of digital assets’ lack of comprehensive regulations and applications in fraud and scams.



Last year, the amount of theft and scams led to a global increase of 79% in crypto-related losses from the previous year, according to data from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. Illicit addresses received $14 billion in 2022 year-over-year, almost twice what they received in 2020.



Mastercard’s vast network is used by banking institutions worldwide to process and monetize payments.



The company competes with fellow payments giant Visa, which is also in the business of supporting card payments, among other fintech services.



In the U.K., banks have shown hesitation when it comes to being associated with crypto. Several larger lenders have halted transactions with crypto exchanges on their networks, citing the risk of fraud.&nbsp;



Top banks including JPMorgan, NatWest, and HSBC have restricted or blocked crypto transactions. This led to criticisms from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who said the development jarred with the U.K.’s ambition to become a global “Web3” hub.



Ajay Bhalla, president of cyber and intelligence solutions for Mastercard, told CNBC that the “interconnectedness of life today and increasing digital penetration of finance has brought risk as well as opportunity.”



“Our latest data shows fraud on transactions where people are buying crypto is 5 times higher than regular fiat transactions,” Bhalla said via email, adding that, with Mastercard’s new tie-up with Feedzai, financial institutions will “be able to tell good transactions from bad.”



The partnership builds on Mastercard’s deal to acquire U.S. blockchain sleutching firm CipherTrace. Mastercard bought CipherTrace in 2021, and the following year launched its first product using the firm’s technology, called CryptoSecure, to analyze and block transactions from fraud-prone crypto exchanges.

107335423-1700186666155-gettyimages-647053464-_jcg2290

Mastercard doubles down on effort to detect and tackle crypto fraud with AI tie-up

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="460" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64-820x460.png" alt="" class="wp-image-429048" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64-820x460.png 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64-300x168.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64-160x90.png 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64-768x430.png 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0xhusky_food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64.png 1456w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lagos is one of the most congested cities in the world. 40 percent of cars in Nigeria are registered in Lagos. Commuters spend at least three hours in traffic. | Image: Midjourney</figcaption></figure>



Lagos, a dynamic urban hub celebrated for its lively markets and diverse culinary tapestry, finds itself at the forefront of a technological revolution in the food industry. As the city undergoes a metamorphosis, so does its gastronomic landscape, witnessing the ascendancy of a vibrant food-tech scene that is reshaping the dining experience for Lagosians.



A standout phenomenon is the surge of food delivery platforms seamlessly linking eager consumers with a plethora of culinary delights. Whether craving traditional Nigerian fare or international flavors, these platforms provide a hassle-free means for Lagosians to relish their preferred dishes in the comfort of their homes or offices. Beyond catering to the city&#8217;s fast-paced lifestyle, this trend bolsters local eateries, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between consumers and businesses.



According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Lagos’ residents splurged N830 billion ($2 billion) on dining out in 2019, constituting 34% of their total food expenditure. Additionally, Jumia Food&#8217;s 2020 Nigeria Food Index Report identifies Lagos as one of the frontrunners in food order volume.



A significant facet of Lagos&#8217; food-tech landscape lies in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. Innovation is propelled by tech-savvy startups utilizing cutting-edge solutions to elevate the dining experience. The prevalence of smart menu systems and mobile ordering applications is on the rise, empowering diners to peruse menus, tailor orders, and facilitate payments, all through the convenience of their smartphones.



QSR Magazine notes that digital ordering and delivery have outpaced dine-in traffic, growing at 300% since 2014.



In tandem, the online food delivery market in Nigeria surged to $834.7 million in 2022, with projections from the International Market Analysis Research and Consulting (IMARC) Group foreseeing a substantial leap to $1,719.4 million by 2028, reflecting an impressive growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2% during 2023-2028.







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-homemade-by-eden-life-revolutionizing-culinary-experiences-through-tech">Homemade By Eden Life: Revolutionizing Culinary Experiences Through Tech</h2>



Eden Life, a tech startup founded in 2019 boasting $1.4 million in investor backing, recently unveiled Homemade by Eden Life, a home service solution designed to facilitate healthy living.



The brainchild of ex-Andela staffers Nadayar Enegesi, Prosper Otemuyiwa, and Silm Momoh, Eden Life secured funding from investors like EXPERT DOJO, Goodwater Capital, Village Global, and Google for Startups Accelerator: Black founders, Future Africa, Samurai Incubate, and Village Global.



In an interview with CNBC Africa, Firi Adoki, Eden Life&#8217;s food production lead, explains the strategic use of technology that propels Homemade to the forefront of the market in Lagos.



Adoki emphasizes the pivotal role of web and mobile apps: &#8220;Our apps enable us to move closer to our customers, offering on-demand or subscription services seamlessly.&#8221; The mobile app not only facilitates easy ordering but also sends timely reminders to subscription users, ensuring a worry-free experience, even for the busiest individuals.



One of Homemade&#8217;s key differentiators, according to Adoki, is its commitment to affordability without compromising on quality. She explains, &#8220;We offer a rotating menu with up to 40 meal combinations weekly, spanning diverse food categories. Our users enjoy this variety without the premium price tag attached elsewhere.&#8221; Additionally, Homemade provides nutritional information for each meal, empowering users to make informed choices aligned with their health goals, a service that usually comes at a premium but is offered for free by Homemade.



For busy professionals in cities like Lagos, Homemade&#8217;s customized subscription model becomes a culinary lifesaver. Adoki notes, &#8220;Users can explore a variety of home-cooked meals without juggling multiple service providers—a pain point for many with hectic schedules.&#8221;



To navigate industry challenges, Homemade continually refines its operations. Adoki states, &#8220;We focus on strengthening backend operations, ensuring proximity to quality suppliers to maintain affordability.&#8221; The company stays ahead by understanding market trends, implementing strategic buying, and unveiling innovative products like the recent beta launch for individuals with diabetes, offering consultation, meal plans, and delivery services tailored to their needs.



Looking to the future, Adoki envisions Homemade as a trailblazer in the intersection of culinary and technology. &#8220;We aim to release features that enhance user experiences across our diverse services, from events catering to office and individual subscriptions.&#8221; Homemade also plans to expand its distribution models to reach untapped audiences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chowdeck-reengineering-food-delivery-in-lagos-bustling-business-landscape">Chowdeck: Reengineering Food Delivery In Lagos&#8217; Bustling Business Landscape</h2>



Founded in October 2021 and headquartered in Lagos, Chowdeck emerged as a leading on-demand food delivery service and marketplace. This innovative platform connects customers with their favorite meals from a diverse array of restaurants, offering a delivery experience in under 30 minutes.



Co-founded by Femi Aluko, former Principal Engineer at Paystack, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck&#8217;s leadership team brings a wealth of experience from the realms of African fintech and engineering.



At the core of Chowdeck&#8217;s mission is the empowerment of African restaurants to efficiently reach customers anytime, anywhere. The platform extends support to its restaurant partners, fostering growth that resonates in the success stories of the majority of establishments within its network while reporting the delivery of over 80,000 meals in the last six months across two major cities in Lagos.



“We are greatly impressed by Chowdeck’s rapid industry growth and its well-established reputation for consistently delivering exceptional customer experiences. As a customer-focused brand, it is crucial for us to align with partners who prioritize the customer at the core of their operations, particularly in addressing the last mile challenge,” says Kofi Abunu, managing director of Food Concepts Plc (owners of Chicken Republic), during the announcement of the restaurant’s integration into Chowdeck&#8217;s ecosystem as a new partner.



Chowdeck reportedly processes more than 800 deliveries daily with $156,000 monthly gross merchandise value (GMV) and $35,000 monthly revenue. Additionally, the startup is reportedly growing 42% month-over-month.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foodcourt-revolutionizing-lagos-culinary-landscape-through-virtual-restaurants">FoodCourt: Revolutionizing Lagos’ Culinary Landscape Through Virtual Restaurants</h2>



FoodCourt, formerly known as CoKitchen, founded in 2021, positions itself as a virtual restaurant company, having delivered over 350,000 meals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="509" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt-820x509.png" alt="" class="wp-image-429047" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt-820x509.png 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt-300x186.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt-145x90.png 145w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt-768x477.png 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/foodcourt.png 1259w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Food Court Website | Image: Food Court</figcaption></figure>



Co-founded by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene with a mission to enhance accessibility to high-quality food and convenient goods, FoodCourt employs virtual restaurants and dark stores to address the unique challenges of the on-demand food delivery market.



“Consumer behavior is changing in Africa, and despite the rise of food delivery aggregator apps, there is still a massive amount of inefficiency in the food delivery space. We realized that all customers really wanted was good food and a seamless ordering experience,” Nneji, FoodCourt’s co-founder and CEO told Disrupt Africa.



Distinguishing itself by adopting a comprehensive full-stack approach, FoodCourt takes control of various aspects of the value chain, including technology, production, and delivery.



Bootstrapped initially, the startup participated in Y Combinator’s S22 Batch shortly after its launch, and since then has seen significant uptake. Around 65% of its monthly active users order at least twice a month, and some as much as 30 times in a single month. The startup reported revenues of $222,000 in August 2022.

food_delivery_in_lagos_nigeria_hper_realistic_bb57b045-2d79-4b46-a6d6-0587d8007a64

Feeding The Future: Tech Innovations In Lagos’ Culinary Sector

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn-820x462.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-428762" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn.jpeg 929w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elon Musk announced his new company xAI which he says has the goal to understand the true nature of the universe.  Jaap Arriens | Nurphoto | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



Meet Grok, the first technology out of Elon Musk’s new AI company, xAI.



Grok, the company said, is modeled on “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It is supposed to have “a bit of wit,” “a rebellious streak” and it should answer the “spicy questions” that other AI might dodge, according to a Saturday statement from xAI.



Leading up to the release, Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, an example of Grok responding to a request for a step-by-step cocaine recipe.



“Oh sure!” Grok responded. “Just a moment while I pull up the recipe for homemade cocaine. You know, because I’m totally going to help you with that.” 



Grok also has access to data from X, which xAI said will give it a leg-up. Musk, on Sunday, posted a side-by-side comparison of Grok answering a question versus another AI bot, which he said had less current information.



Still, xAI hedged in its statement, as with any Large Language Model, or LLM, Grok “can still generate false or contradictory information.”



The prototype is in its early beta phase, only two months in training and is available to a select number of users to test out before the company releases it more widely. Users can sign up for a waitlist for a chance to use the bot. Eventually, Musk said on X, Grok will be a feature of X Premium+, which costs $16 per month.



The Tesla and Space X CEO appears to be positioning xAI as a challenger to companies like OpenAI, Inflection and Anthropic.



On an initial round of tests based on middle school math problems and Python coding tasks, the company said that Grok surpassed “all other models in its compute class, including ChatGPT-3.5 and Inflection-1.” It was outperformed by bots with larger data troves.



“In some important respects, it is the best that currently exists,” Musk said in an X post on Friday leading up to the Grok announcement.



Grok is a term coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 science fiction novel “Stranger in a Strange Land.” In the book, ‘grok’ is a Martian term with no direct Earthling translation. Critics have debated the word’s exact definition but have settled on some version of having very deep empathy or intuition with something. Merriam-Webster defines it simply as a transitive verb that means “to understand profoundly and intuitively.”



xAI launched in July with a team stacked with former employees of OpenAI, DeepMind and more. It is still hiring for several roles.



The company’s self-stated mandate is to build artificial intelligence “to advance our collective understanding of the universe.” Musk has previously said that he believes today’s AI makers are bending too far toward “politically correct” systems. xAI’s mission, it said, is to create AI for people of all backgrounds and political views.



Grok is said to be a means of testing that AI approach “in public.”

107271046-1689253889759-gettyimages-1529571780-arriens-elonmusk230713_npTNn

Elon Musk debuts ‘Grok’ AI bot to rival ChatGPT, others

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT-820x462.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-428722" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/107327057-1698855994841-gettyimages-1757274099-UK_AI_SUMMIT.jpeg 929w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., at the AI Safety Summit 2023 at Bletchley Park in Bletchley, UK, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Chris J. Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



LONDON — Elon Musk thinks that artificial intelligence could eventually put everyone out of a job.



The billionaire technology leader, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, X, the company formerly known as Twitter, and the newly formed AI startup xAI, said late Thursday that AI will have the potential to become the “most disruptive force in history.”



“We will have something that is, for the first time smarter than the smartest human,” Musk said at an event at Lancaster House, an official U.K. government residence.



“It’s hard to say exactly what that moment is, but there will come a point where no job is needed,” Musk continued, speaking alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “You can have a job if you wanted to have a job for personal satisfaction. But the AI would be able to do everything.” 



“I don’t know if that makes people comfortable or uncomfortable,” Musk joked, to which the audience laughed.&nbsp;



“If you wish for a magic genie, that gives you any wish you want, and there’s no limit. You don’t have those three wish limits nonsense, it’s both good and bad. One of the challenges in the future will be how do we find meaning in life.”



Musk has on multiple occasions warned of the threats that AI poses to humanity, having once said it could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons. He was one of numerous tech leaders who urged for a pause to development of AI more advanced than OpenAI’s GPT-4 software in a widely-cited open letter released earlier this year.



Other tech leaders disagree with that view, including Palantir’s boss Alex Karp. Speaking to BBC Radio in June, Karp said he is of the view that “many of the people asking for a pause, are asking for a pause because they have no product.”



Musk’s comments Thursday follow the conclusion to a landmark summit in Bletchley Park, England, where world leaders agreed to a global communique on AI that saw them find common ground on the risks the technology poses to humanity.



Technologists and political leaders used the summit to warn of the existential threats that AI poses, focusing on some of the possible doomsday scenarios that could be formed with the invention of a hypothetical superintelligence.



The summit saw the U.S. and China, two countries clashing the most tensely over technology, agree to find global consensus on how to tackle some of the most complex questions around AI, including how to develop it safely and regulate it.

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