There have been calls for new AI regulations early in the industry’s lifecycle, which some lawmakers see as a welcome contrast to the social media industry that has resisted regulation. As calls for AI regulations intensify, some of the most influential voices in the tech industry are meeting with the US Senate this Wednesday morning as lawmakers prepare to draw up legislation regulating the fast-moving artificial intelligence industry. CNN reports that among those attending the in-person event will be the CEOs of Anthropic, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Palantir and X, the company formerly known as Twitter. The guest…
Author: DigitalTimesNG
In response to a historic commitment from the Group of 20 Leaders to halve the digital gender gap by 2030, USAID is also launching the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative. USAID has launched the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative, following the G20’s commitment to halve the digital gender gap by 2030. USAID is the United States Agency for International Development primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. This initiative brings together governments, private sector companies, foundations, civil society, and multilateral organisations to accelerate progress in closing the gender digital divide. Governments and organisations worldwide have…
Google.org is investing $20 million in the Digital Futures Project and a fund to promote responsible AI development. This initiative aims to answer crucial questions about AI’s impact on global security, labor markets, and more. Google.org, the charitable arm of Google, is allocating $20 million towards the advancement of responsible AI development through the Digital Futures Project and an associated fund, according to a report by DigWatch. This endeavour is focused on tackling critical societal inquiries related to AI’s influence on global security, labour markets, and its role in enhancing productivity and economic growth for governments. The primary objectives of…
PORS makes complaint resolution process easier and faster The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sanusi Garba on Monday, unveiled an app, Power Outage Reporting System (PORS), which will make the complaint resolution process easier and faster in the country. Garba who tasked all the electricity consumers to key into the initiative, while launching the online app in Abuja, added that the PORS innovation can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play store, disclosing that its operations are so simple that all cadres of customers can perform it. He said that the technology is packaged to facilitate the resolution…
The illegal loan apps were delisted for harassing Nigerians 37 more illegal loan apps were on Monday, delisted by the Federal Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The number of loan apps with conditional approval declined to 38 from 40, and the number of apps on the commission’s watchlist grew to 56 from 20. Meanwhile, the approved digital money lending (DML) list increased to 164 from 154. The PUNCH had on August 20, 2023, reported that the FCCPC has permanently delisted and begun the process of deleting at least two loan apps from the Google Play…
By Godwin UDU Introduction Picture a world where every digital interface welcomes you like a familiar friend, regardless of how you navigate it. Imagine websites and apps that adapt to your needs as naturally as a well-worn path, whether you’re using a screen reader, prefer larger text, or navigate with voice commands. This is the world that inclusive design promises—and increasingly delivers. In my years of designing digital experiences, I’ve come to understand that inclusive design is far more than a technical requirement or a compliance checkbox. It’s a journey of empathy, innovation, and universal connection. Think of it as…
Says broadband penetration to hit 50% by year-end The telecommunications sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased significantly to 16 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, according to the data reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) based on the computation by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this in a keynote address delivered at the annual Telecom Executives and Regulators Forum (TERF) hosted by the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos on Thursday. According to Danbatta, from a 14.13 per cent…
By Evans WOHEREM, Ph.D. Factors Contributing to Success and Overcoming Challenges in Technological Advancement in some African Countries Entrepreneurship and innovation: Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation is essential for driving technological advancement in Africa. There are a number of notable startups and projects that have contributed to technological advancements in Africa, such as the mobile money company M-Pesa and the drone delivery company Zipline. M-Pesa is a mobile money service that allows people to send and receive money using their mobile phones. It has been credited with helping to reduce poverty in Kenya and other African countries. Zipline is a drone…
The Swedish Government and Ericsson have been commended for their commitment and consistency in a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on capacity building which has strengthened the Commission’s regulatory activities. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made this commendation while speaking at a workshop jointly organised by the NCC and its Swedish partners within the framework of the Swedish Programme for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Developing and Emerging Regions (SPIDER). Danbatta who stressed the significant strides made by NCC in the field…
AltSchool records 40% course completion rate in the first year Skill-to-market platform, AltSchool Africa, has expanded its learning faculty to introduce Creative Economy and Business schools, following an impressive 40% completion rate in its first year. Taking a non-conventional approach to learning, the tech-enabled platform has traditionally offered courses directly related to in-code and no-code courses. Strengthening its push in the edtech sector, AltSchool Africa has included content creation, sales, and music business – using Afrobeats as a case study, to its existing nine courses, with applications now open for the first cohort of these new streams. In the last…