Author: Staff Writer

Google is rolling out its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the SSA region as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs. This AI-powered experience is available in English.  With new breakthroughs in generative AI, Google is reimagining what a search engine can do and is bringing these powerful new capabilities to Search in a bold and responsible way. This powerful new technology can unlock entirely new types of questions that Search could not previously answer, and transforms the way information is organized in Search to help people sort through and make sense of what’s out there. Improving Search with generative AI …

In today’s digital landscape, two prominent players are set to reshape the decentralised payments scene in South Africa: MetaMask and Xion Global. Their collaboration is not just a fusion of strengths; it’s a vision, a roadmap to the future of payments in South Africa. Web3 Payments in South Africa MetaMask (MM), globally recognised as the world’s leading self-custody wallet with 30+ million users, serving as a bridge to the decentralised web and a primary wallet provider for web3 payments on Xion Global. With that in mind, Xion Global offers a user-friendly web3 payment solution, ensuring that both tech enthusiasts and everyday users can…

Volvo Car South Africa has announced Black November specials giving customers who purchase a new SUV through Volvo Car Finance* during November or December 2023 up to six months of instalments absolutely free**. Rather than limiting these new finance deals to Black Friday, the Swedish luxury automaker has opted to extend its promotions across the months of November and December, allowing local buyers ample opportunity to take advantage of these savings. Customers who purchase a new XC40 through Volvo Car Finance during the final two months of 2023 will receive their first four months of instalments free. Meanwhile, those who buy…

Bank Zero has confirmed that its commitment to Zero bank fees remains strongly in place. This announcement comes in the wake of the recent Mid-Term Budget, and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the country.  “We see our promise of Zero bank fees as central to our brand’s unique value proposition, as shown by our four-year track record,” says Michael Jordaan, Chair of Bank Zero. “Some believed this was a gimmick, but in fact it’s fundamental to who we are. There’s one pricing structure for all our customers, and those fees that are Zero will stay Zero.”  Bank Zero offers free…

Think Tank, a visionary technology solutions and social enterprise company is proud to announce the launch of vCampus, a cutting-edge digital learning platform designed to cater to individuals, universities, and businesses across diverse industry verticals.  vCampus – a paradigm shift in education Representing a transformative wave in the education sector, vCampus provides the intersection where digital technology meets the thirst for knowledge and skill enhancement. It offers a unique ecosystem for two essential roles: content creators and learners. Content creators, often subject matter experts in their respective fields, can now partner with vCampus to share their expertise with the world.…

eAgronom, the agriculture-focused climate tech company helping farmers adopt sustainable practices for the health of their farms and the planet, has achieved a major milestone in its outreach focused on the African continent. By the end of 2023, eAgronom will have onboarded 200,000 hectares of agricultural land on the continent into its carbon credit program. Using sophisticated soil health tracking technology and hands-on education in sustainable farming practices, eAgronom is making farms across Africa into carbon sinks that fight global emissions. These farms are spread across Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. East and southern Africa are regions of enormous…

BlackBrick, Africa’s fastest-growing apartment hotel apartment network, has sold 80% of its Bedfordview urban resort, which is being developed in partnership with Growthpoint Properties and in association with BlackBrick Developments.   Set inside a 35,000sqm forest, BlackBrick Bedford is positioned perfectly between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport. The development is enjoying brisk sales as it nears completion at the end of 2023. BlackBrick Co-Founder Jonathan Liebmann explains that Blackbrick Bedford is prime real estate because of its strategic location, great range of amenities and facilities, and mix of investment options with projected returns in excess of 11% for investors. BlackBrick Bedford is…

At the recent Southern African Railways Association, Huawei revealed how its connectivity solutions are enabling the digital transformation of the railway industry. Its Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) solution, 5G Digital Indoor System, and Rail Cloud offerings, in particular, could make for a vastly improved, safer, and more efficient railway experience.   “During SARA 2023, we talked to railway operators and the consensus is that we are all looking for solutions that make railways smarter, safer, more visualised, more efficient, and more reliable,” says Guo Guoqing, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Enterprise Business, adding that communication technologies will be crucial…

The digital customer experience (CX) landscape is continually evolving, with AI playing an ever-growing role in helping businesses, including those in the finance sector, build their relationship with their customers, helping to set them apart from their competition. Conversational AI is a gamechanger for banks and financial institutions, enabling the complete reimagining of the digital customer experience by driving meaningful business value via increased operational efficiency. “Early changes in the application environment saw multi-channel communication taking centre stage where customers could interact using channels such as voice, chat, web self-service, email, and the like,” says Brendan van Staaden, who heads up MoData…

The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation today announced the five teams advancing to the Finalist Round of the Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy. Each finalist team will receive $70,000 to further develop and test their designs in a live field test demonstration in South Africa next year.The finalist teams are: AfTrak Micro Electric Agriculture and Energy (https://apo-opa.info/3QprXQS), for its innovative system of using solar microgrids to power custom-designed tractors for deep-bed farming; GEG ehf. (https://GEGpower.is/), for its solar- and geothermal-powered hybrid renewable energy system; New Digit Technologies (https://apo-opa.info/40q1yXR), for its compact, portable device to generate energy and purify water; OMNIVAT…