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Amazon Emerges as a Dominant Force in South Africa's eCommerce Landscape
Discovery Bank's SpendTrend24 report, in collaboration with Visa, has shed light on Amazon's remarkable rise as the third most visited eCommerce platform in South Africa. Drawing data from over 60 million Visa cards globally and aggregating insights from Discovery Bank's client transactions, the report underscores the significant footprint of the American retail giant in the
IFC Invests $10.5 Million in 4DX Ventures to Boost Africa's Tech Ecosystem
In a bid to bolster Africa's rapidly expanding technology sector, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has unveiled a $10.5 million (R194 billion) investment in a new fund by 4DX Ventures, a venture capital firm based in New York. This strategic partnership aims to empower early-stage African tech companies spanning various sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, edtech,
Multiverse Acquires AI Recruitment Platform, Searchlight
Multiverse, a leading UK-based unicorn renowned for its innovative apprenticeship programs integrating technology skills training, has embarked on an acquisition spree to strengthen its own expertise. The company recently announced its acquisition of Searchlight, a pioneering start-up and recruitment platform leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify talent. This strategic move aims to harness Searchlight's
Zero Carbon Charge Unveils Ambitious Off-Grid Electric Truck Charging Network
The start-up specializing in off-grid electric vehicle charging stations, Zero Carbon Charge has announced the launch of Zero Carbon Logistics, a ground-breaking initiative set to establish 120 photovoltaic solar electric truck charging sites along national highways in South Africa. This pioneering venture marks the country's inaugural off-grid electric truck charging network and aims to revolutionize
Pick n Pay Introduces New Money Transfer Service Across 1,400 Locations
In a bid to enhance convenience for its customers, Pick n Pay has rolled out a novel money transfer service, enabling seamless transactions between its 1,400 store outlets. Termed as Pick n Pay Money Transfer, the service operates domestically within South Africa, offering affordability at a fixed rate of R8.00 per transaction. This initiative aims
Uber Eats moves into TikTok
Uber Eats is stepping into the realm of short-form video with the launch of a TikTok-like feed, aiming to enhance restaurant discovery and offer a platform for eateries to showcase their culinary creations. Awaneesh Verma, Uber Eats' Sr. Director of Product, shared exclusively with TechCrunch that the new feature is currently undergoing testing in New
Sasol wins appeal regarding emissions calculation methods at its Secunda plant
Sasol has emerged victorious in its appeal regarding emissions calculation methods at its Secunda plant in South Africa, preventing a disruption to its chemical and fuel production. However, environmentalists argue that the ruling could lead to increased pollution. Following this favourable outcome, Sasol's shares experienced a notable surge in value. The Secunda facility, a key
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S in a legal battle with Transnet over procurement process
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S is embroiled in a legal battle with South Africa's state logistics entity, Transnet, over the procurement process to secure a partner for the development of sub-Saharan Africa's largest container port. The contract was awarded to International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), granting them nearly half ownership and operational rights for 25 years
Africa Data Centres Begins Construction of 12MW Solar Farm in Free State
Africa Data Centres (ADC) has initiated the construction of a 12MW solar farming facility in the Free State region, marking a significant step towards bolstering its energy sustainability initiatives. The facility, set to be completed within the next 12 months, will supply power to ADC's data centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town under a 20-year
Zimbabwe Launches New Currency ZiG in Bid to Stabilize Economy
In a bid to address the ongoing currency crisis and economic challenges plaguing the nation, Zimbabwe introduced a new currency, ZiG, on Friday, replacing its struggling predecessor. The move aims to curb the depreciation and rejection of the previous currency by the populace, marking a significant step towards stabilizing the country's financial landscape. Governor of
Microsoft Establishes London Hub for Consumer AI Division
Microsoft has unveiled plans for a new London hub dedicated to its burgeoning consumer AI division, with Jordan Hoffmann leading the initiative. Hoffmann, an AI scientist and engineer, was recently recruited from the high-profile AI start-up Inflection AI, which Microsoft invested in last year. This announcement follows closely on the heels of Microsoft CEO Satya
X Expands Access to xAI's Grok Chatbot for Premium Users
Social Network X is expanding access to xAI's Grok chatbot, extending its availability to Premium tier subscribers following an announcement by Elon Musk last month. The company disclosed on its support page that only Premium and Premium+ users in select regions will have the opportunity to interact with the chatbot. Previously, xAI introduced Grok exclusively
Snapchat Adjusts Solar System Feature Amid Teen Anxiety Concerns
In response to growing concerns about the impact of its "solar system" feature on teen anxiety, Snapchat has taken steps to adjust how the feature operates, less than a week after The Wall Street Journal highlighted its potentially detrimental effects. The solar system feature, previously used to rank paid subscribers in relation to their Snapchat
SAP Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Sanctions Evasion and Bribery Scandals
SAP currently finds itself embroiled in controversy amid allegations of sanctions evasion and bribery scandals spanning multiple jurisdictions. The latest uproar stems from revelations that SAP purportedly employed code names and established a shelf company in Botswana to sidestep European Union (EU) sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwean government in the early 2000s. According to reports
Apple Unveils ReALM: A Next-Generation Language Model
Apple is poised to revolutionize the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) with its latest innovation: ReALM, a cutting-edge large language model (LLM) that rivals the performance of the esteemed GPT-4 while prioritizing contextual understanding. Named ReALM, which stands for Reference Resolution As Language Modelling, this ground-breaking technology represents a significant advancement in AI chatbots' ability
Egypt Braces for Inflation Surge Amid Economic Turbulence
Inflationary pressures are mounting in Egypt, with forecasts indicating a surge in March as the country grapples with the repercussions of a currency devaluation, interest rate hike, and fuel price increase earlier in the month. A recent poll conducted by Reuters revealed that annual urban consumer inflation is anticipated to rise by 0.6 percent to
IMF Assessing Impact of African Drought, Pledges Support Amid Emergencies
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced its commitment to assessing the ramifications of a severe drought sweeping across Africa, while concurrently strategizing ways to extend assistance to the affected nations. This declaration arrives in tandem with the proclamation of national emergencies by several African countries in response to the dire drought conditions. In a
Spotify Introduces AI-Powered Playlist Creation Feature
Spotify continues to innovate in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) integration within its platform. Following the success of its AI DJ feature, Spotify has now introduced AI playlists into beta, offering users a novel way to curate personalized playlists based on written prompts. This latest feature, unveiled on Monday, marks a significant step forward
MultiChoice Forms Independent Board to Consider Canal+ Offer
MultiChoice, a major player in South Africa's broadcasting and entertainment landscape, has taken a significant step in response to Groupe Canal+'s recent offer to acquire the remaining shares of the company. In a move aimed at ensuring transparency and careful consideration, MultiChoice has announced the establishment of an independent board tasked with evaluating Canal+'s proposal,
HONOR changes website domain to honor.com
HONOR has officially announced that its website domain name, hihonor.com, has now transitioned to honor.com – effective immediately. Three years ago, HONOR commenced operations as a fully independent brand. After finding its footing in a highly saturated, competitive landscape – HONOR is now ready to take its spot as a leader in the AI-driven smartphone sector, and renaming its domain in