In a groundbreaking chemical experiment conducted on the Martian surface, NASA’s Curiosity rover has identified seven diverse organic compounds within ancient lakebed rocks. While organic molecules, carbon-based structures that form the basis of life on Earth, have been found on the Red Planet before, five of these compounds had never been seen on Mars until…
Mall expansion replaces Pick n Pay kiosks as GoTyme scales hybrid banking. Digital bank GoTyme, formerly TymeBank, is ramping up its expansion into shopping centres, as it accelerates its hybrid ‘phygital’ model built around setting up mall-based customer hubs. The move forms part of a strategic shift in how the ‘neo bank’ engages customers, positioning…
Microsoft has slashed the price of Xbox Game Pass in South Africa and globally, less than six months after imposing the steepest price increases in the subscription service’s history. The climbdown is the first major strategic move under new Xbox chief Asha Sharma, and it comes alongside a significant rollback of one of Game Pass’s…
Amazon and Anthropic have dramatically expanded their strategic partnership, moving beyond simple venture funding into a massive, decade-long infrastructure and capital commitment. In an announcement today, Amazon revealed a new $5 billion direct investment in the AI safety and research firm, accompanied by an unprecedented $20 billion in milestone-based payments. This follows two previous $4…
Sentech CEO Tebogo Leshope. Strengthening South Africa’s digital infrastructure is critical to unlocking socio-economic growth, says Sentech CEO Tebogo Leshope. As a result, the country needs to “respond decisively by accelerating investment and strengthening critical skills” across both the public and private sectors, he notes. Key among the digital infrastructure investments is the country’s data…
Cassava Technologies and Liquid Intelligent Technologies CEO Hardy Pemhiwa Liquid Intelligent Technologies has completed a US$660-million (R10.8-billion) refinancing that neutralises the near-term default risk that was hanging over the pan-African fibre operator – but at a sharply higher cost of capital than it was paying before. The centrepiece of the deal is a US$300-million senior…
Xiaomi has announced that its primary strategic focus for 2026 is a major expansion of its partnerships with South Africa’s leading mobile operators, including MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, and Cell C. By scaling its postpaid presence, the Chinese electronics giant aims to bring its high-end flagship devices to a broader audience via monthly contract offerings. Read:…
Assad Arabi, regional MD for Africa at TrendAI. Newly rebranded TrendAI will use South Africa as a launchpad for wider African growth, doubling local investment this year while expanding in-country data centre capacity and repositioning its business around AI security. Speaking at the company’s launch event in Cape Town last week, Assad Arabi, regional MD…
Ahmore Burger-Smidt of Werksmans Attorneys Anyone using a generative AI chatbot to talk through a legal problem – whether a disgruntled consumer, a founder worried about a contract or an executive gaming out a dispute – should assume the resulting chat logs will be pulled into court. Unlike conversations between a lawyer and their client,…
The Artemis II mission has already provided the world with breathtaking still photography of an “Earthset,” the Earth dipping below the lunar horizon. Now, mission commander Reid Wiseman has released a stunning video of the same event, captured from a unique perspective during their historic journey around the Moon. Read: Tim Cook steps down as…
