Firms face gaps between AI ambition and execution

Firms face gaps between AI ambition and execution

[CAPTION] Company leaders are increasingly positioning AI as a driver of growth. (Image created using GenAI via ChatGPT) Artificial intelligence (AI) will this year become a central pillar of leadership strategy, shaping how organisations plan to grow, compete and reinvent their operating models. However, the gap between ambition and execution will remain one of the…

Read More
Telecoms firms lose bid to rein in US tech giants

Telecoms firms lose bid to rein in US tech giants

Google, Meta Platforms, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon will not face heavy-handed regulations in Europe’s digital rule overhaul despite calls from telecommunications companies, people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. A slew of new tech rules adopted in recent years by the European Commission sparked criticism from the US, which says it targets…

Read More
Firms under-report POPIA breaches as cyber attacks rise

Firms under-report POPIA breaches as cyber attacks rise

As cyber attacks continually rise, the Information Regulator says it needs more staff. As cyber attacks escalate and companies fail to report hacks under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), the Information Regulator does not have sufficient staff to enforce the law. Mukelani Dimba, executive for education and communication at the Information Regulator, tells…

Read More
Telecoms firms lose bid to rein in US tech giants

Europe firms agree satellite merger to counter Starlink

European aerospace groups unveiled a preliminary deal on Thursday to pool their loss-making satellite manufacturing activities, combining forces after months of negotiations to counter the runaway growth of rivals led by Elon Musk’s Starlink. The keenly awaited deal between Airbus, Thales and Leonardo would create a new venture starting from 2027, subject to approval by…

Read More
Firms are blaming AI for job cuts. Critics say it’s a ‘good excuse’

Firms are blaming AI for job cuts. Critics say it’s a ‘good excuse’

More companies are announcing AI-driven layoffs from Salesforce to Accenture. Twenty20 From tech to airlines, large global companies have been slashing staff as the real-world impact of artificial intelligence plays out, spooking employees. But critics say AI has become an easy excuse for firms looking to downsize. Last month, tech consultancy firm Accenture announced a…

Read More
U.S. to impose 100% tariff on branded, patented drugs unless firms build plants locally, Trump says

U.S. to impose 100% tariff on branded, patented drugs unless firms build plants locally, Trump says

Shelf of pharmaceutical products. D3sign | Moment | Getty Images President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will impose a 100% tariff on “any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product” entering the country from Oct. 1. The measure will not apply to companies building drug manufacturing plants in the U.S., Trump said. He added that…

Read More
Africa: Tech Firms Launch Joint Venture for African AI Development

Africa: Tech Firms Launch Joint Venture for African AI Development

In a move aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure and sovereignty in artificial intelligence, four technology companies from Australia, Nigeria, the UAE and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish AfricAI, a multinational joint venture dedicated to building enterprise-grade AI solutions tailored to African markets. Nigeria has been selected as the…

Read More
SA firms must gear up for AI talent war

SA firms must gear up for AI talent war

Demand for AI professionals has been steady and sustained. Companies globally are fiercely competing for top artificial intelligence (AI) talent, offering premium salaries to attract experienced AI professionals. Last week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai brushed off concerns about the company’s ability to attract and keep top AI talent. Speaking during the tech giant’s second quarter…

Read More