South African retail chain Checkers, owned by the Shoprite Group, is trailing new “smart” shopping trolleys that let customers scan items and pay for their groceries directly from the cart. The Checkers Xpress Trolley, developed by the group’s innovation department, ShopriteX, is being tested at two stores in the Western Cape. Read: Checkers pilots new…
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) has cautioned South Africa against blindly following EU regulations, saying the country needs its own strategic domestic policies on technology and digital innovation. It cautioned against what it termed the “Brussels effect”, where regulated entities end up complying with EU laws because of the size and attractiveness of that market….
Google DeepMind is launching a new AI world model called Genie 3, which can generate interactive 3D environments in real time. This new version promises significant improvements, including longer play sessions and the ability to “remember” where objects are placed within a virtual space. Read: Google Deepmind launches Genie 3, an AI video model that…
GirlCode has launched the Digital Skills Employment Acceleration Programme for Women, aimed at equipping young women (aged 18 to 35) with software development skills that will enable them to secure work in SA’s growing tech sector. Supplied image Zandile Mkwanazi, founder and chief executive officer of GirlCode, says the programme goes beyond learning how to…
The third cohort of the Women in Tech Programme kicks off. Standard Chartered, in partnership with WomHub, announced the launch of the third cohort of the Women in Tech (WiT) programme. Standard Chartered South Africa has invested $50 000 to empower women‑founded tech enterprises. The WiT incubator programme aims to improve gender equality and innovation in science,…
Advancements in wireless technology have made it possible for vehicle owners to access and start their cars without having to insert a physical key into the door or ignition cylinder. However, the convenience of keyless access does have its drawbacks, with criminals exploiting technology loopholes to make vehicle theft much easier. They no longer need…
Nairobi, Scidev.Net — Despite Africa’s growing digital footprint, the continent’s science and technology remains underrepresented on Wikipedia, one of the world’s most visited sources of information. While Africa accounts for around 10 per cent of Wikipedia articles, less than one per cent cover science and technology, Anusha Alikhan, chief communications officer at the Wikimedia Foundation,…
Many South Africans visiting a new general practitioner, specialist, or doctor still face the same old problem of filling in paperwork to open their medical file, which is physically archived and retrieved only when needed. Image credit: Katie Huber-Rhoades on Dupe Photos Outside South Africa, PYMNTS.com reports that Google and NASA are testing the “Crew…
ACSA wants to improve passenger flow, minimise service disruptions and enhance customer experience. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is positioning itself as a future-ready airports operator, announcing a R21.7 billion capital investment pipeline focused on digitisation, innovation and infrastructure modernisation over the next five years. Unveiling its financial results for the year ended 31 March…
View of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in Sham Shui Po shopping district in Hong Kong, May 1986. (Photo by Forrest Anderson/Getty Images) Forrest Anderson | The Chronicle Collection | Getty Images Asia markets climbed Monday, led by Hong Kong, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank could begin easing monetary policy next month in his…
