Canva has acquired Leonardo.ai, a generative AI content and research startup, as the company looks to deepen its investments in its AI tech stack. The deal’s financial terms weren’t disclosed, but Canva co-founder and chief product officer Cameron Adams said it’s a mix of cash and stock. Leonardo.ai’s 120 employees, including the executive team, will join Canva. “Leonardo will continue to run independently of Canva with a focus on rapid innovation, research, and development, now backed by Canva’s resources,” Adams told TechCrunch. “We’ll keep offering all of Leonardo’s existing tools…
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Sophia Bekele Speaks at the 2024 Universal Women’s Leadership Forum
Last week, July 11-12, 2024, the CEO at DotConnectAfrica Group, Sophia Bekele, had the honor of participating in the 2024 Universal Women’s Leadership Forum at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, an event hosted by the European Cooperation System at the European Union Parliament. The Universal Women’s Leadership Forum is a high-level event that celebrates and promotes the fundamental role of women in the leadership of today and tomorrow. It stands as an exceptional platform under the central theme: “Political emergence and economic impact: The axes of all possibilities for female leadership…
Read MoreSouth Africa launches New Artificial Intelligence Industry Association
South Africa, known for its burgeoning technological landscape, is taking a significant step towards embracing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) will be officially launched on July 19, 2023, in partnership with the esteemed Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a prominent hub for AI innovation in South Africa. The association’s mission is to engage individuals and organizations, provide research and analysis to inform decision-making, assist with policy-making, connect buyers and suppliers, support SMMEs, attract foreign investment, help African tech companies access international markets,…
Read MoreNew: Bolt ventures into food delivery business
Bolt ventures into the food delivery business Bolt, a Taxi-hailing service is venturing into the food delivery business in Kenya targeting alternative revenue streams as the market has seen reduced mobility in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions. Bolt advertised the position of Country Manager for its food delivery arm in Kenya signaling the beginning of operations towards the end of the year. “We’re already present in 30+ markets across Europe and Africa. Now, it’s time for us to bring the know-how around building a mobility platform to the food delivery…
Read MoreCBK Proposes law for mobile loan apps
CBK Proposes law for mobile loan apps Digital app lending companies operating in Kenya are set up for a shake-up after the country’s central bank proposed new laws to regulate monthly interest rates levied on loans by digital lenders in a bid to stamp out what it deems predatory practices. If approved, digital lenders will require approval from the central bank to increase lending rates or launch new products. The move comes in the wake of mounting concern about the scale of predatory lending given the proliferation of startups offering…
Read MoreToshiba Exits Laptop Business, The Best for Industry.
Toshiba Exits Laptop Business Toshiba, a Japanese tech giant once well-known for its satellite range of laptops meant for heavy use, has finally decided to quit the laptop business. Toshiba has quietly sold its remaining 19.9 percent stake in its Dynabook laptop brand to Sharp, officially exiting the laptop business. The company earlier sold an 80.1 percent stake to Sharp in 2018. “Toshiba Corporation hereby announces that it has transferred the 19.9 percent of the outstanding shares in Dynabook that it held to Sharp Corporation. As a result of this…
Read MoreAirtel Kenya ventures into the TV Best streams market
Airtel Kenya ventures into the TV streams market Airtel Kenya a Telecom firm has launched a TV app service in the market as it moves to tap the growing demand for movie streaming services and rev up data consumption on its network. The free service dubbed Airtel TV will allow users to watch movies, documentaries, music, and cartoons, seeking a piece in a market dominated by giants Netflix, Amazon, and Showmax– which provide videos on demand. The service will be free for now, a pointer that seeks to earn money…
Read MoreNew: Whatsapp to Enable chat history synchronization
Whatsapp to Enable chat history synchronization WhatsApp has been working on multiple device support for a while now though it is yet to confirm the same. We know that such a feature is in development through its beta updates, and again, another beta update has dropped major clues about it leading us to believe WhatsApp may roll it out soon. According to a report by WABetaInfo, the new update- WhatsApp v2.20.196.8 beta for Android has given a glimpse of two features that include advanced search and multiple device support. The…
Read MoreNew Instagram Reels is launching globally
Instagram Reels is launching globally Instagram Reels is launching globally, starting today is Facebook’s new effort to challenge TikTok on short-form creative content. The feature is being made available across 50 countries, including the U.S., as TechCrunch had previously reported. The expansion means Reels will now be available in key international markets, such as India, Brazil, France, Germany, the U.K., Japan, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and several others. The timing is fortuitous, given TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. as the Trump administration weighs either banning the Chinese-owned app entirely…
Read MoreWhatsApp finds a new way to curb fake news
WhatsApp finds a way to curb fake news WhatsApp making more changes to slow the spread of fake news among users and that’s why earlier this year it imposed a strict new limit on message forwarding. This feature means users who plan on forwarding a message that has been identified as “highly forwarded” will only be to send it to a single contact at a time. A “highly forwarded” message is defined as media that has been sent through a chain of five or more contacts. This isn’t the first time…
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