Hi Ayodele here,

AI innovation across Africa is accelerating, with countries and companies taking bold steps to define the continent’s digital future. Nigeria has introduced N-ATLAS, an open-source AI model supporting its local languages, setting a benchmark for inclusive technology. Cassava Technologies and Accenture are joining forces to expand sovereign AI cloud services, strengthening local infrastructure. Meanwhile, Unstoppable Africa 2025 is bringing global attention to Africa’s AI ambitions and its growing role in shaping the next wave of innovation.

This edition highlights how Africa is pushing forward on multiple fronts including language, infrastructure, and international collaboration to drive inclusive AI growth.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• Nigeria launches N-ATLAS AI model to support local languages

• Cassava Technologies and Accenture partner to expand sovereign AI cloud in Africa

• Unstoppable Africa 2025: Showcasing Africa's AI Ambitions

Around Africa

Nigeria launches N-ATLAS AI model to support local languages

Nigeria has unveiled N-ATLAS, an open-source multilingual AI model developed in collaboration with Awarri and supported by The Gates Foundation. This initiative aims to preserve Nigeria's linguistic diversity by supporting over 500 languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin.

The model is designed to enhance natural language processing for underrepresented languages, impacting sectors like education, healthcare, and governance. N-ATLAS was launched during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The project aligns with Nigeria's commitment to digital inclusion and positions the nation as a leader in AI development across Africa. By providing a platform for innovation in local languages, N-ATLAS aims to transform various sectors and contribute to global AI advancements.

Why This Matters:
N-ATLAS addresses the digital divide by ensuring that AI technologies are inclusive and representative of Nigeria's diverse linguistic landscape. This initiative sets a precedent for other African nations to develop AI solutions that reflect their unique cultural and linguistic identities.

Cassava Technologies and Accenture partner to expand sovereign AI cloud in Africa

Cassava Technologies has partnered with Accenture to enhance sovereign AI cloud capabilities across Africa. The collaboration focuses on delivering secure, scalable AI solutions using Cassava's GPU-as-a-Service infrastructure, powered by NVIDIA AI technology.

The initiative aims to process AI workloads within national borders, ensuring compliance with local regulations. The partnership will begin in South Africa, with plans to expand to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. By integrating local context and cultural nuances, the solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of African enterprises in sectors like finance, healthcare, and agriculture. This collaboration underscores the importance of localized AI infrastructure in fostering innovation and economic growth across the continent.

Why It Matters:

This partnership enhances Africa's digital sovereignty by providing localized AI solutions that comply with regional regulations, fostering trust and encouraging widespread adoption of AI technologies.

Unstoppable Africa 2025: Showcasing Africa's AI Ambitions

Unstoppable Africa 2025 is a global initiative highlighting Africa's AI ambitions and digital future. The event showcases groundbreaking projects shaping the continent's digital and financial landscape.

It aims to position Africa as a leader in AI innovation by promoting collaboration among governments, businesses, and communities.

The initiative focuses on addressing challenges such as infrastructure gaps, data access, and digital literacy. By emphasizing the continent's potential, Unstoppable Africa 2025 seeks to attract investment and partnerships to accelerate AI development. The event serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable economic growth through AI.

Why This Matters:

Unstoppable Africa 2025 serves as a catalyst for Africa's digital transformation, promoting inclusive AI development that addresses the continent's unique challenges and opportunities.

Around the world

Google Launches Search Live with AI Voice Interaction

Google has introduced "Search Live," a real-time AI voice search feature available to U.S. users through the Google app on Android and iOS. This feature allows users to engage in dynamic voice conversations with Google, receiving spoken responses and relevant web links. Additionally, it integrates with the camera to provide visual search capabilities, enhancing the search experience. The AI assistant remembers previous interactions, enabling natural follow-up questions. Currently, the feature is limited to English-speaking users and is part of Google's broader AI Mode initiative.

Google Labs Debuts Mixboard for AI-Powered Design

Google Labs has launched Mixboard, an experimental AI-powered moodboard tool currently in public beta in the U.S. Mixboard enables users to create visual project boards using pre-made templates or text prompts, leveraging Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash AI model. It supports adding personal images or generating new visuals based on descriptions, with features enabling natural language edits, image regeneration, and style-based visual creation. This tool aims to assist in various creative processes, such as home decoration and event planning.

Facebook Introduces AI Dating Assistant

Meta has introduced an AI assistant to Facebook Dating, designed to help users build their profiles and find more tailored matches. The chatbot can assist users in refining their profiles and suggest potential matches based on specific criteria. Additionally, a new feature called "Meet Cute" offers users a weekly "surprise match" chosen by the algorithm. This move reflects Meta's ongoing efforts to integrate AI into its platforms to enhance user experience.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• Artists Protest AI Exploitation of Their Work

  Several artists, including notable figures like Kazuo Ishiguro and Ian Rankin, have signed a statement condemning the unlicensed use of their creative works to train artificial intelligence (AI). They argue that this practice threatens their livelihoods and undermines their rights as creators. The initiative was organized by Ed Newton-Rex, who resigned from the AI start-up Stability in protest of its stance on using copyrighted content for AI training. Read the full article: Artists Protest AI Exploitation of Their Work

• AI Transforms Product Design Workflows

  AI is revolutionizing product design by streamlining workflows from research to delivery. Designers are leveraging AI tools to accelerate the design process, enabling faster iterations and more informed decision-making. These tools assist in tasks such as user research, prototyping, and testing, allowing designers to focus on creativity and innovation. AI's integration into product design is reshaping traditional practices, making the process more efficient and data-driven. Read the full article: AI Transforms Product Design Workflows

Seen This?

Some researchers recently analysed usaged patterns of Chatgpt and found very interesting insights. Check out the full report here.

Upcoming African AI Events

Digital African Conference and Exhibition 2025
Dates: 28-29 October, 2025
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Theme: “Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global AI Order,” focusing on AI governance, indigenous AI solutions, and Africa’s role in shaping global AI norms.
Link: Digital African Conference and Exhibition

DatafestAfrica 2025
Date: 18 October, 2025
Location: Nigeria
Theme: A premier platform for data and AI professionals to learn, network, and share best practices, supported by organizations like Microsoft and Sterling Bank. Past editions featured speakers from Deloitte, PwC, Google, and MTN.
Link: DatafestAfrica 2025 

SingularityU South Africa Summit 2025
Dates: 22–23 October 2025
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Theme: “Igniting Africa’s Future,” exploring robotics, AI, biotech, and exponential technologies, with 40+ speakers and a hands-on tech expo.
Link: SingularityU South Africa Summit 2025

AI Expo Africa 2025
Dates: 29–31 October 2025
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Theme: Africa’s largest enterprise AI trade show, featuring case studies, RPA solutions, smart tech demos, and the ITU “AI for Good” Impact Africa Summit in collaboration with the UN.
Link: AI Expo Africa 2025

DSN AI Bootcamp 2025
Dates: 20–24 October 2025
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Theme: A competitive, all-expenses-paid bootcamp for 200+ top AI talents, offering world-class training, hackathon finals, project showcases, and community events like AI Career Day.
Link: DSN AI Bootcamp 2025

AI Opportunities

• Lexis Nexis - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Analyst, South-Africa

• Intetics - Python AI Engineer, Democratic Republic of Congo

• Discovery Limited - Machine Learning Engineer, South Africa

• levelbuild AG - AI Engineer, Zambia

• Vaimo - AI Engineer, South Africa

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