Hi Ayodele here,

Over the past week, Africa’s AI story has been about action and visibility on the global stage. South Africa hosted the G20 AI Task Force, where African voices pushed for policies that reflect local priorities like inclusivity and data sovereignty. At the same event, UNESCO rolled out new initiatives to boost AI literacy, support researchers, and put ethics at the center of digital transformation. And in classrooms, Google and the International Telecommunication Union announced a new AI and robotics program for students in five countries, aimed at preparing the next wave of young innovators.

This edition looks at how Africa is shaping global conversations while investing in the skills and systems needed to drive its AI future.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• South Africa hosts G20 summit pushing global AI cooperation

• UNESCO unveils new AI solutions for Africa at G20

• Google and ITU back AI education program across five African countries

Around Africa

UNESCO unveils new AI solutions for Africa at G20

At the G20, UNESCO unveiled a comprehensive set of AI initiatives designed to accelerate Africa’s digital growth. The program will train 15,000 civil servants and 5,000 judicial actors on AI literacy and governance. A pan-African incubator is being launched to support 1,500 researchers in advancing homegrown AI solutions.

UNESCO also announced resources to help educators and students learn coding and AI basics. A “Technology Policy Assistance Facility” will support governments in developing ethical AI strategies. The initiatives emphasize embedding human rights and ethics into every stage of AI adoption across the continent.

Why it matters: 

This program strengthens Africa’s ability to shape its own AI future, ensuring ethical adoption while building a skilled workforce capable of leading innovation.

South Africa hosts G20 summit pushing global AI cooperation

Cape Town recently welcomed global leaders for the G20 AI Task Force, highlighting Africa’s role in global AI governance. The meeting focused on ethics, inclusivity, and data sovereignty within AI regulation. African delegates emphasized the need for frameworks that reflect local priorities rather than one-size-fits-all global policies. Collaboration between governments, academia, and industry was central to discussions. South Africa, as G20 president, pushed for a stronger African voice in shaping international AI rules. The gathering underscored Africa’s determination to move from being a consumer of AI to a contributor in setting global standards.

Why It Matters:

By leading conversations at the G20, Africa gains a seat at the decision-making table, influencing how AI is regulated worldwide and protecting the continent’s interests.

Google and ITU back AI education program across five African countries

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Google, and will.i.am unveiled a new program to bring AI and robotics skills to African students. Targeting ages 10–18, the initiative will roll out in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ivory Coast. Students will gain access to robotics kits, tailored curricula, and localized AI learning materials.

Teacher training and connectivity support are also part of the plan, ensuring long-term sustainability. Google is contributing $1 million alongside technical expertise to strengthen the project’s impact. The program prioritizes underserved communities and seeks to promote gender inclusion in technology fields.

Why it matters:

This initiative invests in Africa’s next generation, equipping young people with the tools to compete globally and creating a pipeline of innovators who can drive future AI and robotics breakthroughs.

Around the world

OpenAI Launches Sora App and Sora 2 Model

OpenAI has released Sora, a short-form video app positioned as a TikTok competitor, alongside the new Sora 2 generative model. The app allows users to create AI-generated videos from text or audio prompts, merging entertainment with AI creativity. Sora 2 brings improvements in realism, speed, and scene consistency compared to its predecessor. OpenAI is positioning the app as both a creative tool and a social platform. The launch reflects OpenAI’s strategy to expand beyond productivity into consumer-focused media experiences.

Anthropic Unveils Claude Sonnet 4.5 for Coding

Anthropic introduced Claude Sonnet 4.5, its most advanced AI model optimized for programming tasks. The model offers stronger reasoning, faster code generation, and better handling of complex multi-step instructions. It’s designed to rival OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 and targets developers who need reliable coding assistance. Claude Sonnet 4.5 integrates with popular coding environments and supports collaborative workflows. Anthropic says it significantly reduces hallucinations in outputs, making it more trustworthy for production-level coding.

Perplexity Expands Comet AI Browser Features

Perplexity has made its Comet AI browser free for all users, while adding premium benefits for Max subscribers. The browser includes a new background assistant that automatically summarizes pages, suggests queries, and saves research context across tabs. These updates position Comet as a direct competitor to Google AI-powered search and Edge Copilot. The assistant is designed to boost productivity by reducing manual browsing and note-taking. Perplexity’s move signals growing competition in the AI-powered browsing space.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• The Good, the Bad, and the Future of AI Agents

  The Verge’s Decoder podcast features Anthropic’s David Hershey discussing Claude Sonnet 4.5, an autonomous AI capable of running complex coding tasks for up to 30 hours without human input. The episode explores the promise of agentic AI, its current limitations, and how it could redefine productivity and human-AI collaboration.

  Read the full article: The Good, the Bad, and the Future of AI Agents

• Ex-OpenAI Researcher Dissects ChatGPT’s Delusional Spiral
  Steven Adler, a former OpenAI safety researcher, analyzes a case where a user believed he had discovered new math after prolonged sessions with ChatGPT. Adler used the full conversation transcript to show how the model reinforced delusional thinking and lied about its internal capabilities in the process. The report raises serious questions about AI behavior in vulnerable contexts and OpenAI’s response mechanisms.

  Read the full article: Ex-OpenAI Researcher Dissects One of ChatGPT’s Delusional Spirals 

Seen This?

Sora 2 is generating very realistic videos, and the results are impressive.

Upcoming African AI Events

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: Ongoing (Pre-learning phase)
Location: Nigeria (residential Bootcamp location to be announced)
Theme: Africa’s top 200 AI talents will undergo intensive training, mentorship, and networking in a fully-funded, career-transforming experience.
Link: DSN AI Bootcamp 2025

AI Job Opportunities

• DevologyX - Data Scientist, South Africa

• JUMO - Data Scientist, South Africa

• CloudPlexo - Senior AI/ML Engineer (AWS), Nigeria

• Immigify - Machine Learning Engineer, Nigeria

• Lumenalta - Data Engineer, Nigeria

Use Case: RunwayML Video Creation

Video has become one of the most powerful forms of storytelling, yet producing professional-quality content often requires expensive equipment, advanced editing skills, and significant time. RunwayML changes that narrative by putting cutting-edge AI video tools directly into the hands of creators.

With RunwayML, you can generate, edit, and remix videos using simple text or image prompts, making it possible to turn ideas into cinematic results in minutes. From creating short films, music videos, and ads to prototyping creative concepts, RunwayML handles tasks like background replacement, motion tracking, and generative scene creation, all powered by AI. It’s not just for professionals; students, marketers, and hobbyists can use it to push their creative limits without the steep learning curve.

Learn how to use here.