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Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
From Strategy to Action: African Development Bank and Google Explore Africa's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Future at the 2025 Annual Meetings
One side event at the African Development Bank Group's ( 2025 Annual Meetings unpacked the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool to advance inclusive and sustainable development across the African continent. Held under the theme: 'The AI Revolution: How Will AI Support the Delivery of the African Development Bank's 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy and the Transformation of African Economies?', the 90-minute session convened leading voices from across sectors. The event was co-hosted with Google AI Research. At the heart of the discussion was the question: What will it take for Africa to become AI-ready? which was the central theme of the high-level panel discussion as part of the event. In his opening remarks, Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure&Industrialization of the African Development Bank underscored the critical role of digital transformation in shaping Africa's future: 'AI is not a luxury—it's a necessity for Africa's competitiveness, resilience, and long-term prosperity,' he said. Caroline Kende-Robb, Senior Director of Strategy and Operational Policies at the Bank, framed the conversation within the context of the Bank's 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy ( She stressed that 'Investing in youth and data infrastructure is no longer optional—these are the foundations upon which Africa must build its AI future.' Her remarks echoed the strategy's call to leapfrog development through innovation, anchored in African realities and driven by African talent. Following her intervention, Abdoulaye Diack, Program Manager at Google AI Research Africa, highlighted the transformative potential of AI to address structural challenges and unlock progress in agriculture, education, climate adaptation, and public health. Diack emphasized the importance of contextualizing AI for African environments, warning that 'without local data and inclusive models, Africa risks becoming a passive consumer rather than an active creator of AI solutions.' Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, advocated for regional coordination and harmonized policy frameworks to enable responsible, cross-border implementation of AI technologies. Robert Skjodt, Group CEO of Raxio Group, focused on the critical need for robust digital infrastructure—especially local data centers—to support the scale and speed required for Africa's AI ambitions. Ousmane Fall, Director of Private Sector Transaction Support at the Bank, called for the development of bankable, scalable digital infrastructure projects that can attract long-term investment. Moustapha Cissé, CEO of Kera Health Platforms, and a respected pioneer in African AI research, stressed the need for ethical frameworks and AI systems that reflect African social, cultural, and healthcare contexts. Muthoni Karubiu, Chief Operations Officer at Amini, concluded the panel with a call to enhance data sovereignty, especially in the context of agriculture and climate action, by ensuring access to localized and context-specific environmental data. Harnessing the power of AI for Africa's success A strong consensus emerged across the panel - for Africa to harness AI effectively, it must focus on three foundational pillars: - Human Capital: Equip the next generation with AI literacy and professional expertise. - Data Infrastructure: Build the digital backbone for connectivity, storage, and secure data exchange. - Localized Data: Train AI systems on African realities, including languages, culture, and societal needs. With Africa holding just 1.3% of global data storage capacity and lagging in digital readiness, speakers agreed that the continent is at a crossroads and must urgently make the choice to invest now, or risk falling further behind. As Africa moves forward in artificial intelligence, the African Development Bank reaffirms its commitment to shaping a digital future that is inclusive, sovereign, and anchored in shared prosperity. For more information or to revisit this session, click here ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
TECHx
a day ago
- Business
- TECHx
Google Contributed AED 21.8B to UAE Economy in 2024
Home » Top stories » Google Contributed AED 21.8B to UAE Economy in 2024 Google has revealed the findings of its 2024 Economic Impact Report for the UAE. The report, developed in partnership with research agency Public First, highlights how Google's products and services contributed an estimated AED 21.8 billion to the UAE economy last year. According to the report, AI-powered tools such as Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Ads helped individuals, businesses, and communities across the country. Google reported that its Search and Ads products alone generated AED 20.2 billion in business-related economic activity in the UAE in 2024. Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East and North Africa, stated that the findings reflect Google's role in supporting the UAE's transition to an AI-enabled and diversified digital economy. He added that Google's local investments, AI tools, and strategic partnerships are contributing to long-term growth. The report also noted Google's skilling initiative, Maharat Min Google. Since its launch in 2018, the program has trained over 430,000 individuals in essential digital and AI skills across the UAE. In addition, the Android and Google Play app ecosystem supported the creation of 30,000 jobs in 2024. Google reported that AED 455 million in revenue was generated by the Android App Economy for UAE-based developers last year. Public First's findings were based on a mix of consumer and business polling, case studies, economic modeling, and third-party data. The report assesses Google's impact in three areas: people, businesses, and communities. Among consumers: Google services generated an estimated AED 683 per month in average consumer benefit. 63% of adults in the UAE said they used Gemini, Google's AI assistant. 90% agreed Gemini helped them be more productive. 71% said Gemini was easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots. Further insights showed that 50% of adults considered Google Search essential to daily life. Around 89% found Google Maps or Waze useful for navigation, while 90% said contactless payment options like GPay or GWallet made life easier. For businesses: 91% of UAE businesses used at least one AI tool in their workflows. 73% of people aged 18–24 used Google Search weekly to browse or shop online. 86% checked Google reviews monthly before visiting venues. 94% used Google Search monthly to compare prices. 97% of public sector workers said Google AI tools improved their work productivity. The report also touched on the broader content ecosystem. Google reported that over 600 YouTube channels in the UAE had more than one million subscribers in 2024, reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth. Additionally, the Google News Initiative trained over 20,000 journalists and journalism students in the MENA region, including in the UAE. The Economic Impact Report underlines how Google's digital tools are playing a role in the UAE economy by supporting job creation, digital skills development, and business productivity.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Google Adds Button to Generate Error-Laden AI Podcast About Your Search Results Instead of Just Reading Them Like a Functioning Member of Society
Google has released a baffling new AI feature that turns your web search into a podcast. Why anybody would want to enable the feature is unclear. Why be plagued by misleading and hallucinated AI Overviews search results when you can have a robotic voice read them out loud instead? Have we really lost the ability as a species to parse written information, nevermind original sources? The opt-in feature — which currently lives inside Google's experimental "Labs" section and has to be manually turned on — harnesses the power of the company's Gemini AI model to turn a search query into "quick, conversational audio overviews." According to the tech giant, an "audio overview can help you get a lay of the land, offering a convenient, hands-free way to absorb information whether you're multitasking or simply prefer an audio experience." But is this anything anybody really asked for? Having two fake podcast hosts rant about a subject you're researching — likely with a smattering of hallucinations — sounds like an incredibly counterintuitive and needlessly obtuse way to get quick access to information. The feature first surfaced last year as part of Google's NotebookLM, a note-taking tool that uses AI to help users organize their thoughts and summarize notes. An "Audio Overviews" feature can then take your notes and turn them into AI-generated podcasts, with often unintentionally hilarious results. While AI researchers have gushed over the feature, using it to turn Wikipedia pages into hours-long podcast episodes they allegedly listen to, we still can't shake the feeling that Google may be barking up the wrong tree. Particularly when it comes to search results, where speed has conventionally trumped anything else, turning AI summaries into rambling audio snippets sounds pretty exhausting. Besides, if Google's AI Overviews are anything to go by, the tech's propensity to make up facts is still enormous. The feature has been plaguing users with outright wrong and misleading information for quite some time now, with users desperately reaching out to Reddit to find ways to disable it. It's a sign of the times, with tech companies desperately looking for ways to shoehorn AI into every aspect of our digital lives to justify their enormous investments in the space. Soon we won't just be inundated with AI slop in text and image format; a fake podcast host could one day be talking your head off while you're simply trying to figure out the winner of the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest in Brooklyn. More on Google AI: Google's AI Is Actively Destroying the News Media
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Junk Science Week — Terence Corcoran: When science turns political, trust declines
For many years now, popular trust in science has been in decline. That conclusion may not pass a rigid science review since most of the evidence comes from polling, which — according to Google's AI review — lacks scientific rigidity. When asked whether polling is a science, Google AI responded with what looks like a consensus view: 'It is both a science and an art.' The science involves using 'statistical methods, sampling techniques and social science principles to design and conduct polls that accurately reflect public opinion.' Then comes a big cloud of doubt: 'However, the interpretation and application of polling data, as well as the specific strategies used by pollsters, can involve a degree of artistry and political judgment.' Some say polling is 'more an art than a science.' The following is not intended as a put-down of polling, which has its valid processes and uses. The summary definition of polling, however, does somewhat correspond to FP Comment's standard definition of junk science. Junk science occurs when scientific facts are distorted, risk is exaggerated (or underplayed) and 'the science' adapted and warped by politics and ideology to serve another agenda. That definition encompasses a wide range of activities among scientists, NGOs, politicians, journalists, media outlets, cranks and quacks who manipulate science for political, environmental, economic and social purposes. We can now add Artificial Intelligence to the list. The large proportion of science that flows through to the populations of Canada and all countries can, unfortunately, fall into our definition. The array of ideological forces using science to generate public support for social and political causes — or to defeat the same causes — is sowing increasing confusion and distrust. In recent years, poll after poll after poll has produced evidence that public confidence in science has been declining. Back in 2020, University of Alberta professor Tim Caulfield noted that fomenting distrust 'has become the go-to strategy for selling health products, generating clicks and getting elected.' The doubts grew as the COVID-19 pandemic raged and as Donald Trump and others on both sides of the political fence engaged in pitched battles over vaccines. The pandemic is said to be a major factor behind the decline of trust in science, especially in the United States where vaccine polarization accelerated with Trump's appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. as America's Secretary of Health, which fuelled more doubt (or so the polls showed), especially on the religious right. Opinions may be shifting, however. Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' report released last month has been roundly trashed across the political spectrum for its lack of science and false scientific statements. The Genetic Literacy Project called the report a 'full-scale assault on science.' In a new paper — The Strange New Politics of Science — two researchers at the American Enterprise Institute argue that while 76 per cent of Americans still trust science, the number is 11 points below pre-pandemic levels. The authors rightly argue that 'the stark polarization of American politics around trust in science not only threatens the legitimacy of particular expert institutions, but also has potentially destabilizing consequences for society as a whole.' A 2024 University of Waterloo survey report, Trust in Canada, suggested Canadians still hold science in high regard. Despite the pandemic episodes, 'scientists (along with doctors and researchers) remain one of the most trusted groups in Canada.' In one pre-pandemic poll, 90 per cent of respondents said they 'trusted' and 'trusted very much' science-related sources. They were followed by science-based personalities (76 per cent), journalists (56 per cent), government (46 per cent), comedians (31 per cent), religious leaders (25 per cent), bloggers and influencers (19 per cent), and celebrities (10 per cent). At least journalists ranked higher than comedians. A 2023 Confidence in Leaders survey from Environics found that even during the pandemic, 75 per cent of surveyed citizens still had 'a lot or some confidence' in science, far behind NGOs (52), journalists (50), business leaders (42) and politicians (33). Such polling results highlight the indisputable fact that trust in science may have weakened to some degree in recent years, but the cause may be more a function of other messengers and institutions rather than scientists. Which takes us to the heart of junk science. The junk is not necessarily in the science, but in the various ideological streams through which the science flows. Make no mistake, scientists can have political and ideological agendas, but in open debate the junk can be filtered out. Through this week's 27th annual Junk Science Week, various science issues are explored, beginning with Peter Shawn Taylor's exploration of the questionable science behind the annual bee apocalypse. While a Google AI search question (Are bee populations declining?) will produce various versions of yes, the actual answer is no. Which is not surprising. A recent headline on a science blog said: 'Flood of 'junk': How AI is changing scientific publishing.' Another claimed that 'AI-fabricated 'junk science' floods Google scholar.' And then there is this story from Nature magazine that merged AI with the artful science of polling: 'Is it OK for AI to write science papers? Nature survey shows researchers are split. The poll of 5,000 researchers finds contrasting views on when it's acceptable to involve AI and what needs to be disclosed.' Terence Corcoran: A 'guide' to the Trump-Canada steel tariff war Terence Corcoran: Trump bites U.S. economy to get at Apple Contrasting views in science! Situation normal. • Email: tcorcoran@
The South African
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Is AI coming to eat Hollywood's lunch?
I believe it was motivational author William Arthur Ward who once said: 'If your mind can imagine it, or dream it, you can achieve it.' As far as digital filmmaking goes, with the recent release of Google AI's stunning new cinematic video generator, that quote is no longer a far-fetched fantasy. It's now a certain reality. And it could spell doom for Hollywood. In a recent video analysing AI's impact on Hollywood, writer and theater director, Russell Dobular of Due Dissidence said, 'I feel that we're at a moment with AI that is very similar to the moment we faced when the internet was first commercialised.' He reminded us how David Bowie, 'one of the greatest creative geniuses of his generation', saw what the internet was going to be before most people did. Back in December 1999, in an interview with BBC Newsnight , Bowie said: 'I don't think we've even seen the tip of the iceberg. I think the potential of what the internet is going to do to society is unimaginable. We're on the cusp of something exhilarating – and terrifying.' The interviewer (Jeremy Paxman) furtively suggested: 'It's just a tool though, isn't it? 'No, it's not. It's an alien life form', Bowie laughed. Then he said, 'The content is going to be so different to anything that we can envision at the moment, it will crush our ideas of what mediums are all about.' More than two decades ago, I remember reading an article in a cinema mag which predicted that, in the not-too-distant future, some (Japanese, Chinese or South Korean) kid (no sinophobia intended) is going make the next Star Wars, without leaving his mom's house. He's going to shoot greenscreen live-action and record dialogue in his garage or basement, and edit, post, grade, score and audio mix the film on his laptop – complete with CGI, VFX and animations. Well, that lucky kid's window to Wonderworld is now finally officially here. In 2002, producer-director Andrew Niccol released a film starring Al Pacino called Simone (aka S1m0ne ). It's the story of a fading director (Pacino) whose latest film is threatened with closure when his spoilt-brat star walks off the production. Instead of hiring another actress, he uses a new generation CG (computer graphics) programme to digitally create a substitute lead character, Simone (named after the CG programme, Simulation One). As Simone becomes more famous – because the audience thinks she's real – the filmmaker struggles to keep her non-existence a secret from the public. That was 2002. Back then, the concept was still sci-fi fantasy. Exactly 20 years later, it materialised. In 2022, ChatGPT wrote and directed the first AI short film in seven days. Produced by 28 Squared Studios in association with Moon Ventures, the six-minute short is called The Safe Zone . The story is of a world that's crumbling since AI seized control of the planet, where three siblings engage in an intense discussion for a spot in the Safe Zone – which is the only place safe from the machines. Only one of member of the family can be admitted into the Zone, those left behind will perish. Describing the process, producer Richard Juan says: 'We got OpenAI's ChatGPT to write us a full script and direct us in the production. It gave us a full shot list, suggested specific instructions for the director of photography (choice of camera lenses, movements and lighting), recommended wardrobe preferences, and even gave us specific prompts that enabled DALL-E 2 [text-to-image generator] to create a full storyboard. 'The future of filmmaking is changed forever.' In February this year, conservative commentator and documentary filmmaker Matt Walsh ( What is a Woman? Am I Racist? ) interviewed Zachary Levi ( Shazam ) about AI's impact on the film industry and how it affects the future of Hollywood. 'So AI in the film industry…is this where things are heading? Are we heading to a point where they're just going to type in a prompt, generate a movie and throw it out there for the masses? Are we going there – and how do you feel about that?' Walsh asked Levi. 'The short answer is, yes,' Levi answered. 'I've been banging this drum for a long time', he said. I believe that in very short order AI will be so good that it will be indiscernible from human content. You now have technology that allows anyone – Studios or Joe Schmo – to sit at home and work with an AI model to then creatively curate whatever you want; a movie, a TV show, a video game, a song – just by prompt.' 'So I think that we [Hollywood] are all in for some really Dire Straits,' Levi added. At the Google I/O event on 20 May this year, the company announced the release of Veo 3, a new AI video generation model that makes 8-second videos. Bundled into the package are several innovations that separate it from other video generation tools. In addition to photo-realistic video, it also produces audio, dialogue and fully realised soundscapes. It can also maintain consistent characters in different video clips and users can fine-tune camera angles, framing and movement in entirely new ways. Within hours of its release, AI artists and filmmakers were showing off shockingly realistic videos that had many social media users dumbfounded by the results. Since its release, AI filmmakers are already using Veo 3 to create shorts, it's only a matter of time until we see a full-length feature powered by the model. One of the most widely shared short films made with Veo 3 is Influenders , created by director Yonatan Dor, founder of AI visual studio, The Dor Brothers . In the movie, a series of influencers react to camera while an unexplained apocalyptic cataclysm occurs in the background. The video has hundreds of thousands of views across various platforms. Similar shorts featuring man-on-the-street videos have also gone viral. Veo 3 is available to use now with Google's paid AI plans. Users can access the tool in Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, and Flow, their AI filmmaking tool. Donald Trump's sanctions on Hollywood and the US film industry have spurred fear that Hollywood is about to become for the movie industry what Detroit has become for the motor industry. Producers and studios are panicking about tax breaks and productions being lured away to other states, etc. Dobular believes Hollywood is missing the crucial point. 'This is like talking about the shape of the iceberg from the deck of the Titanic right before you're about to hit it,' he said. 'They're completely not getting what is going to wipe out their entire industry. And I have been saying this since they beta tested the first AI module that could generate video from a prompt; this is the end of Hollywood, end of the entertainment industry as we know it.' 'With Google's Veo 3 we're pretty much there right now,' he added. Among the many filmmakers and artists invited to Google's I/O event to play with and demonstrate the new toys, was visionary auteur director, Darren Aronofsky ( Requiem for a Dream, The Whale ). Aronofsky's venture Primordial Soup has been collaborating with Google DeepMind's research team and three filmmakers to produce short films that embrace new technology and storytelling. The director of, among other things, Noah and Black Swan , doesn't see this AI swell as a threat to artists, creativity and auteurs, but as an augmenting benefit. He compared it to many other new advances and developments in cinema that were initially shunned – like sound and colour – and eventually CGI, VFX and digital cameras. Addressing reporters at a press conference after the I/O event, Aronofsky said, ' 'Filmmaking has always been driven by technology. After the Lumiere Brothers and Edison's ground-breaking invention, filmmakers unleashed the hidden storytelling power of cameras. Later technological breakthroughs – sound, colour, VFX – allowed us to tell stories in ways that couldn't be told before.' 'Today is no different. Now is the moment to explore these new tools and shape them for the future of storytelling,' he added. As Dobular points out, 'Aronofsky is right. But what he's not saying, is…with this new technology, you've just eliminated the need for most of the people who would work on a movie.' Pointing out how easily AI generates simple 2 and 3D animation, Dobular asked: 'What do you need an animation studio for? What would you need the people [animators] for? That's the end of animating as a career.' 'This is going to democratise filmmaking in the way that the internet has democratised media, journalism and content creation,' he added. Arguably, we are entering a new film production era where raw talent and innovative storytelling, rather than vast financial backing, could become the primary currency of cinematic success. The next Star Wars might not emerge from a sprawling studio lot but from a quiet room, fueled by a single vision, a powerful laptop, and a suite of groundbreaking AI tools. The magic of filmmaking is no longer confined to the elite; it's being handed to everyone with an idea and the digital keys to unlock it. Sure, like Dobular says; 'Most of the movies made this way are going to be f-ing terrible…but a few of them are going to be genius. And that is going to completely end the industry in its current form – because there is no barrier to entry anymore.' A bigger question or concern should be; if everyone is now a Spielberg, everyone is now a genius filmmaker, with just a few keystrokes…what's so special about that? Put differently, as Quentin Tarantino once said about (his disdain for) digital filmmaking; 'In a world where you can do anything, nothing means anything.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
