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Google Brings Generative AI to Search in Africa

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Generative AI Search Labs

On Wednesday, Google rolled out its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the SSA region as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs. This AI-powered experience is available in English.

With new breakthroughs in generative AI, Google is reimagining what a search engine can do and is bringing these powerful new capabilities to Search in a bold and responsible way. This powerful new technology can unlock entirely new types of questions that Search could not previously answer and transforms the way information is organized in Search to help people sort through and make sense of what’s out there.

Improving Search with generative AI 

With SGE’s generative AI capabilities in Search, people will see an AI-powered overview of key information to consider, with links to dig deeper. For anyone who has ever been overwhelmed by the amount of information online, this will help find answers more quickly.

For instance, with a question like “Does Honey ever Spoil?” Normally, you might break this question down into smaller ones, sort through the vast amount of information available, and then start to piece things together yourself. With generative AI, Search can do some of that heavy lifting.

SGE first delivers an overview, and beneath this, users will see suggested next steps where they can simply tap a query like “What is the oldest honey ever eaten?” or type in a specific follow-up question. This conversational experience enables people to intuitively learn more about the topic they’re exploring.

Context will be carried over from question to question, to help people more naturally continue their exploration.

Featuring a wide range of voices and sources 

Hearing insights from others is always useful when making decisions, so Google has designed these new experiences to highlight and drive attention to content on the web, making it easy for people to dive deeper into the topic they’re learning about. As generative AI makes its way into Search, Google is committed to continue sending valuable traffic to sites across the web. With SGE, Google is showing more links, and links to a wider range of sources on the results page, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered.

Ads are a vital piece of how the web works, and help people find relevant products and services. In this new generative experience, Search ads will continue to appear in dedicated ad slots throughout the page. Google will continue to uphold its commitment to ads transparency and making sure ads are distinguishable from organic search results. When Search ads do appear, they will continue to feature their industry-leading clear and transparent ad labels with the “Sponsored” label in bold black text.

Taking a responsible approach 

Google is taking a responsible and deliberate approach to bringing new generative AI capabilities to Search. The company has trained the models used in SGE to uphold Search’s high bar for quality, which will continue to improve over time. These hallmark systems have been fine-tuned for decades, but will also have additional guardrails, like limiting the types of queries where generative AI capabilities will appear.

GM for Search in Africa, Wambui Kinya, said, “With new generative AI capabilities in Search, we’re now taking more of the work out of searching. We’re imagining a supercharged Search that does the heavy lifting for you so you’ll be able to understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily. This Search Generative Experience is the first step we’re taking in this journey, and part of our vision to make Search radically more helpful. We’re excited to bring this to the SSA region, and look forward to receiving feedback and iterating on the experience alongside our users over the next few months.”

Sign up in Search Labs and experiment today

Google is bringing SGE as an experiment in Search Labs, available on Chrome desktop and the latest version of the Google App on Android and iOS. Access via Chrome desktop is available today, and access through the Google app will be enabled over the coming week. – people can opt-in to try it out and share feedback directly with the teams working on it. Simply tap the Labs icon in the Google app or Chrome desktop, and visit labs.google.com/search to learn more.

Technology

Verve Enables Seamless Payments for Millions of Consumers

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Verve Card

As Africa’s payments ecosystem continues to evolve, contactless technology is emerging as a critical driver of speed, security, and convenience for both consumers and merchants. Leading this transformation is Verve, Africa’s foremost domestic payment card and digital token brand, which is accelerating adoption through its rapidly growing network of contactless solutions.

With over 30 million Verve contactless cards issued to date, the company has made remarkable progress in simplifying everyday payments. Whether at supermarkets, fuel stations, airport terminals, or restaurants, Verve’s contactless cards are enabling faster, more secure transactions across Nigeria and other key African markets.

A standout feature of Verve’s offering is its extensive acceptance footprint. Today, the contactless cards are accepted at about 90% of payment terminals across retail outlets nationwide. This high level of integration not only enhances user convenience but also reflects the strength of Verve’s merchant network and its strategic partnerships with financial institutions and fintech providers.

Verve’s Tap-and-Go solution is engineered to streamline the payment experience while maintaining rigorous security standards. Every transaction is powered in compliance with global security protocols and offering users both protection and ease of use.

The company’s investment in contactless infrastructure is guided by a clear strategy: to reduce payment friction and enhance transaction speed, without compromising security. This includes close collaboration with banks, fintechs, and merchants to enable seamless integration and consistent service delivery across the payment value chain.

In a region where terminal inefficiencies and payment delays can impact business performance, Verve’s approach is already creating measurable value. For merchants, shorter queues and increased transaction throughput improve customer service and operational efficiency. For consumers, faster payments enhance satisfaction and build trust in digital payment channels.

What sets Verve apart is its thoughtful adaptation of technology to local market realities. For example, the requirement for PIN verification after tapping adds an extra layer of security, addressing consumer concerns around fraud and unauthorised transactions. This localization of global standards reflects Verve’s commitment to innovation that is both secure and contextually relevant

Industry analysts project sustained growth in contactless adoption across Africa, driven by mobile-first populations that increasingly demand fast, secure, and reliable transaction experiences. Verve’s early leadership in this space firmly positions it as a key enabler in Africa’s payment transformation journey.

As the company scales its infrastructure and deepens strategic partnerships across markets, Verve remains focused on delivering seamless, secure, and inclusive payment solutions, meeting the rising demand for digital financial services across the continent.

This contactless push is part of a broader innovation strategy, as Verve continues to invest in customer-centric technologies that align with global best practices while addressing the unique needs of African markets.

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Technology

NCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service

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Bulk SMS Service

By Adedapo Adesanya

Companies sending bulk international text messages, also known as Application-to-Person (A2P) messages, will now have apply for a licence that costs N10 million.

This is part of new rules introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) aimed at cleaning up the system, fighting fraud, blocking spam messages and stopping money from leaving the country unchecked.

These A2P messages are the kind customers get from banks, online stores, hospitals and political campaigns, automated texts sent from apps to their phones.

According to the commission, the bulk international text message system has been poorly regulated, allowing misuse and invasion of privacy.

“The International SMS Service Ecosystem in Nigeria has not been fully brought under regulatory control. It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities,” the NCC said.

The regulator warned that without action, the problem would worsen as more people use mobile phones and digital services.

To solve this, the NCC is creating a central platform, or gateway, through which all international bulk text messages must pass through.

The agency said this would help to monitor messages in real time, ensure proper fees are paid, and make sure the money stays in Nigeria where it can contribute to the economy.

As part of the incoming change, service providers must follow strict rules, including strong data protection, spam filters, and message encryption.

Also, they must also work with local mobile networks and make sure all messages come from a verified sender.

The NCC warned that any message without a proper sender ID will be blocked and not delivered to users.

To protect users from unwanted texts, the new rules say companies must get clear permission before sending any promotional content.

The rule also says people must also be able to choose whether they want to receive such messages or not.

Companies are now required to keep records of all messages for at least six months and must clearly state all charges involved.

The NCC said fees for help requests, cancellations, or service info must be transparent and not include hidden charges.

The commission will issue licences to several providers to encourage healthy competition but may limit new licences if needed. Only companies that show they can stop fraud and safely deliver messages will be allowed to operate. They must also regularly report their message traffic and finances to the NCC.

It warned that any company that breaks the rules risks getting fined, suspended, or having its licence revoked. Offences like charging illegal tariffs, ignoring security rules, or avoiding taxes will be punished, the NCC said.

The commission added that the new rules follow the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023 and support the federal government’s goal of strengthening cybersecurity and controlling Nigeria’s digital space. The framework will also be reviewed from time to time to keep up with new technology and market trends.

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Economy

Bill on e-Governance, Digital Economy Scales Second Reading at Senate

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Senate rowdy Naira redesign policy

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025 has scaled second reading in the Senate following the lead debate on the general principles of the bill sponsored by Mf Shuaib Salisu during plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

Leading the debate, the Ogun State lawmaker said the bill holds immense promise for our nation and the future of its younger workforce.

The Nigerian government has set its sight on being a $1 trillion economy and plans on using digital technologies to attain this target.

Speaking at plenary, the lawmaker said that the bill was read for the first time on Thursday, July 3, 2025, and that it would provide the necessary framework towards economic growth.

“The legislation seeks to establish a structured and comprehensive legal framework for the development and regulation of National Digital Economy and e-Governance system.

“As a crucial step and strategic pillar for 21st century governance, economic diversification and national competitiveness, harnessing the potentials of our digital economy.”

Mr Salisu said that the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, 2025, sought to establish a comprehensive legal framework for secure electronic transactions.

“Responsible technology deployment and digitised governance. It institutionalises e-government, introduces ethical governance for Al and emerging technologies.”

He also said that as countries around the world accelerate their digital transitions, Nigeria must act decisively to modernise its digital ecosystem.

“This Bill is a strategic instrument to that end, ensuring our institutions, economy and citizens are prepared for the demands and opportunities of a digital future.”

In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Mr Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary said that the bill was geared towards the improvement of Nigeria’s economy.

He said the upper chamber would provide it backing to such a bill that would drive growth and development.

He, thereafter, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security for further legislative actions and report back in four weeks.

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