Coventry University researchers are using AI to support teachers in northern Vietnam‘s rural communities, where access to technology and training is often limited. Led by Dr Petros Lameras, the GameAid project introduces educators to generative AI, an advanced form of AI that creates text, images, and other materials in response to prompts, helping teachers improve lesson development and classroom engagement.
The GameAid initiative uses a game-based approach to demonstrate AI’s practical benefits, providing tools and guidelines that enable teachers to integrate AI into their curriculum. Dr Lameras highlights the project’s importance in transforming educators’ technological skills, while Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen from Hanoi University emphasises its potential to close the educational gap between Vietnam’s urban and rural areas.
The initiative is seen as a key step towards promoting equal learning opportunities, offering much-needed educational resources to under-represented groups. Researchers at Coventry hope that their work will support more positive learning outcomes across Vietnam’s diverse educational landscape.
CTGT, a startup founded by Cyril Gorlla and Trevor Tuttle, aims to improve the safety and transparency of AI models. Operating in a field known as ‘explainable AI,’ CTGT’s platform identifies biased outputs and hallucinations in AI models, with a particular focus on applications in healthcare, finance, and other high-stakes industries. Rather than training additional models to oversee the AI, CTGT employs mathematically-guaranteed interpretability techniques, allowing companies to identify errors more efficiently and accurately.
CEO Gorlla highlighted the dangers of relying on inaccurate or biased AI decisions, emphasising that models are increasingly deployed in critical areas where errors can have serious consequences. CTGT’s clients include three unnamed Fortune 10 companies, one of which used the platform to correct biases in a facial recognition system. By offering both managed and on-premises solutions, CTGT also addresses data privacy concerns, giving companies control over their information without compromising security.
CTGT has gained support from major investors, including Mark Cuban and the co-founder of Zapier, and is a graduate of the Character Labs accelerator. As the startup expands, it plans to build out its engineering team and enhance its platform to meet the rising demand for AI interpretability. Analytics firm Markets and Markets estimates that the explainable AI sector could reach $16.2 billion by 2028, a promising outlook for companies focused on AI safety and transparency.
Morocco’s Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a high-capacity satellite telecommunications system to advance digital connectivity across 26 African countries, including 23 French-speaking nations. Signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco, the agreement underscores the deepening partnership between France and Morocco.
Once in orbit, the satellite will provide very high-throughput services (VHTS) to around 550 million people across a vast area of 12 million square kilometres, addressing connectivity needs in underserved and remote regions. This project supports the digital transformation goals in programs like Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) and Digital Morocco 2030, fostering economic growth and expanding access to essential services for governments, businesses, and communities across Africa.
Beyond meeting immediate connectivity needs, this initiative also positions Morocco as a digital leader in Africa as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Morocco is demonstrating a commitment to modernisation and readiness for future growth by enhancing its technological infrastructure and bridging the digital divide. The collaboration with Thales Alenia Space empowers Morocco’s digital economy and contributes to broader efforts to create an interconnected and technologically resilient continent.
T-Cell and UNICEF have partnered to enhance parental support and create meaningful employment opportunities for youth in Tajikistan. Central to this collaboration is promoting the Bebbo parenting app, which equips parents with essential information on child health, immunisation, and early childhood development for children under six.
T-Cell seeks to empower parents with the knowledge necessary to give their children the best possible start in life by improving access to this app. The partnership also includes awareness campaigns targeting T-Cell’s parent customers to ensure that vital resources are effectively communicated and utilised.
Additionally, UNICEF’s establishment of six Impact Sourcing Hubs nationwide provides outsourced job options specifically tailored for young people. T-Cell will enhance the IT infrastructure of these hubs and offer insights into job prospects within the telecommunications sector, guiding young Tajiks in exploring relevant career paths.
This collaborative effort addresses the immediate needs for parental support and youth employment and contributes to the long-term economic empowerment of the youth in Tajikistan. By aligning their resources and expertise, T-Cell and UNICEF are making strides toward building a more supportive environment for families and a sustainable future for young people in the region.
ProFuturo and American Tower are expanding their digital education initiative to Nigeria, building on the success of a program initially launched in Kenya. The expansion aims to provide nearly 30,000 students in vulnerable communities across Africa and Latin America access to digital learning opportunities, addressing significant educational inequalities.
Central to this initiative is the training and empowerment of over 1,000 teachers, who will receive essential digital resources and innovative teaching methods to integrate technology into their classrooms effectively. By equipping educators with these tools, the collaboration seeks to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that underserved regions have access to the same educational resources as urban areas.
The partnership aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting quality education and reducing inequalities while also aiming to reduce poverty and inequality within local communities. Additionally, American Tower’s Digital Communities initiative will establish technology-driven spaces that promote digital literacy, vocational training, and healthcare access, serving as vital hubs for learning and development.
Looking ahead to 2030, the partnership aspires to create lasting change, ensuring that all children can succeed in the digital economy and laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape in Nigeria and beyond.
Orange Middle East and Africa has announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard to expand mobile financial services across Sub-Saharan Africa, targeting seven countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The collaboration seeks to address the financial inclusion challenge in Africa, where only 48% of the adult population is banked, by empowering underserved communities and providing them with the financial tools they need.
Orange Money customers will have access to virtual and physical debit cards linked to their wallets, facilitating seamless transactions with local merchants and online platforms accepting Mastercard. With over 160 million customers and 37 million active Orange Money accounts, Orange is crucial in enhancing financial inclusion and offering accessible financial solutions. That partnership also underscores Mastercard’s commitment to advancing financial inclusion through technology, strengthening its position as a trusted technology partner for telecom companies in the region while aligning with Orange’s strategy to provide efficient payment solutions.
The collaboration represents a significant step toward unlocking digital financial services for millions across Africa and emphasises the region’s potential for innovation and economic independence. By leveraging their combined expertise, both companies aim to support growth, drive digital transformation, and contribute to a more inclusive financial landscape, ultimately enabling individuals to engage more effectively in the economy.
Kenya partners with Google to enhance its digital infrastructure and empower its citizens in the evolving digital economy. The collaboration aims to create a robust digital ecosystem that meets current technological needs while anticipating future demands.
Kenya seeks to empower decision-makers with real-time insights by utilising AI and data-driven technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating effective governance. A key focus of the partnership is revitalising the tourism sector through Google’s technology, attracting more international visitors and showcasing the country’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
Additionally, prioritising cybersecurity measures is critical to building trust among citizens and ensuring a secure digital environment. The initiative will also promote skills training to equip Kenyans with essential digital competencies, fostering innovation and creativity while contributing to the overall growth of the nation’s economy.
Through this partnership, Kenya addresses immediate technological needs and lays a foundation for sustainable development in the digital space. By enhancing digital literacy and integrating advanced technologies, the collaboration positions Kenya as a leader in the region’s technological landscape.
Why does it matter?
The comprehensive approach ensures that as the digital economy expands, citizens are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise, ultimately driving growth and resilience in the face of rapid technological advancements.
AT&T has announced a $1 billion, multi-year agreement with Corning to procure fibre, cable, and connectivity solutions as it ramps up efforts to expand high-speed internet services. Facing a slowdown in the United States wireless market, AT&T and other telecom firms like Verizon are increasingly focusing on high-speed internet, traditionally dominated by broadband providers such as Comcast. The telecom giant aims to attract customers by bundling high-speed fibre with its wireless phone services at a discount.
The deal with Corning is expected to support AT&T’s network expansion by improving service performance and reducing deployment costs. AT&T reported that by the end of the third quarter, its fibre network was passing 28.3 million potential customer locations, with a target to exceed 30 million by 2025.
AT&T‘s fibre service added 226,000 new customers in the third quarter, short of forecasts due to a work stoppage affecting fibre installations in the southeast. Despite the challenges, the company remains focused on expanding fibre services to meet growing demand.
The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has introduced version 1.0 of its Open Source AI Definition (OSAID), setting new standards for AI transparency and accessibility. Developed over the years in collaboration with academia and industry, the OSAID aims to establish clear criteria for what qualifies as open-source AI. The OSI says the definition will help align policymakers, developers, and industry leaders on a common understanding of ‘open source’ in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
According to OSI Executive Vice President Stefano Maffulli, the goal is to make sure AI models labelled as open source provide enough detail for others to recreate them and disclose essential information about training data, such as its origin and processing methods. The OSAID also emphasises that open source AI should grant users freedom to modify and build upon the models, without restrictive permissions. While OSI lacks enforcement power, it plans to advocate for its definition as the AI community’s reference point, aiming to combat “open source” claims that don’t meet OSAID standards.
The new definition comes as some companies, including Meta and Stability AI, use the open-source label without fully meeting transparency requirements. Meta, a financial supporter of the OSI, has voiced reservations about the OSAID, citing the need for protective restrictions around its Llama models. In contrast, OSI contends that AI models should be openly accessible to allow for a truly open-source AI ecosystem, rather than restricted by proprietary data and usage limitations.
Maffulli acknowledges the OSAID may need frequent updates as technology and regulations evolve. OSI has created a committee to monitor its application and adjust as necessary, with an eye on refining the open-source definition to address emerging issues like copyright and proprietary data.
Ericsson has signed a 5G deal with Spain’s largest telecom operator, MasOrange, to enhance its network using Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) technologies. This marks Ericsson’s first such agreement in Europe following a significant $14 billion, five-year deal with AT&T in the United States last year. ORAN technology is designed to reduce costs by employing cloud-based software and equipment from multiple suppliers rather than relying on a single provider.
Jenny Lindqvist, Ericsson’s senior vice president, noted that this partnership aligns with industry trends and is crucial for scaling Open RAN technology. She emphasised that Europe is still in the early stages of 5G deployment compared to other regions. MasOrange, formed from the merger of the Spanish unit of France’s Orange and local competitor MasMovil, serves over 30 million mobile customers.
While Ericsson did not disclose the specifics of the deal with MasOrange, a source indicated it would involve around 10,000 sites. The agreement aims to meet the growing demand for 5G services across urban and rural areas, as well as large venues like stadiums.
