Telecom
Meta is Testing AI Tool for WhatsApp and Messenger
Meta is the latest social media company to jump on the artificial intelligence train according to comments shared by its Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, in a Facebook post published yesterday.
According to Zuckerberg, the company is working on the creation of a “top-level product group” focused on generative AI – the technology that powers the popular ChatGPT software developed by OpenAI.
To accomplish its goal, the firm is assembling a team that will solely focus on the development of such a product. According to Zuckerberg, they will focus on “building creative and expressive tools”.
In addition, the company could develop “AI personas” – which can maybe be better understood as virtual assistants – that users can rely on to better use the platforms owned by Meta.
The team may primarily work on new features that involve text prompts within platforms such as Messenger and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg, however, acknowledged that there is still “a lot of foundational work” to be done before any of these tools can be released to the public.
Meta is Not Leaving any Stone Unturned to Stay atop of the Latest Trends
The announcements come only a day after Snapchat, a fast-growing competitor to Instagram and Facebook, launched a ChatGPT-powered AI assistant called “My AI” that subscribers of its Snapchat+ program can already have access to.
For Meta, staying on top of the latest trends in the tech space seems to be a priority as the company allowed TikTok to rise to popularity by failing to catch a shift in users’ preferences that prioritized videos over images.
Zuckerberg, at some point, acknowledged that he “failed to anticipate” these changes. In a recent call with analysts and investors, the head of the Menlo Park-based social media company said that this will be a “year of efficiency” for his firm and engineers seem to have been working around the clock to launch several new features that are primarily responding to what competitors are doing.
Some examples of this include the Meta Verified subscription package that will allow users to get a blue badge on their Facebook and Instagram profiles in exchange for paying a monthly subscription. This was an idea taken from Elon Musk’s playbook at Twitter that appears to have been successful enough to catch Meta’s attention.
In addition, Meta is working on a feature that is similar to BeReal – another social media platform that became popular during the pandemic – that prompts the members of a group to share a picture of whatever they are doing at some point during the day. This trend gained momentum lately in response to the changes that Meta introduced on Instagram that made a more TikTok-like platform.
Is Meta Still Working on the Metaverse?
The metaverse has become a secondary subject lately amid the rise to stardom of generative AI solutions such as ChatGPT. The latter platform has gained significant traction and has seen its monthly active users (MAUs) grow to over 100 million according to statistics pulled by Swiss bank UBS.
Nevertheless, Meta Platforms (META) is not caving in its effort to build a virtual realm. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Reality Labs unit – the one in charge of developing this initiative – generated operating losses of $4.28 billion, meaning that it spent nearly $5 billion on that particular endeavor in a single quarter.
In its latest call with analysts, Zuckerberg emphasized that its short-term priority is artificial intelligence while the metaverse is more of a long-term play. In regards to the latter initiative, the head of Meta commented on some of the progress the company has made including the first shipments of the Quest Pro device last year and the fact that more than 200 apps within its ecosystem have already made more than $1 million in revenues.
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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