As organisations race to adopt artificial intelligence, many are overlooking the most valuable people in successful AI implementation: Business Analysts. In this article, Martin Pienaar, COO of Mindworx Academy, argues that the future of AI governance, prompt engineering and human oversight depends less on technical coding skills and more on structured business thinking. Drawing on recent AI failures involving fabricated citations and hallucinated data, the article explains why Business Analysts are uniquely positioned to guide AI systems, validate outputs and ensure accountability in an AI-driven economy.
Category: Innovation
Innovation, technology, startups, and digital transformation shaping Africa’s business future.
Kaspersky Warns of Rising AI Cyber Threats in Kenya and East Africa
Kaspersky has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa is driving a new wave of cyber threats, including deepfake fraud, AI-powered social engineering, spyware, ransomware and “Shadow AI” risks within organisations. Speaking at AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, the cybersecurity company highlighted sharp increases in password stealer and spyware attacks in 2025, while urging businesses to strengthen cybersecurity controls, implement AI governance policies and prioritise employee training to safely manage emerging AI-driven risks.
Perion, Mediamark and McSorely Media Launch Exclusive AI Advertising Partnership Across Africa
Perion Network, McSorely Media, and Mediamark have launched an exclusive AI advertising partnership across Africa, bringing Perion’s Outmax AI-native execution platform to agencies and brands throughout the continent. The collaboration aims to improve programmatic advertising performance, transparency, and measurable outcomes as Africa’s digital advertising market continues rapid growth.
Naked Insurance ChatGPT App: How AI Car Insurance Quotes Work
South African insurtech Naked Insurance has launched a ChatGPT app that connects to its live underwriting system to generate final car insurance quotes.
Why Brands Must Humanise the AI Narrative to Preserve Consumer Trust
As artificial intelligence transforms industries, brands face growing pressure to manage not only AI adoption but also public perception. Mandy Davis, Managing Director at Penquin, explains why transparency, ethical AI practices, and human-centred storytelling are essential for maintaining consumer trust. The article explores how brands can address concerns around privacy, misinformation, and job displacement while using AI responsibly to strengthen credibility and customer relationships.
Cybersecurity is no longer an IT problem; it’s an exercise in risk tolerance
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT responsibility—it is a core business risk that directly impacts financial performance and operational resilience. This article explores how organisations must shift from a technical, siloed approach to a boardroom-driven strategy based on risk tolerance, balancing security, accessibility, and commercial outcomes.
South Africa’s AI moment will be shaped by the strength of its networks
South Africa’s AI transformation depends on modern, AI-ready network infrastructure. As organisations accelerate AI adoption, outdated networks risk slowing performance, increasing costs, and limiting scalability. This article explains why AI-native networking, modular design, and secure, low-latency systems are critical to unlocking sustainable AI growth, improving productivity, and supporting real-time data-driven innovation across South African industries.
Google Hustle Academy Relaunches With UpSkill Universe to Deliver Free AI Skills Training Across Africa
Google and UpSkill Universe have relaunched the Hustle Academy program to provide free AI skills training to individuals and entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa. The redesigned 2026 edition expands access beyond business owners, offering practical, hands-on learning through webinars and bootcamps focused on digital commerce, marketing, and growth strategy. The initiative aims to bridge the AI skills gap, enhance digital competitiveness, and support job creation in Africa’s rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy.
The year AI became infrastructure, and other predictions
Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from experimental tools into core business infrastructure, transforming how companies operate, compete, and innovate. As AI becomes embedded in platforms, workflows, and decision-making systems, key trends such as the rise of AI ecosystems, empowered hybrid workforces, and the growing importance of trust and verification are reshaping enterprise strategy. Looking ahead, convergence, governance, and security will define the next phase of AI adoption.
Mobile Gaming as a Cornerstone of Africa’s Digital Economy
Mobile gaming is emerging as a cornerstone of Africa’s digital economy, driving rapid growth, digital inclusion, and new revenue streams across the continent. With Africa’s video game market reaching $1.8 billion in 2024—90% of it from mobile—smartphone accessibility and a युवा, connected population are fueling expansion that outpaces global averages. As mobile broadband improves and cloud gaming gains traction, the sector is unlocking new opportunities despite monetization challenges linked to limited payment infrastructure. From Nigeria to South Africa, thriving local ecosystems highlight gaming’s growing role in job creation, innovation, and economic transformation, positioning mobile gaming as a key pillar of Africa’s digital future.