South African private sector growth hits 44-month high
South Africa’s PMI hit a near four-year high in April, though analysts have warned that the lift may prove temporary.
Science/Tech
How to set up a smart home in South Africa
Samsung’s SmartThings platform turns connected appliances into automated routines that save time and electricity.
Why Africa is uniquely placed to leapfrog the world on cybersecurity
Armand Kruger of NEC XON argues that legacy “trusted network” thinking is now a systemic risk.
Two South African fintechs merge to take on payday lenders
A merger of Paymenow and PayCurve will create a 100-strong fintech serving 750 000 employees in four countries.
TCS+ | The retirement decision most South Africans get wrong
10X Investments’ Michael Rossouw on what to do with your pension when you leave a job.
We’re hiring: TechCentral is looking for technology journalists
TechCentral is looking for high-calibre technology or business journalists to join its Johannesburg newsroom.
White House Wants To Vet Powerful AI Models For Risks − A Computer Scientist Explains Why AI Safety Is So Difficult
The Trump administration is looking to develop a process that would have the federal government review the safety of powerful artificial intelligence models before approving their release, according to a report in The New York Times on May 4, 2026. The move would stand in contrast to the administration’s generally anti-regulatory approach to industry and […]
CO2 Levels In the Atmosphere Hit ‘Depressing’ New Record
Atmospheric carbon dioxide hit a new record in April, averaging about 431 parts per million at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory. That’s up from under 320 ppm when the site began measurements in 1958. Scientific American reports: Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are measured as a proportion of the total atmosphere. The numbers are presented as the number of molecules of a particular gas out...
Opera singer who hid deafness for 30 years hails ‘life-changing’ surgery
Janine Roebuck, from London, says she no longer considers herself deaf after double cochlear implants restored hearing
An opera singer who hid her deafness for more than 30 years has described “life-changing” surgery that has the potential to become the norm for thousands of NHS patients.
Janine Roebuck, 72, from London, had double cochlear implants fitted to restore her hearing, a method now...
Alphabet closes in on Nvidia as world’s most valuable company
Cloud revenue up 63% and custom AI chips winning customers – Alphabet’s surge has grabbed Wall Street’s attention.
More details about Apple’s AI plans emerge
Apple will allow users to select from third-party AI models across its iOS 27 features, according to a report.
FACE FOUNDRIÉ Wesley Chapel Location Brings Focused Facial Service to the Growing Wesley Chapel Community
There is a community nestled in Pasco County, FL, that is quickly becoming the destination of choice for young families, fashion-forward consumers, and wellness-focused people looking for convenient health and beauty options. Wesley Chapel, situated roughly 25 minutes from Tampa, is the location of the latest FACE FOUNDRIÉ opening, and couldn’t be a more apt […]
Learning Resource Network Wins King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, Securing a Second Royal Honour in Six Years
LONDON, UK – Learning Resource Network (LRN) has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, one of the United Kingdom’s highest business accolades, marking its second Royal recognition in six years and thereby reinforcing its position as a growing contributor to the UK’s international education sector. The King’s Awards for Enterprise are widely […]
Brockman Rebuts Musk’s Take On Startup’s History, Recounts Secret Work For Tesla
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNBC: OpenAI President Greg Brockman concluded his testimony on Tuesday, where he largely rebutted Elon Musk’s account of the early years of the startup and negotiations that occurred at the company. Brockman testified that he never made any commitments to Musk about the company’s corporate structure, and he never heard anyone else make them. He...
Apple to pay $250m to iPhone buyers over AI features lawsuit
Claims from last year said the tech firm’s advertising of Apple Intelligence fooled iPhone buyers.
Apple Agrees To Pay iPhone Owners $250 Million For Not Delivering AI Siri
Apple has agreed to a proposed $250 million settlement over claims that it misled iPhone buyers about the availability of Apple Intelligence and its upgraded Siri features. The settlement would cover U.S. buyers of the iPhone 16 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro models between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. The Verge reports: The settlement will resolve a 2025 lawsuit, alleging Apple’s...
Coinbase Lays Off Nearly 700 Workers In ‘AI-Native’ Restructuring
Coinbase is laying off about 700 workers, or 14% of its workforce, as CEO Brian Armstrong says the company is restructuring to become “lean, fast, and AI-native.” Engadget reports: Armstrong claimed he’d seen engineers “use AI to ship in days what used to take a team weeks” and that non-technical teams in the company are “shipping production code,” while Coinbase is automating many of its...
Elon Musk Wanted OpenAI to Go Commercial, Greg Brockman Testifies
Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president, testified in a trial pitting Mr. Musk against his company that the world’s richest man was eager to change how it operated as a nonprofit.
FDA blocked studies finding Covid and shingles vaccines safe, HHS official says
Serious side-effects from vaccines were rare, scientists found in studies funded by US taxpayer money
The US Food and Drug Administration has blocked the publication of several studies that found Covid-19 and shingles vaccines to be safe, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Agency scientists conducted the studies by analyzing millions of patient records...
Apple Reaches $250 Million Settlement Over Claims It Misled People on A.I.
Some iPhone owners will be eligible to receive $25 to $95 over claims that the tech giant oversold its artificial intelligence system, Apple Intelligence.
Moving To Mainframe Can Be Cheaper Than Sticking With VMware
Gartner says some VMware customers may find it cheaper to move certain Linux VM workloads to IBM mainframes than to adopt Broadcom’s new VMware licensing, especially for fleets of hundreds of Linux VMs and mission-critical apps needing long-term stability. The Register reports: Speaking to The Register to discuss the analyst firm’s mid-April publication, “The State of the IBM Mainframe in...