Insyte Weekly: Edtech disruption in Africa, Apple & Alibaba's AI Partnership, and more

This was an interesting week in the business world. Here’s a breakdown of some of the week’s top stories.

Media & Entertainment

As reported by Kif Leswing, Apple has expanded its reach by releasing an Apple TV+ app for Android phones, marking a significant shift in strategy. The company, known for keeping its software ecosystem exclusive to iOS and MacOS, is now prioritizing the growth of its Services division over exclusivity. This move allows Apple to tap into Android’s 72% global market share, particularly benefiting international users.

According to WARC, Spotify is undergoing a strategic transformation in its advertising business, shifting towards automation and programmatic sales, with the full impact expected by 2026. CFO Christian Luiga admitted that the company was late in adopting programmatic advertising but has now completed the necessary technical infrastructure. To drive this change, Spotify is partnering with platforms like Trade Desk and plans to add more partners. In 2025, the focus will be on building the advertising business, with significant scaling expected in 2026. In Q4 2024, Spotify’s advertising revenue grew by 6% year-on-year, driven by market spending, brand campaigns, and early results from automated sales.

Edtech

As reported by Abdullahi Butare, education in Nigeria has undergone a significant transformation since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which forced schools to embrace technology. Now, in 2025, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this evolution, enhancing learning experiences while ensuring that education remains personal and human-centered. AI supports teachers by automating administrative tasks, enabling personalized learning, and providing data-driven insights to improve student outcomes. Gamification is also making learning more engaging, while AI-driven tools are increasing accessibility for students in remote areas and those speaking indigenous languages.

According to Joyce Onyeagoro, the next wave of innovation in African education will move beyond screens to immersive, AI-powered, and interactive experiences. AI is revolutionizing learning by making it more personalized and responsive, while virtual and augmented reality offer experiential education. Students in rural areas could explore ancient Egypt in 3D or witness key historical events through virtual reality, making lessons more engaging and accessible. However, technological advancement alone is not enough—policy and investment must evolve to support the integration of EdTech into formal education. Governments, tech companies, telecom providers, and investors must collaborate to mainstream digital learning, ensuring that Africa's next generation of innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs emerges not just from traditional classrooms, but also from smartphones, tablets, and online courses that open up a world of possibilities.

Fintech

According to Tyler Pathe, agentic AI is emerging as a game-changer in financial services, offering automation beyond traditional AI by enabling intelligent agents to make autonomous decisions. Industry leaders like BNP Paribas, BBVA, and Franklin Templeton are investing in AI-powered automation, while tech giants like Google and OpenAI are driving innovation with AI assistants. Experts see agentic AI as a way to streamline backend operations and personalize financial services, though regulatory challenges remain. Fintech startups are expected to lead adoption, while regulators must balance innovation and oversight to ensure responsible deployment. The next phase of agentic AI development will shape the future of financial automation.

AI

According to Reuters, Apple has chosen Alibaba as its AI partner in China, a strategic move to support iPhone AI services and counter declining sales in the region. This partnership marks a significant win for Alibaba in China's competitive AI market, which includes players like DeepSeek and Baidu. While Apple collaborates with OpenAI for its global AI offerings, its China strategy requires working with local firms due to regulatory constraints. The announcement led to a surge in Alibaba’s stock price, reflecting market confidence in its AI capabilities. Analysts note that Apple's success will depend on the speed and effectiveness of its AI rollout in China.

Tourism

As reported by Africa News, Kenya has eliminated the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement for most African nationals, except for travellers from Somalia and Libya due to security concerns. This policy shift aims to boost regional integration and tourism, allowing visitors to stay for up to two months, while East African Community (EAC) members can stay for six months. The move aligns with the African Union’s vision for greater continental mobility, with a streamlined approval process further easing travel.

Retail

Saleeman Adedoyin, founder of TechRetail Solutions, is revolutionizing Nigeria’s retail technology sector with RetailSync, a platform integrating AI and blockchain to optimize inventory management, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience as reported by Agnes Ekebuike. Addressing issues like fragmented data and supply chain inefficiencies, RetailSync provides real-time data synchronization, allowing retailers to make informed decisions swiftly. Beyond technology, Adedoyin’s company also offers digital training programs to equip retail staff with necessary skills. His innovations are gaining industry recognition, positioning Nigeria as a leader in retail tech innovation and showcasing the transformative power of technology in commerce.

How can we help grow your business?

Market Insyte offers personalised market research services tailored to entrepreneurs' needs.

If you would like to schedule a business model consultation, feel free to book a session here

If you would like us to conduct a personalised market research study, feel free to schedule a complimentary discovery call 

Browse our public market research library