Insyte Weekly: Robots & Groceries, Mastercard Foundation Invests in Edtech, AI Concerns Within The Gaming Industry

In this week’s issue, we cover stories ranging from Edtech, Robotics, Tourism and fintech solutions disrupting the market.

Media & Entertainment

Although there’s a lot of excitement around AI revolutionizing the gaming industry, Tom Richardson writes about how some developers fear that Generative AI could cost them their jobs. In his article, Tom shares how Jess Hyland, a video game artist, expresses concerns about job security in this "shaky" industry. Major companies like Nvidia, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft are exploring generative AI to cut costs, enhance creativity, and provide personalized user experiences. However, workers worry that AI might lead to job losses or fundamentally alter their roles, requiring them to fix AI-generated outputs rather than create original content. Chris Knowles, a former senior developer at Jagex and now running Sidequest Ninja, echoes these concerns, warning that AI could worsen issues with cloned games and challenge indie studios' financial viability. While some, like composer Borislav Slavov, see potential benefits in AI for creative exploration and efficiency, many in the industry fear that AI may undermine the artistic essence of game development. The industry must balance AI innovation with preserving the human touch that makes games special.

Could we be heading toward a ‘consoleless’ gaming world? Allison Murray’s Samsung Free 2 review certainly makes me think so. In her review, she highlights The Samsung Freestyle 2 features notable upgrades such as Smart Edge Blending, which allows the use of two projectors to create one large image with a 29.3:9 aspect ratio, a solar remote, and increased memory for improved performance. The standout addition is the Samsung Gaming Hub, which enables gaming without a physical console by using cloud streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, and Luna, as well as free games. The projector’s normal retail price is $800.

Edtech

As reported by Avumile Seela, Sifiso Edtech, in partnership with MTN, hosted a Winter Coding and Robotics holiday program at the Future Nation School Fleurhof campus, engaging 150 learners from various backgrounds in hands-on activities such as building and programming robots and participating in daily competitions. The program aimed to inspire and equip students with essential 21st-century skills, concluding with an exhibition and graduation ceremony showcasing their projects. Emphasizing the importance of early STEM education, the program saw a significant participation of girls, highlighting the growing interest and potential of young women in STEM fields. This initiative underscores the critical impact of early exposure to technology and the importance of diversity in driving innovation.

Ladi Okwoli reported the Mastercard Foundation recently held a conference in Abuja to address the declining funding for technology ventures across Africa. The event brought together educators, investors, policymakers, and tech leaders to explore strategies for revitalizing financial support for the continent’s tech sector. Rosy Fynn, Nigeria's Country Director for the Foundation, highlighted the growing funding challenges faced by tech startups and educational initiatives. The conference included discussions on building resilient and inclusive EdTech ecosystems, with Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, emphasizing the need for a robust digital literacy agenda. The conference aimed to address support gaps in the EdTech sector, which faces hurdles such as limited internet connectivity and infrastructural deficiencies. Despite receiving significant investments in 2021, the number of funded EdTech companies has declined. The Mastercard Foundation aims to facilitate knowledge sharing among supported startups and promote successful strategies to make investments in education more attractive.

Fintech

Cameron Burns reported that Boston-based fintech Estu launched a new mobile financial services app designed to enhance the student life experience by integrating financial, social, and academic functionalities. The app provides personalized financial services, including payment notifications, tuition payments, and fund transfers, and supports P2P transfers, contactless payments via Apple Pay, checking accounts, and both domestic and international transfers. These banking services are facilitated by Evolve Bank & Trust. Estu's app also emphasizes students' social lives by offering discounts on tech gadgets, books, music, concert tickets, and more, through partnerships with companies like Amazon, Best Buy, and Ticketmaster. For academic efficiency, the app includes a scheduling tool that syncs with students' phone calendars, providing alerts and reminders for classes, social events, and assignments. Estu's founder, Raul Wald, aims for the app to replace the current financial system and university student IDs, making student life more economical, enjoyable, and efficient.

Tourism

As covered by Tom Jackson, South African travel-focused fintech TurnStay has secured US$300,000 in funding to expand its operations into other African markets and build on its existing success. Founded by Alon Stern and James Hedley, TurnStay reduces the cost of billing cards for African merchants and platforms in travel and tourism by up to 70%, facilitating more direct bookings and reducing reliance on online travel agencies like Booking.com. The funding from Silicon Valley and New York-based investors DFS Lab and DCG will enable TurnStay to enter new markets rapidly. The company has already processed over ZAR50 million (US$2.8 million) in transactions, offering a localized payment experience that charges clients in their home currency using familiar payment methods, significantly reducing costs and failed transactions while improving sales conversion rates.

According to TTW, Chad is boosting its tourism industry by implementing a new visa-free travel policy for citizens of 28 countries, including Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, and Singapore. This initiative aims to attract more visitors to the landlocked Central African nation, which features diverse landscapes such as the Sahara Desert, Sudanian Savanna, and the semi-arid Sahel belt. With a population of around 15 million, Chad primarily earns export income from crude oil and cotton despite widespread poverty. The visa-free policy includes countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cameroon, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, promoting ease of travel and highlighting Chad’s natural treasures and adventure opportunities for travellers. Neighbouring African countries, such as Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic, also benefit from this policy, which is expected to enhance business travel, particularly in the oil and gas sectors, due to Chad’s significant petroleum reserves.

Retail

As cited by Ventureburn, South Africa's e-commerce landscape is evolving rapidly, with over 56% of consumers making multiple online purchases each month, according to a recent PayPal survey. Clothing and fashion dominate online spending at 69.9%, closely followed by food and drink at 63.8%. Convenience is key, with many shoppers engaging in online purchases from various locations, such as bed, work, or while watching TV. Despite the growing use of AI, only 29.6% of respondents value AI chatbots for queries, although they appreciate AI for price comparison and delivery tracking. Security is paramount, with 95% of respondents prioritizing secure payment processing. Delivery costs remain a major concern for nearly 60% of shoppers, while 90.1% are influenced by customer reviews. Retailers must adapt to these trends, focusing on secure, convenient shopping experiences, competitive delivery options, and managing their online reputation to thrive in this dynamic market.

Robotics is impacting the retail world. As reported by Sam Silverstein, Simbe Robotics unveiled an advanced technology upgrade for its aisle-scanning robots, Tally, enabling grocers to remotely monitor inventory levels, store layouts, and other aspects of their stores through high-definition images and time-lapse footage. This system, accessible via mobile apps and desktops, allows store staff to view and analyze data captured by Tally robots in real-time. Deployed in about 1,000 retail locations, these robots autonomously gather detailed product information, helping retailers track inventory and organize products more effectively. The new virtual store navigation feature offers 360-degree views of store interiors, facilitating remote management without physical store visits. Simbe's CEO, Brad Bogolea, emphasized that this upgrade aims to make the vast amount of data captured by Tally more accessible and actionable for retailers, with the new tools available as an optional add-on to the existing Tally platform.

As highlighted by Jason Woosey, two South African entrepreneurs, Freddy Mahhumane of KasiD and Godiragetse Mogajane of Delivery KA Speed SA, have transformed the food and grocery delivery landscape by addressing the gap left by established services in townships. Partnering with SPAR’s home delivery service, SPAR2U, they tackled barriers such as perceived inadequate infrastructure and high crime rates by employing local township residents who understand their communities. Innovative ownership plans were introduced, allowing employees to acquire delivery vehicles and work towards financial independence. This partnership not only provides essential delivery services to areas like Kempton Park and Hammanskraal but also contributes to skill development and educational opportunities for employees.

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