China is expected to generate over $50B in gaming revenue in 2025, with more than 700M players—making it the largest gaming market globally. Microsoft is moving to tap into this potential by creating a new Gaming China Business Development Lead role. The position will focus on building partnerships with Chinese studios, supporting indie developers through ID@Xbox, and expanding the Xbox library with locally developed titles. While regulatory hurdles and competition from Sony and Nintendo remain high, the strategy could unlock new opportunities for Xbox Game Pass and global players, while giving Chinese studios access to worldwide audiences.

Apple is making it easier for sports fans to keep track of games with a major update to its Apple Sports app. The free app now supports widgets on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, letting users see scores and schedules for their favourite teams or leagues directly from the Home Screen. Fans can also schedule Live Activities in advance, ensuring they never miss a moment. Just in time for football season, Apple has also expanded the app to eight new countries in Europe and added more soccer leagues, including Ligue 2, Serie B, and Primeira Liga—solidifying Apple Sports as a go-to hub.

Spotify is giving its free users more control and personalisation than ever before. With the latest updates, listeners can now pick and play any song, instantly search for favorites, and share tracks more seamlessly. Playlists are at the heart of the experience: users can create custom lists, receive tailored recommendations, and even design their own playlist cover art. Features like daylist adapt music to moods throughout the day, while lyrics allow deeper connection—and can be shared across social platforms. Together, these upgrades make Spotify’s free tier a richer, more personalised hub for discovering and enjoying music worldwide.

Stanford’s EduNLP Lab gathered over 60 K-12 math educators to explore how AI tools can better serve classrooms. Teachers created rubrics for evaluating AI, prioritizing accuracy, inclusiveness, and utility above all else. They highlighted tensions such as accuracy vs. creativity and efficiency vs. contextual awareness, underscoring the complexity of designing AI for real-world teaching. Importantly, teachers adopted a “critical but curious” stance—skeptical of flaws but optimistic about AI’s potential. The study concludes that AI tools must be co-designed with educators, balancing trust, equity, and practicality, while respecting teachers’ expertise in shaping the future of educational technology.

Extended reality (XR) is gaining traction in classrooms, with 82% of high school teachers calling XR experiences high-quality and nearly two-thirds wanting them used regularly. Virtual reality (VR) enables immersive learning—like exploring Jupiter’s moons, running science labs, or preparing for careers in healthcare and construction—without added costs or risks. Educators also see XR as a tool for equity, offering assistive support for neurodivergent students and personalised learning opportunities. With 85% of teens already gaming, VR’s gamified approach boosts engagement while reducing distractions. As schools explore widespread rollout, XR could become as standard as laptops in shaping the future of education.

Johannesburg-based Rekindle Learning, a women-led digital learning company, has acquired Cape Town edtech provider EpiTek to launch Rekindle EpiTek, a new integrated learner pathway platform. The solution supports both accredited and non-accredited training providers, combining live virtual classrooms, AI-driven assessments, and advanced analytics to track learning outcomes. CEO Sally Nhlanhla says the deal is about “redefining skills development in Africa,” giving organisations one system to manage microlearning, structured programs, and formal certification. The acquisition positions Rekindle as one of the few African tech firms—especially women-led—to successfully scale through consolidation, strengthening Africa’s homegrown edtech ecosystem amid global competition.

African fintech Kredete has secured $22 million in Series A funding, led by AfricInvest Group with participation from Partech and Polymorphic Capital. Kredete builds credit infrastructure and facilitates stablecoin-powered money transfers across 40+ African countries, helping millions of immigrants send money, save securely, and make payments. Its blockchain-backed system enables fast, low-cost, cross-border transactions, bypassing traditional remittance hurdles. The new funding will accelerate the expansion of Kredete’s stablecoin network and strengthen its financial ecosystem, unlocking greater access to credit and digital financial tools. The startup sees this milestone as a pivotal step in reshaping Africa’s financial inclusion landscape.

Yerbol Orynbayev, president of TurmaFinTech, argues that the entry of UK challenger banks like Revolut and Starling into the US market could fuel competition and drive long-overdue digitalisation. Reports suggest these fintechs may pursue US acquisitions to secure banking licenses, a move Orynbayev says regulators should embrace before the current M&A-friendly climate closes. With the Big Four US banks holding 40% of profits and most community banks lagging in AI adoption, new entrants could pressure incumbents to innovate. Orynbayev stresses that welcoming UK fintechs isn’t just about competition—it’s about giving community banks the push they need to modernise.

Microsoft has unveiled a $30 billion investment in AI infrastructure and operations across the UK from 2025 to 2028, marking its largest-ever UK commitment. Half the funding will go toward building out cloud and AI infrastructure, including the country’s largest supercomputer with over 23,000 NVIDIA GPUs in partnership with Nscale. The rest will support Microsoft’s workforce, datacenters, and ongoing operations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the move as a “powerful vote of confidence” in Britain’s AI leadership. Microsoft emphasised that the investment strengthens UK-US technological ties, supports thousands of jobs, and empowers institutions like Barclays, Vodafone, the NHS, and the London Stock Exchange.

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced a £5 billion ($6.8 billion) investment in UK AI infrastructure and research over the next two years, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s state visit. The investment includes expanding a new $1bn (£735m) data centre in Waltham Cross and supporting London-based DeepMind, led by Sir Demis Hassabis, to advance AI-driven scientific breakthroughs. CFO Ruth Porat called it part of a “special US-UK technology relationship,” noting both risks and opportunities in AI adoption. Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed the move as a “vote of confidence” in the UK economy. Alphabet also pledged sustainability, using 95% carbon-free energy for its UK operations.

OpenAI and Harvard economist David Deming have released the largest study of ChatGPT usage, analysing 1.5 million conversations to uncover how AI creates economic value. The report shows adoption has broadened globally, with gender gaps closing and low-income countries seeing growth rates 4x higher than high-income ones. Most usage centres on everyday tasks like seeking guidance, writing, and planning—split into categories of Asking (49%), Doing (40%), and Expressing (11%). Notably, 30% of conversations are work-related, while 70% enhance personal life. The study highlights ChatGPT’s dual role as a productivity driver and personal support tool, cementing AI as an everyday essential.

Burkina Faso has abolished visa fees for all African nationals, a landmark move to boost tourism and strengthen pan-African ties. Previously costing up to $165, visas are now free, though travellers must still complete a simplified online application. Interim president Ibrahim Traoré’s government says the policy reflects a commitment to unity, cultural exchange, and economic growth. The initiative is expected to attract more visitors to the country’s rich heritage, from Ouagadougou to Banfora’s waterfalls, while positioning Burkina Faso as a tourism hub in West Africa. Analysts suggest the move could inspire other African nations to relax travel barriers.

Cruise tourism is becoming a powerhouse for South Africa’s economy, with Cape Town and the Western Cape recording their best-ever season in 2024/25. The region welcomed 79 cruise ships and 127,000 passengers—an 18% jump from last year—injecting nearly R2 billion into the economy and supporting over 2,300 jobs. Local businesses, from family-owned shops to hotels and tour operators, are thriving from visitor spending. With over 70 cruise calls already lined up for 2025/26, South Africa is cementing its position on the global cruise map. For entrepreneurs, this boom presents opportunities in tourism, retail, hospitality, and cultural experiences.

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