Insyte Weekly: WWDC 2025 Recap, Africa's Tourism Industry Projected to Create 80 Million Jobs in 10 Years, Fintech Industry Growth and more

Media & Entertainment

Apple's iOS 26 update brings major enhancements to Apple Music, aimed at making music more accessible and enjoyable. Three standout features include Lyrics Translation, which offers real-time translations of non-English lyrics; Lyrics Pronunciation, helping users sing songs correctly in unfamiliar languages; and Automix, a new DJ-style song transition tool using tempo and key analytics for smooth playback. These features, found under Music settings, represent Apple’s push to elevate user experience, especially for global audiences. Together, they turn Apple Music into a more interactive, educational, and seamless platform for music lovers across languages and listening styles.

Apple is also introducing a new Games app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac as part of iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe this fall, replacing the long-neglected Game Centre. Designed to function like a modern gaming hub, it features leaderboards, matchmaking, personalised game recommendations, and access to Apple Arcade. The app includes a library of all games ever downloaded and an overlay for Mac users with in-game controls and communication tools. This move is part of Apple’s broader gaming push, which includes AAA titles like Hitman and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Meanwhile, Apple’s legal battle with Epic Games continues to wind down.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos believes AI could drastically reduce Hollywood production costs, especially in visual effects, without replacing human creativity. Speaking on the WTF podcast, he cited the $30 million de-ageing tech used in The Irishman, noting today’s AI tools could achieve the same results for much less. While Sarandos views AI as a powerful storytelling aid, he warns that relying solely on its output risks creativity. He emphasised that AI lacks imagination and produces predictable results. James Cameron echoed similar sentiments, while tech giants like OpenAI and Google continue advancing AI video tools like Sora and Flow.

Spotify has partnered with United Airlines to bring its content, including podcasts, video podcasts, audiobooks, and playlists, to over 130,000 seatback screens across 680+ aircraft. The integration, replacing the “audio” menu option, marks the first time Spotify offers audiobooks and video podcasts onboard an airline. In 2026, passengers will also be able to log into Spotify using personal devices on Starlink-equipped aircraft. United flew 173.6 million passengers in 2024, making it the world’s largest airline by seat miles. The partnership includes MileagePlus loyalty perks and follows a similar 2024 deal between Spotify and Emirates to distribute curated content in-flight.

Edtech

The UK government has launched its first-ever official AI guidance for schools and colleges, aimed at reducing teacher workload and improving learning outcomes. Backed by a £1 million investment, the initiative encourages safe and effective AI use, including tools to help with marking and feedback. Developed with education experts, the guidance stresses teacher-led learning, data protection, and accuracy checks. Schools are also being invited to test promising EdTech products. This move, part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” supports its broader goals of recruiting 6,500 teachers, expanding digital skills training, and ensuring equitable access to high-quality, tech-enabled education for every child.

Quixly, an AI-powered app developed by students at the University of Adelaide, converts lecture notes, homework, and study materials into customised quizzes, flashcards, and guides. Designed to enhance learning efficiency and accessibility, the app uses natural language processing and machine learning to adapt content to users’ needs and styles. Quixly also evolves through user feedback, improving its output over time. With ambitions for broader platform integration and support for multiple languages, the app is positioned to become a versatile educational tool. Its win at the 2025 Tech eChallenge highlights growing momentum for AI-driven, learner-focused innovations in the edtech sector.

Fintech

A new BCG and QED Investors report says the global fintech market is entering a “new era of maturity,” driven by improved profitability, strong revenue growth, and technological innovation. Fintech revenues rose 21% in 2024, with payments firms leading the charge, generating $126 billion of the sector’s $378 billion. Despite 37,000 fintechs globally, fewer than 100 generate 60% of all revenues. AI is rapidly reshaping the space, with smaller fintechs pioneering its use. As challenger banks grow deposits and serve underserved markets, the report calls on fintechs to focus on fundamentals, regulators to enable agile oversight, and banks to embrace AI and fintech partnerships.

Plug and Play has launched its largest industry-specific fund to date — a $50 million Fintech & AI Fund backed by nine institutional investors. Announced at its 2025 Silicon Valley June Summit, the fund supports global early-stage startups driving innovation in financial services and AI. With over 550 corporate partners across 25 industries, Plug and Play offers portfolio companies unique access to pilot projects, customers, and scaling opportunities. The fund marks a strategic shift toward earlier investments and deeper support, reinforcing Plug and Play’s role as a key connector between disruptive startups and global corporations seeking long-term innovation in fintech, enterprise, and insurtech.

Walmart’s fintech venture OnePay, co-founded with Ribbit Capital, is launching two new credit cards this fall in partnership with Synchrony: a general-purpose Mastercard and a Walmart-only store card. The move follows Walmart’s legal split from Capital One, which previously managed its credit card program. OnePay will manage the customer interface via its app, while Synchrony handles underwriting. The initiative expands OnePay’s growing suite of financial products, which already includes debit cards, savings accounts, and a digital wallet. This partnership reflects OnePay’s strategy to scale quickly by working with established financial players rather than building all capabilities in-house.

AI

AI-powered tools like Google’s AI Overviews and chatbots are significantly reducing traffic to news publishers by giving users instant answers without the need to click through to original sources. The New York Times saw organic search traffic drop to 36.5% in April 2025 from 44% three years ago. While Google claims AI Overviews increases overall search engagement, publishers say it’s cutting into their revenue-critical referral traffic. To adapt, media companies like The Times, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post are exploring new business models, including licensing content to AI firms like Amazon and OpenAI or sharing ad revenue through partnerships with platforms like Perplexity.

Google is revamping its internal learning platform, Grow, to focus almost exclusively on training employees in artificial intelligence tools and applications. Previously home to a wide range of courses—from product building to personal finance—Grow has eliminated non-AI offerings in favour of business-priority content. The shift reflects Google's strategic pivot amid the generative AI boom and increasing pressure to streamline costs and maintain competitiveness. Employees were notified of session cancellations and course archiving earlier this year. While the platform was once viewed as a major perk, staff noted the change reflects Google’s new emphasis on bottom-line impact over broader learning opportunities.

Tourism

Kenya’s Travel & Tourism sector is projected to contribute a record KSh1.2 trillion to the economy in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 24% and accounting for over 7% of national GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The industry is expected to support 1.7 million jobs—more than 8% of national employment—and reach new highs in both domestic and international visitor spending. By 2035, the sector could generate KSh1.8 trillion and 2.2 million jobs. This growth is driven by Kenya’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and improved infrastructure, positioning the country as a key tourism leader in Africa.

Africa’s tourism sector is projected to create over 80 million jobs in the next 10 years, contributing to economic transformation, according to CBAAC Director-General Aisha Augie. Speaking at a cultural tourism conference in Lagos, she highlighted the sector’s $168 billion contribution to GDP in 2024, with revenue expected to hit $25.1 billion by 2025. Augie emphasised tourism’s synergy with Africa’s creative industries—music, film, fashion, and more, which already generate $4.2 billion annually and could grow to $20 billion. She called for sustainable, inclusive growth that uplifts African heritage, empowers communities, and leverages tourism as a cultural and economic engine.

Retail

According to a May 30 report from Circana, grocery price inflation in 2025 is being driven mainly by supply constraints rather than tariffs. Food and beverage prices rose 2.9% year-over-year as of May 18, with increases stemming from shortages in eggs, meat, coffee, and cocoa. Tariffs have had little recent impact, though categories like seafood, produce, alcohol, and baking ingredients remain vulnerable due to import reliance. Domestic-based goods like dairy and frozen meals are less affected. Food volumes dipped slightly in May due to weak consumer sentiment and post-Easter demand drops but are expected to rise modestly later in the year.

TakealotNOW, the one-hour delivery service by Naspers-owned Takealot, has expanded to new suburbs in Gauteng’s East Rand, including Kempton Park, Bedfordview, and Edenvale. Initially launched in Cape Town in July 2023 via the Mr D app, the service now operates in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria from 08h00 to 20h00 daily. It offers essentials, tech, books, pet food, and more, curated by local demand. The recent launch of TakealotMORE, a R99/month subscription, provides unlimited free deliveries and exclusive coupons. This expansion marks Takealot’s broader move into rapid e-commerce and beyond traditional takeaway and grocery offerings.

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