A for AI

News Archive

Pick a date to read that day's stories.

August 2026

Days with a blue dot have stories.

DISPATCH
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
  1. 01 of 10ROBOTICS

    China shows off a planning brain for long task robots

    Chinese researchers presented a control system that lets robots plan and finish multi step jobs without a human nudging them at every turn. It is aimed at general purpose machines rather than single trick arms.

    OUR TAKERobots that finish what they start. Setting a high bar for the rest of us.

    Read more →
  2. 02 of 10SOVEREIGN AI

    South Korea shortlists three firms for a national AI model

    LG AI Research, SK Telecom and Upstage moved to the next round of a state backed effort to build a free AI service for every citizen. The science ministry announced the picks on Tuesday.

    OUR TAKEA national model, free at the point of use. Somebody has been reading the health service brochure.

    Read more →
  3. 03 of 10EDUCATION

    Meta and Nigeria open an AI academy for local talent

    Meta and Nigeria's digital economy ministry launched a training academy to widen access to AI skills. It plugs into the country's existing three million technical talent scheme.

    OUR TAKETraining three million people is ambitious. Training them before the tools change again is the real trick.

    Read more →
  4. 04 of 10ROBOTICS

    Indian startups build physical robots for export markets

    Firms including Ati Robotics are making real world robots aimed at buyers abroad as demand for physical machines grows. India wants a slice of the hardware trade, not just the software work.

    OUR TAKEIndia has spent years writing other people's code. Now it fancies building the arms too.

    Read more →
  5. 05 of 10EDUCATION

    South Africa launches Activate SA for responsible AI use

    The South African AI Association launched Activate SA in Cape Town to push sensible AI practice across government and business. It sits inside the new Western Cape AI Cluster.

    OUR TAKEResponsible use, announced early rather than apologised for later. Refreshing.

    Read more →
  6. 06 of 10JOBS

    MTN opens an AI job board for young Africans

    The telecoms group launched a platform that bundles training, job adverts and application tracking in one place for young jobseekers. It went live to mark International Youth Day.

    OUR TAKEA job board that actually tells you what happened to your application. Revolutionary is banned, so let us say overdue.

    Read more →
  7. 07 of 10FUNDING

    Dubai startup Cobi raises one million dollars for customer tools

    Cobi closed a pre seed round led by Lunara Partners with Plug and Play and Annex Investments joining. Mastercard and Presight AI are already on the client list.

    OUR TAKEA pre seed round with Mastercard already signed up. Someone did the meetings in the right order.

    Read more →
  8. 08 of 10ENERGY

    Qatari startup Vora makes air conditioning cheaper to run

    Vora, based at Qatar Science and Technology Park, builds hardware and software that trims the electricity wasted by cooling systems. In Gulf summers that is not a small saving.

    OUR TAKECooling the Gulf without melting the grid. Quietly one of the most useful jobs going.

    Read more →
  9. 09 of 10FUNDING

    European AI startups take a record share of regional funding

    European AI companies raised twenty three billion dollars in the first half of 2026, some fifty five percent of all venture money in the region. That is more than double the same period last year.

    OUR TAKEMore than half of European venture money now has AI in the pitch deck. The other half are working on it.

    Read more →
  10. 10 of 10RESEARCH

    Study pours cold water on AI improving itself

    New research suggests systems that upgrade their own design with little human help are further off than the loudest voices claim. Current models keep hitting practical limits when asked to optimise themselves.

    OUR TAKESelf improvement is hard for software too. Join the club.

    Read more →