Sciencetechnology

The ICT Authority called on citizens, experts, and stakeholders to submit feedback on proposed national guidelines for fibre optic networks and public Wi-Fi deployment.

The feature closely resembles Instagram’s existing DM system, offering disappearing messages, emoji reactions, and read receipts. However, Threads places a stronger emphasis on minimalism and privacy, restricting DMs to mutual followers by default.

According to the company, its 4G network now covers more than half of the population, with 3,141 live sites in more than 150 towns and cities.

These models are, however, being evaluated for integration into a new version of Siri, designed to be significantly more intelligent and conversational than the current version.

This rollout follows Google’s recent move to integrate Gemini, its latest large language model, into smart speakers, displays, and mobile devices.

The new platform, developed under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, is expected to automate procurement activities from planning to payment, helping to minimise delays and reduce the risk of corruption.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is expected to break records in the foldable category, with industry insiders predicting a thickness of between 3.9 and 4.54 millimetres when unfolded, and 8.9 to 9.5 millimetres when folded.

Deepfakes, cheap fakes, and fake news are increasingly being used as easily and cheaply produced tools of deception, leaving vulnerable citizens shocked and misinformed.

In November 2024, Starlink halted new subscriptions in Nairobi and nearby counties, citing limited network capacity.

Google confirmed that, beginning with Chrome version 127, only devices running Android 8.0 (Oreo) and above will be supported. This change aligns Chrome with Google’s current Android WebView requirements, which underpin how apps render web content.

The tech giant says the move is part of its broader effort to give users greater control over the content they consume, while still maintaining diversity and balance in search results.

The platform says the update is intended to provide better protection for younger users who broadcast live content.

The decision is part of a broader push to streamline the visual experience for users, with Musk stating that the goal is to make adverts feel more organic within the feed.

According to Interpol, the surge in online scams is closely linked to Africa's accelerating digital transformation, which has allowed criminals to capitalise on the growing online activity, in particular social media usage, digital commerce, and mobile banking, to perpetrate fraud.

Counterfeit or cheap knock-offs often lack essential safety features, and reports of power banks overheating or catching fire have increased in recent years due to these unsafe products.

Social media has become a digital megaphone, amplifying voices that may never reach a newsroom but are now shaping national and global narratives.

With the new update, users will now be able to access a richer set of customisation options without having to switch to photo or video formats.

The new capability allows Gemini to "see" what’s happening in videos, including recognising people, objects, actions, emotions, and spoken dialogue and then generate detailed summaries or insights in response to user prompts.

While officially aimed at bolstering national digital infrastructure against cyber threats, concerns are mounting over how these "military-grade" firewalls could be used to monitor citizens' online activities.

The feature brings Google’s messaging app in line with other platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage, where message recall has become a basic expectation for users who want more control over what they send.

Pope Leo XIV told politicians in Rome not to forget that artificial intelligence is a tool. He warned, "Our personal life has greater value than any algorithm."

One of the most practical benefits of the new Writing Help feature is its potential to reduce “minimal exits” — those quick but frequent moments when users leave the app to access external tools such as ChatGPT or notes apps, simply to draft a thoughtful response, reword a message, or check tone.

Kenya has already made strides in digital security, exemplified by Nairobi’s integrated command centres and M-Pesa-linked ID systems. Yet, challenges remain, including budget constraints, a shortage of skilled professionals, and heavy reliance on imported hardware.

The rocket exploded when preparing for an engine test at the SpaceX Starbase facility in Texas. SpaceX said all personnel were accounted for and safe.

The feature, which is rolling out globally to selected countries including Kenya, is available on both iOS and Android, but users must update to the latest version of the app to access it.

The change aims to simplify video publishing by unifying the creative process for videos and reels, providing users with a more cohesive and flexible way to express themselves through video content.

WhatsApp has stressed that these new features are designed with privacy in mind, meaning Ads will be targeted using limited, non-sensitive information such as location, language, followed Channels, and interactions with ads.

This upgrade, rolling out first in 2025 models with AI Family Hub screens, allows the fridge to recognise individual family members by their voices, offering personalised experiences tailored to each user.

At the core of iOS 26 is Apple Intelligence, a built-in AI system designed to protect privacy while helping users work faster, communicate better, and personalise their devices more easily.

A range of innovative and accessible solutions exists to expand storage or manage media more efficiently.

Kenyan creators can now launch ad campaigns for their videos, whether full-length content or Shorts, straight from the playback screen or YouTube Studio, without needing to open another platform.

The digital superhighway, a flagship pillar under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, aims to foster inclusive economic growth by expanding digital access.

The fibre expansion forms a backbone for key government digital services such as health, education, and identity systems, while also boosting the digital economy.

The report, released this week, shows that Huawei shipped more smartwatches and fitness bands than any other company in the first quarter of 2025, edging out Apple, which had held the top position for years.

Communication across languages is also getting a huge boost, thanks to the Live translation feature in Messages.

Unlike the photo-heavy experience of the main app, Snapchat’s Apple Watch version is focused on messaging.

TikTok’s For You page algorithm traditionally learns from user behaviour such as video likes, shares, and watch time to tailor content.

The recent announcement marks a significant step in the company’s effort to expand its AI assistant’s capabilities beyond chat-based queries.

The ITU, which is the UN’s specialised agency for information and communication technologies, ranked Kenya 20th globally out of 194 countries assessed, surpassing regional peers like Nigeria and South Africa.

Early previews suggest that users will be able to tap and hold on a message, then drag to highlight and copy specific text segments, like text selection in most notetaking or email apps.

These upgrades aim to position X as a serious challenger to dominant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, especially as XChat works without requiring phone numbers, making it more appealing to privacy-focused users.

Videos created with Veo 3 amazed users on Twitter with their lifelike quality while simultaneously sparking unease as the line between real and fake content becomes increasingly blurred.

This feature, tailored for users with low vision or partial blindness, marks a thoughtful evolution in how one of the world’s most widely used messaging platforms approaches accessibility.

The new feature will allow users to select a unique username and check its availability instantly or log in using the system.

Apple is also expected to skip iOS 19 entirely and jump directly to iOS 26, aligning version numbers with the upcoming year as part of a new naming strategy.

This innovation offers a promising alternative to lithium-based batteries, leveraging the abundance and low cost of sodium to address critical challenges in clean energy technologies.

The new Chat Media Hub changes that by consolidating all shared content in one place, presented in a clean, gallery-style layout that allows for quick browsing and easier access.

Section 23 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, requires the CA to ensure that licensed telecom operators and service providers deliver quality services consistent with licence conditions.

The trouble began on January 4, 2021, when WhatsApp updated its privacy policy to introduce mandatory data-sharing with Facebook (now Meta) and its subsidiaries. The main change allowed WhatsApp to share user business interaction data with Facebook for marketing and advertising purposes.

However, confusion is common. For example, when facing login issues, a user might say, “My Gmail isn’t working,” even though they are using a Yahoo account.

The Bill amends the Kenya Information and Communications Act by expanding the definition of a “telecommunication operator” to explicitly include internet service providers.