Author: Carter

BI Africa: How did your Electrical Engineering project, the ‘Automatic Waste Bin,’ become the unexpected catalyst that pivoted your career entirely into software and programming? Idris Olubisi: At the time, it was driven mainly by curiosity during the building process. I met a few friends who wanted to help, and while I was building the project, they explained things as granularly as possible. Something came to mind: “If these guys can learn and teach this way, then I can too.” That’s how it all began. I didn’t stop there; even amid many challenges, I continued to learn and research, primarily…

Peering Through CloudSpecs: Decoding the Hardware Revolution Reshaping Clouds in 2026 In the fast-paced world of cloud computing, hardware innovations are driving unprecedented changes, with technologies like CloudSpecs emerging as pivotal tools for understanding and optimizing these shifts. As we enter 2026, the convergence of artificial intelligence, massive data centers, and advanced networking is forcing a reevaluation of how cloud infrastructure is built and managed. This evolution isn’t just about faster processors or more storage; it’s about creating systems that can handle the explosive demands of AI workloads while addressing power constraints and efficiency bottlenecks. At the heart of this…

Google LLC today unveiled a new open commerce standard that’s designed to enable artificial intelligence agents to automate the entire shopping journey, from product discovery to payment to post-sale support. The company debuted the new Universal Commerce Protocol or UCP at the National Retail Federation’s annual show. Developed in partnership with retailers such as Shopify Inc., Target Corp., Walmart Inc. and Etsy Inc., UCP enables AI agents to collaborate on different aspects of the customer buying process, the goal being to automate each step. Google said UCP is designed to work with existing agentic protocols such as the Agent Payments Protocol…

Nearly two years ago, Motional was at an autonomous vehicle crossroads.  The company, born from a $4 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, had already missed a deadline to launch a driverless robotaxi service with partner Lyft. It had lost Aptiv as one of its financial backers, prompting Hyundai to step up with another $1 billion investment to keep it going. Several layoffs, including a 40% restructuring cut in May 2024, had whittled the company from its peak of about 1,400 employees to less than 600. Meanwhile, advancements in AI were changing how engineers were developing the…

Here’s an overview of some of last week’s most interesting news, articles, interviews and videos: Pharma’s most underestimated cyber risk isn’t a breachChirag Shah, Global Information Security Officer & DPO at Model N examines how cyber risk in pharma and life sciences is shifting beyond traditional breaches toward data misuse, AI-driven exposure and regulatory pressure. He explains why executives still underestimate silent control failures, how ransomware groups are weaponizing compliance risk, and why proof of security will increasingly require real-time governance, not audits, as cybersecurity and compliance continue to converge. Fake Booking.com emails and BSODs used to infect hospitality staffSuspected…

In the rapidly evolving landscape of engineering and materials science, the advent of deep learning has increasingly catalyzed innovation. A recent study led by S. Kanmani and M. Murali, titled “Deep learning-enabled generative acceleration for topology-optimized structures in 2D and 3D domain,” sheds light on the profound impact of machine learning on the field. This pioneering research, set to be published in Discover Artificial Intelligence in 2026, explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and structural engineering, setting a new precedent for the design and optimization of materials and structures. The concept of topology optimization has been around in engineering circles…

Are you asking yourself, What is Polygon crypto? You’re right to pause before investing in a Polygon blockchain in a market shaped by constant shifts in network demand. Add rising transaction fees on major chains and growing competition among scaling solutions, and it becomes even more important to understand what you’re buying into. Polygon positions itself as a practical answer to these challenges, but only if you understand how it really works.In this article, we are taking you through how Polygon works, what the Polygon network offers, and its key features. You learn the benefits, risks, real-world use cases, and…

New Smart Shopping Platform, developed in collaboration with 66degrees, brings digitally enhanced personalization and navigation to the brick-and-mortar retail environment with Google’s AI.NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) today announced the launch of an AI-enabled retail solution developed in collaboration with Google Cloud and 66degrees that leverages Google’s Gemini and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform to transform the in-store shopping experience for retailers worldwide. The Smart Shopping Platform helps shoppers easily locate desired products, compare similar items and quickly find relevant substitutions when products are unavailable, making in-store shopping more efficient and enjoyable. “There is nothing more frustrating than roaming through a…

HAMBURG, Germany / NEWYORK — January 9, 2026 — The Otto Group announced a collaboration with NVIDIA, the world leader in accelerated computing, to improve supply chain operations through intelligent robotics. This initiative will scale the network-wide deployment of a “Robotic Coordination Layer”, powered by NVIDIA Omniverse libraries, and Isaac Sim, across a multitude of Otto Group’s 120 logistics locations. Otto Group & NVIDIA Drive Future of Logistics Robot “Spot” in Otto Group Logistic Center Loehne, Germany(c) Otto Group It represents a comprehensive approach to train robots in a simulation environment for intelligent robotic automation, setting a new industry benchmark…

Kroger will use Google Cloud new agentic platform, Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, to simplify and transform how customers shop and eat CINCINNATI and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced an expanded relationship with Google Cloud. The leading grocery chain will use the Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX) solution to support its customer experience transformation, combining cutting-edge technology with the care, food knowledge and understanding customers expect from Kroger – all into a new personal shopping assistant. Under the expansion Kroger will roll out Gemini Enterprise for CX nationwide to help make grocery planning easier through…