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E-Business

OpenAI Eyes Chrome Acquisition if Google is Forced to Sell

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Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Head of Product, testified in Washington that the company would be interested in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser if antitrust enforcers succeed in forcing Alphabet to sell the popular web browser.

This testimony was part of a high-profile trial in which the US Department of Justice is pushing to break up Google’s monopoly in the online search and advertising markets, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The DOJ’s case centres on Google’s dominance in online search, which it argues unfairly stifles competition. A key aspect of the DOJ’s proposed remedies includes requiring Google to divest assets, including its Chrome browser, to restore a more competitive search environment.

According to the report, Turley’s statement provided insight into OpenAI’s competitive positioning within the generative AI space.

He noted that Google’s refusal to partner with OpenAI for access to its search technology within ChatGPT had pushed the company to explore alternative partnerships, particularly with Microsoft’s Bing.

Turley had previously written that ChatGPT leads the consumer chatbot market and did not consider Google its biggest competitor, according to an internal OpenAI document presented by Google’s lawyers during the trial.

He clarified that the document was meant to inspire OpenAI employees and emphasised that the company would still benefit from distribution partnerships, Reuters reported.

Earlier in the day, Turley testified that Google rejected OpenAI’s bid to use its search technology within ChatGPT.

OpenAI had reached out to Google after experiencing issues with its own search provider, Turley said, though he did not identify the provider. ChatGPT currently uses Microsoft’s Bing for search.

“We believe having multiple partners, and in particular Google’s API, would enable us to provide a better product to users,” OpenAI had told Google in an email shown at the trial.

OpenAI first reached out in July, but Google declined the request in August, citing concerns about competition. “We have no partnership with Google today,” Turley said.

The trial also highlighted Google’s internal strategy, including efforts to secure exclusive search agreements with major Android device manufacturers like Samsung.

According to Turley, such exclusivity could hinder the development of competing AI technologies, like ChatGPT, which depend on a range of search and data sources.


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E-Business

FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

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Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.

The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.

The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.

It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.

The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.

Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.

“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills

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Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.

The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.

According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.

Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.

He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.

The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.

“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”

Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.

He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.

At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.


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Cyberattack Could Cost it Up to $400m – Coinbase

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Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Cyberattack Could Cost it Up to $400m - Coinbase

The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.

While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.

Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.

Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.

The company has fired those involved, it said.

Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.

Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.

“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.

“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”

The SEC declined to comment.

The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.

Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.

In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.

“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.

Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.

“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.

Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.

The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.

 

 

 


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