Tungjatjeta,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- AI is coming for corporate jobs, says Amazon boss
- Nigeria’s Bosun Tijani elected vice-chair of ITU
- Starlink’s licence standoff: Who’s in the right?
AI is coming for corporate jobs, says Amazon boss
Looks like Amazon is bracing for some big shifts in how work gets done. CEO Andy Jassy is betting hard on generative AI, and according to a memo first seen by CNBC, he’s already telling staff that the company will likely need fewer corporate workers in the future. Why? Because AI agents are about to take over many of the tasks humans currently handle.
Jassy didn’t say how many jobs could be affected. Just that it’s tough to estimate right now. But the writing’s on the wall: as AI becomes smarter and more capable, roles that can be automated may not need people anymore. A World Economic Forum survey backs that up, 40% of employers globally say they’re already planning to cut roles due to AI.
Meanwhile, over at Salesforce, there’s a price hike on the way. Starting August, the company will raise prices across several of its major products, including Slack, by an average of 6%. The reason? AI. Salesforce says it’s pumping serious innovation into its products, especially around AI, and the new prices reflect that.
Salesforce isn’t alone in this. Adobe and others have been tweaking their pricing as they roll out generative AI features. Everyone’s trying to figure out how to make money off AI while also convincing customers that the added tech is worth the cost.
One of Salesforce’s big AI bets is Agentforce, a platform designed to handle tasks like customer service on its own, without much (or any) human input. The company is even offering flexible payment models so clients can shift their spend from traditional software to these smarter tools.
Closer to home, Salesforce has been ramping up efforts in Nigeria too. While there’s no physical office yet, they appointed Sandra Adesuwa Ebere as Business Development Lead last year, signalling how seriously they take the Nigerian market. Tools like Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Slack, and Tableau are already popular here, and with interest in AI growing, expect more activity from Salesforce in the region.
Nigeria’s Bosun Tijani elected vice-chair of ITU
Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has just been elected Vice-Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council for the 2025–2026 term. It’s the first time Nigeria’s landing a leadership role on the Council in nearly 50 years. That’s major.
In a LinkedIn post, Tijani called the appointment a “profound honour” and said it couldn’t have come at a more critical time. With the world trying to figure out how to keep the internet connected, safe, and inclusive, his new position puts Nigeria (and Africa) right in the mix of setting the rules.
Tijani says he’s not just going to sit pretty. He plans to advocate for inclusive tech policies globally. That includes pushing for stronger digital infrastructure, more digital literacy, better cybersecurity, and secure public digital platforms. It’s about making sure developing countries aren’t left behind.
With this role, Africa gets an even stronger seat at the global table. Nigeria already holds one of 13 African seats on the 48-member Council, and Tijani’s elevation adds more weight to the continent’s voice. Countries like South Africa, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire have been active players at the ITU, and now Nigeria joins that leadership crew.
Tijani’s also tying this global role back to Nigeria’s own development goals. Think: improving Internet access in underserved areas, equipping youth with digital skills, and using tech to drive economic growth. Basically, it’s a global job with a local impact.
And at a time when Africa still struggles with key digital economy challenges, Tijani’s new seat could keep those issues top of mind in global policy talks. Whether it’s digital equity, infrastructure, or innovation, the continent now has another voice that can speak up and be heard.
Starlink’s licence standoff: Who’s in the right?
I know I said I wouldn’t drag up the Starlink–South Africa saga again, but are you not curious how this drama ends? If not, hit me up with what kind of stories you want; I’m here to keep you happy. Now, back to the beef.
Starlink has fired off a letter to Trade, Industry & Competition Minister Parks Tau, blasting “misleading claims” in parts of the media about its stance on South Africa’s black empowerment rules. In it, senior market-access director Ryan Goodnight makes clear: Starlink isn’t begging for a B-BBEE exemption or special favours.
Here’s the crux: under the current Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) rules, any new licensee must sell 30% equity to historically disadvantaged South Africans. Starlink argues it can’t do that because it needs full ownership of its global network for operational reasons, just like it does in the nearly 150 countries it serves today.
Goodnight points out that South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act and the B-BBEE ICT Sector Code already allow “equity equivalent investment programmes” (EEIPs), think funding skills training or infrastructure instead of share sales. He says the issue is that Icasa’s licensing regulations haven’t been updated to match the law.
He goes on to praise Communications Minister Solly Malatsi’s draft policy direction, which nudges Icasa to fix this misalignment. And he promises, “If ICASA allows EEIPs, Starlink will apply immediately and start connecting schools, especially in rural areas.”
Finally, Starlink pledges to fund kits and service for 5,000 rural schools once it’s licensed. Whether Icasa takes the bait or drags its feet, you can bet this story isn’t over yet. Let me know what you want me to cover next, your wish is my command.
In case you missed it
- Tesla has launched its first African office in Casablanca
What I’m watching and reading
- The Truths They Never Told You About HIV
- Normal Pains That Are Actually Medical Emergencies
Opportunities
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Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
